BUTTS COUNTY, Ga. — A massive marijuana shipment headed in part to Atlanta was intercepted in middle Georgia, prompting a sheriff to renew warnings about the strength of the illegal marijuana trade.
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Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said authorities seized 1,800 pounds of marijuana that originated in Sacramento, Calif. According to the sheriff, about half of the shipment was destined for the Atlanta area, while the remainder was headed to Orlando, Fla. The seizure happened in Butts County.
Long said the seizure shows what he believes is a continuing problem for states that have legalized marijuana and neighboring states where recreational use remains illegal.
“One of the biggest arguments for legalizing marijuana is that the state can regulate growers, charge substantial fees to enter the industry, and reap the benefits through taxes,” Long said in a statement. “But here is the reality: the black market isn’t going away.”
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Georgia currently allows limited medical use of cannabis products under state law but has not legalized recreational marijuana.
In his statement, Long argued that criminal organizations continue to move large amounts of marijuana across state lines, often competing with legal cannabis businesses in states where marijuana is permitted.
The sheriff also urged Georgia lawmakers to study the experiences of states that have already legalized marijuana before considering broader legalization efforts.
“That should be a warning to Georgia,” Long said. “We should learn from the experiences of states that have already gone down this road instead of repeating the same mistakes.”
Long pointed to states such as California and Colorado, saying both have continued to grapple with illegal marijuana sales despite legalization and regulatory changes.
“While our politicians in the State Capitol and Washington, D.C., debating legalization, we have to ask whether some have “drank the Kool-Aid or, perhaps, accepted campaign donations from marijuana lobbyists large enough to influence the conversation,” Long said.
He said this isn’t about debating whether marijuana should or shouldn’t be legalized.
“I am sure that once Georgia legalizes marijuana, we will be like many other states that have legalized it; spending years trying to unwind and correct legislation that was poorly written in the first place,” Long said. “Georgia, let’s get it right the first time.”
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