On the outskirts of Tooele, Utah, police found approximately $1 million of marijuana plants in two separate fields, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

The article describes how officers tried to stake out the fields and catch those that returned to tend the pot. However, the officers were unsuccessful in catching anyone and while the pot was confiscated, the root problem is still present and police said there is a larger drug cartel that is possibly responsible for the field near Tooele.

But the amount of marijuana found near Tooele is nothing compared to the 20,000 plants that were found near Boulder Mountain in Wayne County, Utah, according to The Deseret News. The field has a street value of $25 to $60 million.

The plants together weighed 15,000 pounds and it took a combined police task force two days to remove the marijuana plants, and while one person was arrested, police believe there are at least a dozen still at large. The sparsely-populated Boulder Mountain could still have pot farms growing and officials believe those responsible for the marijuana farms have fled the area, and they may be armed and dangerous.

Illegal drug traffic and trade is hitting Utahns in their own backyard. According to The Deseret News, in February, when a Utah Highway patrol trooper pulled over a semitruck for not changing lanes the trooper noticed some strange behavior by the driver. After receiving the driver’s permission, the trooper searched the truck and found 20 kilograms of cocaine. After setting up several stings with the information gathered from the original truck driver, troopers were able to make nine arrests, seize six weapons, two helicopters and confiscate 750 pounds of marijuana and 83 kilograms of cocaine.

On Thursday, Aug 29, police arrested a Salt Lake City woman on charges of possession and cultivating marijuana. The woman, according to The Deseret News, allowed police to search her home and they found she was growing a marijuana plant in her backyard that had grown to be 9 feet tall.

With millions of dollars dedicated each year to fighting drug trade and traffic, is it time to make marijuana legal? The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported 19.9 percent of Americans identify themselves as currently or previously using some sort of illicit drug and 14.4 percent of Americans say they are current or previous users of marijuana.

However, according to the American Cancer Institute, 19.9 percent of Americans smoke cigarettes on a regular basis. With the use of marijuana so widespread, some organizations argue that the legalization, taxation and control of marijuana could help the government as a source of revenue and slow the illegal drug trade.

There are currently 13 states where limited use of marijuana is legal: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Should the use of marijuana be a regulated, but legal substance in the entire United States? Comment below and join the debate.



Seth Bracken is a senior majoring in print journalism. Questions or comments can be sent to him at seth.bracken@aggiemail.usu.edu.