Los Angeles County Marijuana Arrests Are Increasing

County seeing increase of pot-related arrests

By Daniel Tedford, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/21/2009 04:16:01 PM PDT

The growing prevalence of marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles County
may be behind an increase in marijuana-related arrests in 2009, law
enforcement officials said.

In Glendora, despite a decline in overall narcotics arrests,
marijuana-related arrests have seen a 10 percent hike, according to
Glendora Police Department statistics from the first six months of this
year.

Officials say marijuana is becoming increasingly popular, and it may be
because of its availability for medicinal use, Glendora police Lt. Tim
Staab said.

"It is the drug of choice right now," Staab said. "(Those with a
physician recommendation for marijuana) purchase over the counter and
provide for those who don't have a card."

This year, there were 156 marijuana-related arrests in Glendora through
the end of June. There were 141 during the same time last year.

Increase in marijuana-related arrests and use is something other parts
of the San Gabriel Valley have seen as well, Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department Lt. Joseph Nunez said.

"Marijuana has gone up exponentially, " he said. "You got these marijuana
dispensaries, indoor grow houses, outdoor grow houses, a lot of
variables that come into play."

Statistics on marijuana-related arrest numbers for the first half of
2009 have yet to be compiled for all the sheriff's stations, Nunez said.
But officials expect an increase.

In 2008, the Sheriff's Department reported 22,898 narcotics arrests, an
increase of 1,409 arrests from 2007, according to Los Angeles County
sheriff's reports. (MARIJUANA IS NOT A NARCOTIC!!!! COPS SHOULD KNOW THIS!!)The department-wide trend was mirrored at several
local stations including Temple City, Pico Rivera, San Dimas and
Walnut/Diamond Bar.

At the sheriff's Altadena and Industry stations, narcotics arrests went
down in 2008, according to sheriff's reports.

daniel.tedford@ sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2730

http://www.sgvtribu ne.com/news/ ci_13388410