I have lived in Monroe County off & on all my life Mt family is from here. I think they should LEGALIZE MARIJUANA & PROSTITUTION hell we could wipe out the DEFICIT in what about TWO or THREE YEARS. Hell yeah legalize those two things & tax the hell out of them instead of GAS & tobacco. Higher taxes on these & alcohol does not stop underage use I have seen it for my self it just makes the kids & teens think up new ways to get money to buy it whether they get it by stealing or by working or by asking random folks on the streets for money to by the shit ( AND YES FOLKS I HAVE SEEN THAT FIRST HAND ) and what about all the PRESCRIPTION DRUGS & the other REALLY harmful drugs being brought in to our county I have not heard of any of them getting busted Monroe County Sheriff Charles Black Junior PLEASE GET OFF YER ASS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROB BRFORE WE LOSE A CHILD OR TEEN TO THE COKE, METH, & HEROIN PROBLEM ! ! ! WELL SORRY FOLKS DON’T SEE THAT HAPPENING ANY TIME SOON ! ! ! WANNA KNOW WHY I’LL BE NICE & TELL YA…… Monroe County Sheriff Office just got cut 25,000 dollars about a month ago YES I SAID TWENTY- FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ! ! ! GO FIGURE HUH ! ! !

Joe is a good guy. I hate to think how dearly he could pay for his error in judgment. It's one thing to grow a little for personal use but entirely different to grow a field. I hope that he catches some kind of break because he is a good guy. I don't use pot but have to agree that the other drugs are definitely worse than pot and deserve more attention from authorities.

I've know joe for years,He was is a very good guy , He stay to himself.Dont really think he sold any weed to your kids!! If you dont want your kids on stuff you better lock up your pills in your safe,throw out the tv,puters,and put your kids in a bubble,caus there wrose out there then pot,it show like family guy show weed ok lol.

iv been friends with joe or a few years now,, and he is a good guy,,,he would go out of his way to help anyone he could,,,, yea he grew pot.... but that is this country's least thing to worry about,,, but he got caught and now has to pay the price....you will be missed but i will still be his friend no matter what happens

If you want things to change, you should start voting Libertarian. Seriously, laws should be changed and we also need a consumption tax (Fair Tax). It's time to protect our own.

I read a government report that stated that tobacco use was an effective means of population control. Now cannibis is an antimutagen and anti tumor which means it prevents cancer and saves lives Sounds like geniside to me. And in the future remember WAR CRIMES

For the record, research shows that THC has no toxicity on healthy cells. It's impossible to overdose on THC. Yet, it is possible to overdose on Tylenol. Doctors can prescribe pills that are 100% THC. Why is it illegal to have something that can vibrantly grow in one's yard with no care, something natural, a part of nature, not chemically altered? Oh yeah, because the laws are racially based on the fact that marijuana made white women do crazy things with black guys. It's true. Look it up. Stupid laws for stupid reasons ruin lives.

If federal charges go through, Joe could get LIFE in prison. That is just ridiculous. The punishment does not fit the crime. He's not a violent criminal, not a menace to society. Putting him away for life isn't going to stop drug use any more than tearing down the Avalon is going to stop cheating spouses (yep, someone actually said it would). What's next? Prohibition? We have rights, but we need to exercise them. Search out Norml online and educate yourselves. Then get off your couches and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! These laws need to be changed, and we are the ones able to do it.

I grew up with Joe. He's a good friend. He broke the law and as any other person he has to pay for his crime, but he will always be my friend. Somebody needs to worry more about prescription drugs being sold in our communities and coke in clarington. I have seen the addiction to these drugs destroy the lives of our children and families. Pot is illegal, but our families are not being destroyed by this drug.

I just hope the people around him aren't charged for his crimes. It's archaic that marijuana is still illegal with alcohol being advertised on every TV channel. There is a huge double standard here, and most people look right past it like it doesn't exist.

Can anyone formulate a logical reason as to why marijuana is illegal..

Well you probably can formulate a reason, the problem is that "reason" is unconstitutional.

Pots legality is so asinine it makes me want to puke.

Regards, Random Texas (who happened to know a bit about this situation, but apparently not enough)

It’s kind of sad when you see a man put away for weed, (Something that causes far less deaths than any other illegal or even legal drug) but you've got heroin dealers bringing in bricks of heroin from Pittsburgh everyday and, nothing is being done about it. I've got friends dying from it, and overdosing from it. And it takes someone to die, for them to actually step up and investigate. I think if Monroe county, and the surrounding counties(on both sides the river) got together and worried less about people like Joe, who indulge in a harmless drug, and worry about people supplying to all the junkies , our economy would be better off.

Isn't kind of funny that the negative comments are made by people who seem to be childish in nature and a little disturbed and really have nothing important to say? Their out numbered by the intelligent people that know there's nothing wrong with marijuana, we don't want your kids smoking marijuana, they should finish school first and then make their own decision wither or not they want to smoke marijuana, it's not marijuana that makes you stupid it's the lack of education. So it's not are fault that your dad kept you out of school to slop the pigs or whatever else he may have done to you. Hopefully someday soon we can all look a cop in the eyes and say "CHECKMATE"

He didn't sell to kids. He's not a gang banger. Obviously he probably supplied to people who smoked it in their own homes. This country is ridiculous with our antiquated marijuana laws. Nobody was being hurt in this venture. So, we have some law enforcement who want to pat themselves on the backs. Great for you. His life is ruined, and now smokers will just get it somewhere else. Meanwhile, your county is still saturated with coke and heroin from dealers who ARE selling it to children. Get your priorities straight. The war on drugs is a waste of money. The bad stuff is coming across the border, not growing by the river.

thank you debbie h. i live in woodsfield and i am tired of hearing about how pot is bad for you. all these people around here would rather get slobbering drunk and go drive and kill people and complain about pot. maybe if they would sit down the beer for a second and do a little research they would realize pot isn't bad.

Obviously, they are crackin down on pot busts before it becomes legal due to the millions the law enforcement will lose to purchase their new rides with, etc. Plus, you know damn well some of the law enforcement pocket some of that shit. Most of them are crooked anyways, as has been proven with Bridgeport and Ferry. People against pot need to see the statistics of deaths due to other things compared to pot. Read it and weep anti-potheads. ANNUAL DEATHS FROM; TABACCO - 400,000 ALCOHOL - 100,000 ALL LEGAL DRUGS - 20,000 ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS - 15,000 CAFFEINE - 2,000 ASPIRIN - 500 MARIJUANA - NONE, ZILCH, ZERO. Read it and weep complainers. To each his/her own as to whether they smoke pot or not. It has wonderful medical uses. So, all of you cronic complainers of a 'drug' that doesn't do shit but make you hungy, happy and sleepy, and is great for cancer pain, then you are very close minded. I bet if pot cured cancer, it would all be good for the anti-potheads though, huh? Open your blind eyes, Ohio Valley. Get over the fact that pot is NOT a drug and it CANNOT kill, no matter how much you smoke!! It is a proven fact.

The economy sucks. You gotta make money somehow.

@ co

Your post is full of grammatical errors and missing punctuation but who am I as a burnt out pothead to point that out to a straight-edge smart person...

Cocaine kills... Methodone kills... Cigarettes kill... Alcohol kills... prescription drug overdoses kill...

Marijuana heals ailments and is a great ice-breaker for socialization...

Oh and by the way, it doesn't kill...

"joes a nice guy? wake up folks he is a drug dealer, but i guess u dont mind him selling 2 your kids. just shows whats important 2 the town of sardis. try going a weekend not getting stone, but that might b the only way u can stay in that town"

I don't know this guy but I highly doubt that he is selling to kids. I'm sure he may sell to a few 'middlemen' and they are the ones selling to kids.

But hey while were at it, why don't we make tobacco illegal. A lot more kids are more easily getting cigarettes which in turn lead to cancer among other things.

I'm sick of people using 'the kids" as an excuse to stand against marijuana. I have two kids myself and I would much rather smoke with my children then have them go behind my back and get god knows what from god knows who.

I think all the haters just need to smoke a doob and relax. In fact, where's my papers...

Homegrown should be left alone. The weed coming in from Mexico could have terrioist implications in the money exchange, but I doubt this fella has any evil intent. monroe county needs all the free enterprize it can get these days.

joes a nice guy? wake up folks he is a drug dealer, but i guess u dont mind him selling 2 your kids. just shows whats important 2 the town of sardis. try going a weekend not getting stone, but that might b the only way u can stay in that town

i agree with the people that they should be putting more time into busting people with herion and pills. those drugs are alot worse than pot. no one has died from overdosing on pot. people need to do a little research before saying pot is bad. look at the countries where pot is legal. there is almost no crime rate. also alcohol is alot worse than pot. it is the number one killer in auto accidents not pot. i looked on the governments website that research car accidents and they even said no one has died in a car accident do to smoking pot. also we would be out of debt as a country in about 6 months if they would legalize pot. so you people putting in your comments that pot is bad need to wake up.

i think it's ridiculous the police are wasting so much time busting people for pot, when no one even gives a crap about pot anymore! it's as common as cigarettes! what about alcohol??? it's LEGAL, and people die from alcohol related causes all the time! why not put a little more effort into stopping drunk driving or underage drinking???

Pretty sure there are KIDS dying and overdosing on HEROIN as we speak. People aren't dying from pot and I have never heard of anyone overdosing on it! hahaha. I think the police should worry about the drug that is taking lives. HELLO, WAKE UP! Look at all the overdoses from heroin. It's happening more and becoming a huge problem. Why don't the police investigate the HEROIN dealers and actually do their job. NO ONE cares about this rinky dink pot. The poor guy was probably trying to get out of this shit hole duffy. They should take the money and make duffy a little more pleasant to look at.

Awwwww... whats the matter 'sardis resident', was he YOUR dealer?? Looks like youre gonna have to find somewhere else to buy your drugs! hahahahaha

I know a couple pot dealers who have nice cars, expensive electronics, jewelry, they eat out 4-5 times a day, and buy anything they want.

Now imagine taking only 5 or 6 of these pot dealers and sharing their money with the rest of the community.

Now imagine doing this with the majority of pot dealers (even WHEN it's legalized there will still be dealers). That's what will happen. The money is being made from pot, why not give it to the community instead of individuals.

Mr. Obama I believe I have just solved the deficit problem.

I know a couple pot dealers who have nice cars, expensive electronics, jewelry, they eat out 4-5 times a day, and buy anything they want.

Now imagine taking only 5 or 6 of these pot dealers and sharing their money with the rest of the community.

Now imagine doing this with the majority of pot dealers (even WHEN it's legalized there will still be dealers). That's what will happen. The money is being made from pot, why not give it to the community instead of individuals.

Mr. Obama I believe I have just solved the deficit problem.

"And after legalizing pot, let's legalize meth, coke and the rest--it's unregulated too, untaxed too, sold to our kids too. Why think of the economic boom!

Pot is wrong. Drugs are wrong. We need to keep up the fight, not let it go. Kudos to Sheriff Black! "

Wow that's about the biggest crap statement I've ever read. Marijauana is nowhere near as dangerous as these other drugs. Pot isn't even as bad as half of the prescription drugs but alleviates alot of the same illnesses. That's the reason it is not legal yet. The biggest lobbiers against this are the pharmaceutical companies. If pot can cure this and that then the pharmaceutical companies stand to lose a ton of money.

I do not personally know Joe,but i am so glad they caught him.I would love to ALL the drugs out of Sardis. Pot is is just as bad as any other drugs.I know there is gonna be alot of dealers from right in town they will be looking for a new person to supply thier weed.It was not like it was just a couple thousand dollars worth of weed it was ALMOST4 MILLION dollars worth GREAT JOB MONROE COUNTY SHERRIFFS DEPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i agree with all the people who say pot should be legal. if you people who believe that it shouldn't be you should research what you are talking about before you say it shouldn't be legal. if you would do the research you would see the countries that have pot legal have very little crime rate. also if you look at the deaths in car accidents no one has died from pot. about all of them have died because people are drinking. and drinking is only legal because are "great" government can tax it. also pot would be a great aniexty drug instead of people getting hooked on zanax. zanax is highly addictive. also alcohol and zanax is the only drugs that if you can die from withdrawing. so people do your researc before you talk about something you don't know anything about.

nobody with opinion.... it's obvious that you are uneducated as far as cannabis goes. I dont now of anybody that would argue for legal access to hardcore drugs such as meth. there is truly no medicinal value there. your misinformed comment reminds me just why our state and our country is in this mess and also sadly proves that the lies and propaganda being spread to the gen public about cannabis do work - at least on some level. all i have to say is www.pheonixtearsmovie.com Im glad that you are ok with the blatant waste of taxpayer money and with labeling people as criminals ( and to be charged as a CRIMINAL they must prove CRIMINAL INTENT - where is my criminal intent when i light a joint? or when i plant a seed? it's only a criminal act bc it is falsely labeled a such) and tearing apart families all in the name of the all mighty freakin dollar. Bill Mahr is right, the US gov't is nothing but Big Pharma's puppet on a string. WAKE UP AMERICA, WAKE UP OHIO! STOP THIS MADNESS!

I think many of us are fed up with the nuisance laws and regulations in this "Free" country. They way I see it, you can protest but the Politicians hear only $$$. All the talk about "term limits" for politicians isn't really necessary - it is already in place - just remember to vote most all incumbents out of office at Election Time regardless of how many dollars they have in their "War Chest" at Election Time.

Joe is the nicest guy you could ever want to meet. He stays to himself and never bothers anybody. Why don't the cops spend their time and resources going after the "drug dealers" in our community instead of the nice guy on the hill. Nobody ever overdosed on pot. We want the narcotics and heroin out of our community, we could care less about marijuana. Just imagine the tax dollars.....

As the most trusted man in America Walter Cronkite said in Aug 2004 The war on drugs is The war on families. In the fall of 2003, Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) asked the General Accounting Office to see if the ONDCP practice of misrepresenting the scientific evidence on marijuana could be stopped as misuse of public funds for false advertising. The following spring, GAO lawyers concluded that, since the office was set up specifically to oppose by any means necessary the legalization of all psychoactive drugs not sold by pharmaceutical companies, its officials are legally entitled to lie

And after legalizing pot, let's legalize meth, coke and the rest--it's unregulated too, untaxed too, sold to our kids too. Why think of the economic boom!

Pot is wrong. Drugs are wrong. We need to keep up the fight, not let it go. Kudos to Sheriff Black!

Pot is as common as tobacco now. Just more proof that the war on marijuana users is a lost cause. It's time we licensed farmers, and merchants to sell it to adults 21 & over. Otherwise, we're leaving the regulation of pot up tp criminals & they don't pay taxes & do sell it to minors.

hahahah i agree, its just GREEDY ! 1813 plants GOD !

TV 7......now that is a major drug bust. Much more than a couple of kids partying in their car. No sensationalism on this one? Oh... guess it didnt happen in Ohio county , Go figure.

1,813 plants? that is just being greedy.