CANNABIS BUYER'S CARD DOESN'T WORK IN COUNTY, MAN LEARNS

A Cannabis Cooperative Buyer's card from Oakland is not a
get-out-of-jail-free card in Pope County, one of four California men
and women learned during bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County
Detention Center.

After landing in the Pope County jail following a traffic stop on
Interstate 40 Sunday morning by Arkansas State Police Trooper Roby
Rhoads, the 25-year-old Clovis, Calif., man will not pass go or
collect $200 after bond was set at $75,000 commercial by Russellville
District Judge Don Bourne.

Probable cause testimony provided by reports from a Fifth Judicial
District Drug Task Force agent and Arkansas State Police indicated a
GMC Yukon was stopped by Rhoads near the 92 mile marker in the
eastbound lane. The vehicle was stopped due to an obstructive license
plate on the rear, and no license plate on the front, which is
required according to California law.

Approximately six pounds of "BC Bud" marijuana, valued at
approximately $500 per pound, was seized inside two pillows the
vehicle occupants were sitting on. Also seized was 1.36 grams of "ice"
methamphetamine, testimony revealed.

During interviews with authorities, the 25-year-old man stated he
bought and sold marijuana with an Oakland Cannabis Cooperative Buyer's
Card, which appeared similar to a California driver's license,
according to evidence included with the reports. It contained the
man's photograph as well as additional information. A 24-year-old
woman from Clovis stated the ice meth belonged to her. She and the
25-year-old man, a 26-year-old man from Fresno and 21-year-old woman
from Fresno face felony charges of possession of a controlled
substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and
possession of methamphetamine. Three of the individuals told Bourne
they are students at California State University-Fresno, while the
other stated he was a student at Fresno State University.

Bond was requested at $5,000 commercial by deputy prosecutor Jeff
Chandler for the 21-year-old woman and 26-year-old man, and $20,000
commercial each on the 25-year-old man and 24-year-old woman. Bourne
set the $5,000 bond amounts, but increased the 25-year-old man's to
$75,000 commercial and decreased the 24-year-old woman's to $15,000
commercial.