NO SMOKE SCREEN: MARIJUANA USE STRONG IN TUSCARAWAS COUNTY

Whether found in large stalks or inside a small sandwich bag,
marijuana's presence in Tuscarawas County remains strong. It
continues to be a main target for law enforcement fighting the war on
drugs.

"We are only making a dent," said Sam Hitchcock, a local agent with
the SouthEastern Narcotics Task Force. "There is much, much more
going on out there than we can uncover."

In 2001, SENT made a sizable dent, investigating 322 narcotics cases
throughout its four-county region, which includes Tuscarawas County.
That figure is up 33 percent from the year before, said Hitchcock.

He said of those 322 cases, 228 or 71 percent occurred in Tuscarawas
County with 110 cases involving marijuana, a figure also up from the
year 2000.

"One of the reasons that the caseload is a little bit heavier ... we
were able to bring on an extra agent (locally)," Hitchcock said. SENT
seized a total of 3.8 pounds of marijuana last year.

"Are we able to keep up with the complaints or (intelligence) that's
coming in? The answer to that is - no," Hitchcock said. "If we were
able to put on more agents, able to increase our budget, we'd be able
to keep extra people busy."

Availability is one of the primary reasons marijuana remains a
problem in the area. The other is that it's inexpensive compared with
other illicit drugs.

"It's so easy to get," Hitchcock said.

But opinions on the supply source differ among local law enforcement
agents. Hitchcock said most marijuana in the area comes from local
growing operations.

That opinion differs from the belief of an undercover narcotics agent
for the Bureau of Identification and Investigation, who said he
thinks most of the marijuana supply was grown outside the United
States and imported into the area through neighboring counties.

But that doesn't mean some marijuana isn't being homegrown, he said.

In 2000, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff Department seized in excess of
500 marijuana plants from two places in the county, with assistance
from BCI agents.

More than 100 of the 500 plants seized came from the property of
Daniel L. Wilkin at 5571 Beagle Club Rd., outside Newcomerstown. The
other plants were confiscated from a field in Dover Township, but no
suspect was ever found.

In November 2001, Wilkin began serving a four-month sentence in the
Tuscarawas County Jail after he was convicted of illegal manufacture
or cultivation of marijuana.

"This is really a banner case," said sheriff Detective Sgt. Shawn Rowley.

It was one of the biggest outdoor grows they've had because an arrest
was made, he added.

Often marijuana plants found by authorities have been planted
unknowingly on other people's property, usually in cornfields.

Rowley said they were unable to duplicate the same drug eradication
success last year for a couple of reasons. Only seven plants - found
near the Dover Dam area - were seized in 2001.

The BCI agent said state budget cuts permitted use of a helicopter
only once for spotting marijuana. And when the county had use of the
helicopter, weather prevented it from flying and then the terrorist
attacks on Sept. 11 grounded them a second time.

Besides staffing and budget cuts, state laws also have hurt law
enforcement's ability to fight continued growth and distribution of
marijuana, officials said.

In 1996, state legislators redefined general sentencing laws, which
directly affected narcotic cases. Not only did legislators change
sentencing requirements, they also altered classifications and
quantities used to determine the degree of criminal activity.

"Prior to 1996, for a half-pound of marijuana you could be sentenced
to 18 months in prison. Now - it's nothing," the BCI agent said.

Rowley added, "Most of your possession of marijuana charges are the
equivalent of a traffic ticket - a minor misdemeanor.

"We live in a state that doesn't support punishing people for the
possession and for the usage of it. People want to legalize marijuana
- - basically, the state laws have more or less made it legal."

Nevertheless, law enforcement agents press on.

Hitchcock said although his agents may miss making an arrest one
time, it doesn't mean the offender will be forgotten.

"We will continue to go back," he said.

"If you make a commitment to living that type of lifestyle you will
get caught - there's no doubt," Rowley said. "You may get away with
it for 10 years. You may get away with it for 10 days ... (but) one
point in your life you're going to get caught.

"And for the time and effort people put into that lifestyle it's not
worth it. If you focus that much on getting a good job and making a
living for yourself - life's too easy.

"There will be guys we'll do buys off of and, out of three buys, they
might have made $75. They're looking at three fifth-degree felony
charges for $75.

"And everybody wants to trust their friends and buddies. You know if
your business grows you need more customers and one of those
customers might be us."

He encouraged anyone with information on drug-related activities to
contact the sheriff department at (330) 339-2000. All calls can be
anonymous.

"Nobody is obligated to give me their name. Nobody is obligated to
fill out a statement. Information is great," Rowley said.