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Heroin, LSD among drugs seized at Rainbow Family gathering, over 75 arrested

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — In the recent massive mountain festival called the Rainbow Family Gathering, Channel 2 Action News learned investigators seized a wide variety of drugs, including heroin and LSD.

[READ MORE: Georgia town braces for up to 10,000 for Rainbow Family gathering]

There were predictions that up to 10,000 people would show up for the counterculture camping event that started a couple of weeks ago at the Chattahoochee National Forest.

A little more than 4,000 turned out, and many, it seems, were looking for more than a natural high.

"I stayed out of town, like a lot of people did," Joan Reichert with Dahlonega Womans' Club said.

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Forest rangers and sheriff's deputies stuck around to keep the peace, which wasn't always easy.

"There was some assaults we had to work out," Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said.

More than 75 arrests were made on a wide variety of charges, and quite a few were for illegal drug possession.

"There was multiple drugs seized, everything from marijuana to prescription meds to heroin to LSD," Jarrard said.

The sheriff denied some claims that there were mandatory checkpoints set up to search campers' vehicles. Members of the Rainbow Family gathering told Channel 2 Action News the purpose was to promote peace and harmony.

"There's love here. It's family. We're one giant family," one campgoer said.

Fears that the group would descend on the tourist town turned out to be a little exaggerated.

"We don't feel like it had any impact on tourism here. It didn't at all," said Robb Nichols, with the Chamber of Commerce.

Some locals told Channel 2 Action News they are not eager to roll out the welcome mat to the Rainbow Family anytime soon.

There were no drug overdoses, and two young men who disappeared following the gathering have been found.