WESB Morning News & Sports for 6/16/15
For the full stories, go to WESB.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947
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Potter Co. Growing Operation Discovered
Two Potter County residents are in jail after their indoor marijuana growing operation was discovered Thursday in Genesee Township. State police executed a search warrant at 214 Main Street in Genesee and then seized 197 marijuana plants, two pounds of processed marijuana and numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia. Then they arrested 46-year-old Matthew Andrews and 36-year-old Chelah Ryan. They’re both jailed on $100,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947
PSP: Couple Had Pot-Growing Operation
A Coudersport couple is accused of having a marijuana growing operation at their home. 50-year-old Stacey Amidon and 46-year-old Susan Amidon of Toad Hollow Road are each charged with a number of violations of the state’s drug laws. Police found the marijuana growing operation earlier this month. The Amidons are free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947
Bath Salts, More Found in Man's Home
Bath salts, a gun and drug paraphernalia were among the items police say they found in an Emporium man’s house last week. 59-year-old Gary Boyer is facing multiple charges after marijuana, smoking devices, a pill grinder and digital scales, as well as the bath salts were found. Police say he also had a .22 caliber pistol with the serial number removed. Boyer is in jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947
Noonan: Millions of Dollars Worth of Drugs Seized
Pennsylvania State Troopers have seized more than $49 million worth of heroin, marijuana and other prohibited drugs in the third quarter of 2014. State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan says besides the 49 kilos of heroin and more than 800 pounds of marijuana, they picked up more than 4,000 prescription pills and three pounds of methamphetamines, valued at more than $173,000, and 24 kilos of cocaine with an estimated value of $2.4 million. He says the amount of heroin is already more than double what they seized last year. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947
Two Sentenced for ANF Pot-Growing Operation
Two men have been sentenced for growing marijuana on the Allegheny National Forest. 59-year-old William Kamholz of Frewsburg was sentenced in federal court to time served, and was fined $2,000. 62-year-old James Leach of Randolph was sentenced to one day in jail and nine months of home detention. He was fined $3,000. The McKean County Drug Task Force arrested Kamholtz in September of 2012 after stopping his vehicle and finding duffel bags containing marijuana he had harvested from the forest. In October of 2012, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies and the US Forest Service searched Leach’s home and found a drying room with about 23 pounds of marijuana in it. According to information presented to the court, Kamholtz and Leach conspired to manufacture and possessed with intent to distribute marijuana plants. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947
Leach Challenge Kennedy to Marijuana Debate
State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today sent an open letter to former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, inviting him to publicly debate marijuana policy. Leach is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 528, which would legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania. He is the co-prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1182, which would regulate medical marijuana in the Commonwealth. Kennedy’s group opposes these measures and has fought policies like these across the United States. Leach’s open letter to Kennedy: I am a state Senator in Pennsylvania and the prime sponsor of two pieces of legislation related to marijuana. Senate Bill 1182, which I have co-prime sponsored with Senator Mike Folmer, would regulate medical cannabis in our Commonwealth. Senate Bill 528 would legalize recreational use of marijuana in Pennsylvania. I have spent a great deal of time debating and speaking about these issues across Pennsylvania and nationally. I have enclosed ...
Bills Would Reform Marijuana Laws, Reduce Costs
HARRISBURG – At a news conference in the state Capitol today, state Sen. Mike Stack discussed two new bills intended to reform marijuana laws to curb the unintended consequences that drain local budgets and waste law enforcement resources. “Beyond the financial cost, our antiquated marijuana laws clog our criminal justice system and consume time that can be better spent arresting and prosecuting violent criminals,” Stack said in a news release sent to WESB. “Over the past 20 years, the number of marijuana arrests has exploded but the price of marijuana has dropped and the availability and potency has increased.” Stack said he has introduced two bills: Senate Bill 1307 will reduce possession of less than an ounce of marijuana to a summary offense for the first two offenses and provide discretion to District Attorneys for third and subsequent offenses, and Senate Bill 1308 will make it easier for former offenders to find a job by making expungement easier. “Increasingly, expun...