WILD MARIJUANA DESTROYED SUNDAY IN DANE COUNTY

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Authorities spent Sunday destroying marijuana that
grows wild in Dane County.

About 12 officers from the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force spent
the day cutting and burning the marijuana. It was part of the Wisconsin
Cannabis Enforcement and Suppression Effort program.

Most of the marijuana is left over from hemp farming during the two World
Wars, said Sheriff' s Sgt. Mark Twombly of the task force.

Authorities already know where much of it is, based on flyovers in
state-owned aircraft, citizen complaints, routine patrol and " kids stopped
with dope in their cars, who tell us where they found it, " Twombly said.
Eradicating wild marijuana is important, even though its potency is only
0.5 percent to 1 percent compared to 6.66 percent for high-quality,
commercially grown marijuana, Twombly said. Wild marijuana can lead youths
to get addicted to other drugs, he said.

The marijuana was burned near Mazomanie, in western Dane County.
Authorities said at least one more day of marijuana eradication would be
scheduled.

Copyright 1998. All rights reserved.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)