Regarding the letter of Mr. Siebold of June 8 about legalization of pot, at the time those that are not in jail committed their crimes, a law was on the books stating the status for their disobedience, which means a disrespect for the law by the lawbreakers. Mr. Siebold dismisses not only the legality but also the morality of the crime. Marijuana is a drug. It sounds as if he wants it to be legal to get high (which is the main reason for its use), and then when something bad happens, he can blame it on the drug instead of personal actions. [continues 110 words]
Legalizing cannabis oil for use as an alternative medicine is coming up for a full vote in the Tennessee legislature on Monday after sailing through every committee. If the bill passes, it would have far reaching effects throughout the state. It would affect law enforcement, health care workers and, maybe most importantly, seizure patients. An amendment was added to the bill during the House Health Committee which added access to people suffering from epilepsy, opening up the number of patients who could potentially have access to the oil. [continues 849 words]
In the wake of a Gallup poll that found more Americans are now in favor of legalizing marijuana than criminalizing it, we came across a statement from CALM (Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana), which offers only this: "We affirm the 2006 FDA finding and vast scientific evidence that marijuana causes harm. The normalization, expanded use, and increased availability of marijuana are detrimental to our youth, to public health, and to the safety of our society." That offers nothing of use. You can be harmed by drinking too much water. [continues 433 words]
GREENEVILLE - Since the state of Tennessee passed legislation banning synthetic drugs, Kingsport, Bristol and Sullivan County say a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the local bans has become moot. Which is why the three governments are seeking once again to have the federal case dismissed. Earlier this year, Ultimate Smoke of Kingsport, Cloud 9 Emporium of Bristol, and White Cloud Emporium and Hard Packs - both in Sullivan County - filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Greeneville challenging local bans of synthetic drugs by the three governments. [continues 288 words]
KINGSPORT - Police Chief Gale Osborne said on Tuesday the "wheels of justice" are moving toward addressing the synthetic drug situation in the Model City, noting that the department has been in contact with the city of Knoxville, which shut down four "head shops" last week. In response to the growing number of people using synthetic drugs, such as synthetic marijuana and so-called bath salts, Kingsport approved a citywide ban on the products Dec. 6 with the penalty for the sale and possession of such products being a $50 civil penalty. [continues 282 words]
Drugs may not be the root of all evil, but they're the root cause of most crime in Northeast Tennessee, according to local law enforcement. It's a conclusion that was reached by those in attendance at a closed meeting held Tuesday at the Millennium Centre in Johnson City, according to Sullivan County District Attorney Greeley Wells. The meeting, sponsored by the United States Attorney's Office, was an opportunity for local law enforcement to share public safety concerns amongst each other and with state and federal investigative agencies, Wells said Wednesday. [continues 975 words]
WISE -- In spite of its fes tive name, holiday greetings were not particularly cheery for 56 individuals targeted for arrest during the latest mass drug roundup in Wise County on Monday. Law enforcement authori ties announced "Operation Holiday Cheer" as the seventh in a series of Wise County's "Street Sweeper" series to crack down on illicit drug use. Wise County Common wealth's Attorney Ron Elkins said officers with the Virginia State Police, Wise County Sheriff's Office and the police departments of Big Stone Gap, Coeburn, St. Paul, Wise and the city of Norton were taking part in the arrests of 56 indi viduals indicted by the multi-jurisdictional grand jury on a variety of drug charges. The first Street Sweeper drug roundup resulted in charges filed against nearly 50 individuals in April 2006. [continues 174 words]
With revenue from the seizure of drug-related property on the decline, Hawkins County Sheriff Roger Christian said Monday he may have to chop the department's marijuana eradication helicopter from the 2007-08 fiscal year budget to avoid ending up in the red. Between insurance, storage and maintenance, the helicopter costs the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office about $20,000 annually simply to possess before it even gets off the ground. Insurance is $9,300 per year alone. During the current fiscal year, the sheriff's department was anticipating $75,000 in revenue from drug fines, court costs and seizures based on previous years. But instead that figure will come in at barely over $41,000 this year. [continues 492 words]
SURGOINSVILLE - Meth lab seizures in Hawkins County last year were cut to one third the level of the previous several years as scores of traffickers and manufacturers have gone to prison and state laws make it harder to obtain meth ingredients. But, as is usually the case in the world of illegal drugs, when one product is taken off the market, another steps up to take its place. The next big drug problem to be faced by area law enforcement may be cocaine, which has been popping up in arrests in greater quantities in recent weeks. [continues 489 words]
JOHNSON CITY - What started out as a small marijuana bust in Johnson County has since led to major recoveries of the drug in both Johnson City and Abingdon, Va. The investigation into possible drug activity started when the Johnson County Sheriff's Department provided information to the 1st Judicial District Drug Task Force that led to the successful execution of a search warrant there. During that investigation, the DTF received information that a 26 year old man would be traveling through Johnson City to conduct marijuana transactions in early October. [continues 194 words]
Local residents who consider the right to bear arms a basic freedom will probably be relieved to know a noted criminologist places the responsibility for murder on individuals, not weapons. "It's not just guns. You can't blame it all on firearms," Dr. Jack Levin said Thursday. "There are guns everywhere." He pointed out that in single-victim crimes, even when a semiautomatic weapon is used, the pistol is usually only fired once. He said the problem is there are "handguns in the hands of youngsters who shouldn't have them." [continues 418 words]
ROGERSVILLE - The Third Judicial District Attorney General's Office is investigating the possibility of pursuing grand jury indictments against four people whose cocaine and marijuana trafficking charges were dismissed on a technicality last week. Mount Carmel police received an anonymous tip March 8 which had originated in Sullivan County that a man was being held hostage by one of the suspects. As a result of the investigation, police tracked the suspect to 286 W. Ellis Lane, which is about 100 yards outside the Mount Carmel town limits. [continues 613 words]
My appreciation for the attention you have drawn to the drug problem in the area. As a Kingsport native, I have seen this problem escalate to unimaginable levels in recent years. This problem needs to be addressed to ensure the safety of innocent citizens. I have lived in the Bloomingdale community all of my life. There has been an influx of drug dealers in this community in the past few years. I agree that prescription drug abuse is a major problem here; however, the issue of street drugs should not be overlooked. All types of drug abuse are a major problem. [continues 156 words]
Northeast Tennessee's most dire drug problem isn't crack, methamphetamine or marijuana. Because of common medical practices and the growing philosophy of a pill for every ill, Sullivan County District Attorney Greeley Wells says prescription medications have become the drug of choice for many. "In numbers, what we're talking about in this area, the biggest problem we see is with prescription drugs," Wells said. In 2005, the 2nd Judicial District saw 93 people indicted for prescription drug fraud. This year there have already been 48 separate counts of prescription fraud, with 32 defendants indicted. [continues 557 words]
Solving the drug problem is no easy task. Some experts even say it's nearly impossible. But that isn't stopping local law enforcement officers from waging the battle every day on two fronts: enforcement and education. On the education front, District Attorney General Greeley Wells said getting to kids early in their life is important. Wells' office is involved in a statewide education presentation for middle and high school students that addresses one of the worst drugs in America's history - methamphetamine. [continues 564 words]
Additional stories in the Day One of examination our area's drug problem can be found in today's print editon of the Times-News and on its enchanced electronic edition. Those stories include: Five people sit in a circle. Once strangers, they're now a quasi-family, a safety net that serves as a sounding board to grapple with each others' addictions. Page 1B. Drug and alcohol testing by businesses is up in Tennessee, thanks at least in part to a state program with financial incentives that cut workers' compensation costs. Page 1D. [continues 720 words]
KINGSPORT - Drug and alcohol testing by businesses is up in Tennessee, thanks at least in part to a state program with financial incentives that cut workers' compensation costs. Tennessee's Drug-Free Workplace Program in fiscal 2005-06 reported 5,891 participating employers, up 1,861 from the 2004-05 employer participation of 4,030, according to state Department of Labor and Workforce spokeswoman Milissa Reierson said. "It's a good program. It does affect employees," said John Leonard, vice president of Kingsport-based Armstrong Construction Co. Inc. and a supporter of business drug testing. [continues 1632 words]
Last spring, acting on the recommendations of a task force convened by Gov. Phil Bredesen, the Tennessee General Assembly crafted a comprehensive package of legislation to help quell the growing meth epidemic in the state. One of the chief components of that legislative package was a bill that sought to make it far more difficult to obtain the over-the-counter medicines that are used in meth's manufacture. One of the chief ingredients, pseudo-ephedrine, is a decongestant that can be used with other inexpensive products to make the illegal stimulant commonly known as meth, speed or crank. [continues 444 words]
Should you have the right to know if a convicted sex offender lives in your neighborhood? In the 1990s, the reaction to that provocative question formed the basis of Tennessee law that created a Web site, listing the names and addresses of sex offenders. Now, Tennessee law enforcement officials are trying a similar tactic against those who manufacture methamphetamine. Tennessee's Methamphetamine Offender Registry, located at http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/methor/, allows Internet users to enter = a name or county and retrieve those convicted of meth drug offenses since March 30, 2005. Like the state's sex offender registry, the idea behind the meth list is to allow neighbors and apartment and other property owners to know if an individual has a history of this type of criminal behavior. [continues 427 words]
It is frequently claimed that the war on drugs, like America's failed experiment in prohibition in the early 20th century, is misguided, unwise and unwinnable and that those who use illicit drugs chiefly harm themselves. Society would be better served, the argument goes, if such activities were largely decriminalized. And yet the recent shooting deaths of two men in downtown Kingsport provide a vivid and timely example of the insidious nexus of drugs and violence that society ignores at its collective peril. [continues 430 words]
