Marijuana Policy Project

Cooperation, hard work credited for success

A 1970's era comedy about a pair of loners and their continuous experiences with marijuana may be the first thing that comes to mind when some people hear the phrase "Up in Smoke".

But make no mistake, the seven groups that gathered Thursday to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the marijuana eradication program by the same name say their efforts are no joking matter.

Representatives from the U.S. Attorney's office, the Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Marshal's Service and Appalachia HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) were on hand at the London-Corbin Airport to offer an inside look at the program and what it has accomplished. To top the day off, members of the media were offered a first hand look at an actual marijuana eradication effort during a 30-minute flight in a Blackhawk helicopter. Once the choppers landed near a strip mine in Breathitt County, they were taken to a remote location where law enforcement officers cut down what they called a "small plot" of marijuana, estimated to be worth $30,000 if matured and ready to sell on the street.

The morning began with U.S. Attorney James Zerhusen giving his opinion on the large number of groups working together toward one goal; ridding the Commonwealth of Kentucky of marijuana growers.

"Our goal with this program has been to create a detterrant to the growing and production of marijuana in Kentucky," Zerhusen said. "I can tell you that the results so far have included over 60 individuals that have been brought into federal court for prosecution.

"Forty-nine were prosecuted in 2007 and 15 to date in 2008," he added. "Many of the individuals that have been charged are cooperating, but they have also been charged with firearm violations, which in turn is taking guns off the street as well."

Zerhusen continued to compliment the efforts of all those involved and talked about the success of the recently implemented tip-line that has been published in local newspapers.

"I want to thank the local media for their efforts to get the information out there and I want to add that the tip-line is working," Zerhusen said.

Zerhusen assured everyone that their tips do not go unnoticed and said that every tip is investigated and if the need is there, arrests are made. He went on to say that he feels confident in the efforts of all those involved and guaranteed that the war against marijuana is one that is being won.

"We have been successful and I believe we will continue to be successful," he added. "This is a program that the U.S. Attorney's Office is very proud of and I look for big things in the future."

Zerhusen was followed at the podium by the Secretary of Kentucky's Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, J. Michael Brown, who also commended those involved in the program.

"The men and women you see here, many of them have been overseas fighting for our country on an international front," Brown said. "But here, we are fighting a domestic war and it is a war that is going to protect our Commonwealth and indeed this nation.

"It's amazing to me, having come back into public service after being in the private sector for a while, to find this level of cooperation between these agencies," he added. "The truth is, to succeed, we have to depend on each other's information and we have to put all of the assets we have together to do the job right. Hopefully, we can continue to do that and continue to win the fight against marijuana production."