'HYDRO-WEED' FOUND IN CAR ON U.S. HIGHWAY 75

There are drugs and there are drugs, and Department of Public Safety
Trooper Nick Granelli has seen his share of them all. But, he still is
surprised when he catches drivers toting the more unusual drugs, such
as the "hydro-weed" he found in a car going north on U.S. Highway 75
Saturday night.

Hydro-weed, Granelli said, is marijuana that is grown in water. It is
supposed to be about seven times as strong, he said, sending off a
powerful odor.

He saw the northbound car in a traffic violation, he said, and turned
on lights to get it to stop. The car continued until it pulled off at
the Lamar-Houston exit, then pulled into a gas station. Granelli was a
little suspicious when he noticed the car pulled up to a pump on the
wrong side of the car. He immediately noticed the smell of the
marijuana. He called for backup and the DPS K-9 team out of Denton.

"The smell was coming out of the air vents and all of the clothing in
the car. It was overwhelming," Granelli said.

After a thorough search, troopers found three bags of hydro-weed
stashed inside the car. "It weighs less than the usual marijuana,"
Granelli said.

Granelli said it came from San Antonio and the driver and his
passenger, both San Antonio residents age 18, were going to Arkansas.
Both were arrested on charges of possession of marijuana.