AUTHORITIES FINDING, DESTROYING MARIJUANA

State and local authorities' efforts to destroy marijuana plants in
Southwest Virginia are in full swing.

In helicopters and on the ground, investigators are searching the region's
rolling hills and valleys for the illegal weed, which is cured and smoked
like tobacco.

Last week, investigators searched Scott, Wise, Lee and Dickenson counties
and eradicated about 4,000 plants, said Richard Stallard, coordinator of
field operations with the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force. The task
force includes investigators from those four counties.

The searches are part of an annual, statewide ritual coordinated by the
Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Army Air
National Guard.

Last year, authorities seized about 17,800 plants statewide and arrested
226 people, said J.C. Lewis, assistant special agent in charge of the state
police's marijuana eradication project.