Hello Everyone,
Evelyn here,
In this week's edition of the Attorney General's newsletter, “News Briefs”, Attorney General Bill McCollum speaks about marijuana the most popular illegal drug here in America and it dangerous physiological problems, which is caused by continuous use. The General also speaks about the increase risk that the rise in the trafficking hydroponic marijuana will have on our children and our neighborhoods if those manufacturing the drug as well as trafficking it are not brought to justice.
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November 2, 2007
Message from Attorney General Bill McCollum
Statistics show marijuana is the most popular illegal drug in America,
but the most alarming aspect of marijuana's resurgence is the much
greater potency of today's plant, particularly the hydroponic variety.
In the 1960s and '70s, the average THC content (THC produces the high
and causes physiological problems) in marijuana was approximately
four percent. The THC level in the hydroponic marijuana grown today
in Florida has tested up to 30 percent, and the level continues to
rise through plant cloning by growers.
This increase in potency has increased not only the dangerous physical
effects of the drug, but also the addictive nature of marijuana use.
Experts believe that the rate of addiction among daily marijuana users
is now higher than that among daily alcohol drinkers. Given the fact
that more than half of our young adults between ages of 19 and 28 say
they have used marijuana, this is no small threat but rather a
widespread addiction sweeping our nation.
The increase in the drug's potency has also caused marijuana's market
value to skyrocket. Hydroponic marijuana in some areas actually
trades ounce for ounce with cocaine. The drug is so lucrative that
grow houses are popping up in some of the most affluent neighborhoods
in the state. These "Marijuana McMansions" are home to
multimillion-dollar growing operations and have been detected in 41
of Florida's 67 counties. Florida had the second-highest number of
grow-house seizures in the country in 2006.
As the profit incentives increase for trafficking hydroponic marijuana,
the risks to our children and fellow citizens also increase. Grow
houses are often the targets ofother violent crimes, including home
invasions and robberies carried out by rival criminal groups, as the
plants alone are worth tens of thousands of dollars. Marijuana is no
longer grown and traded by amateurs - it is being trafficked by
organized and dangerous rings of criminals who are intent upon
bringing this poison into our communities and neighborhoods.
Taking this threat seriously, our state must pass tougher laws to
crack down on these sophisticated growing operations. I am supporting
legislation sponsored by state Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville,
and state Rep. Nick Thompson, R-Fort Myers, that lowers from 300
plants to 25 plants the standard for creating a presumption that
a person is intending to distribute for profit. The bill also creates
a new penalty for growers who own a house for the purpose of
cultivating marijuana, as well as a new penalty for people who
live in or are the caretakers of marijuana grow houses.
It is our responsibility not only to educate our citizens,
especially those who are younger and may be more susceptible
to drug use, about highly potent marijuana, but also to implement
new strategies for curbing the spread of this new and dangerous threat.
Thank you.
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Evelyn out
