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After Mike Alford, of the SEMO Drug Task Force, received information that John A. Trimble, 53, and his wife, Kathryn A. Trimble, 56, were growing and selling marijuana on their Burfordville property, state troopers used a helicopter to spot the marijuana plants growing in a wooded area near the residence, according to a probable-cause statement signed by Alford.
Responding officers say they saw Kathryn Trimble exiting the well-worn footpath leading to the plants. She had large scratches on her left arm that appeared to have come from walking through briar patches, according to the statement.
When asked, Kathryn Trimble said she was tending to her flowers, but grew upset and confrontational when the officers told her marijuana was being grown on the property, according to the sworn statement.
Police say Kathryn Trimble refused to allow police onto the grounds. They later secured a warrant and found 14 marijuana plants that had been pulled from the ground and placed in a pile, the statement said.
Four more mature plants were found, as well as numerous firearms, about 1 1/2 pounds of processed marijuana, three types of prescription drugs, rolling papers, marijuana cigarettes and several marijuana grinders, the statement said.
Police also seized $6,131 in cash.
The Trimbles have both been charged with producing a controlled substance, intending to sell, three counts of possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
By Wednesday afternoon, the Trimbles had posted bond and were no longer in custody at the Cape Girardeau County Jail. Bond for John Trimble was set at $60,000; bond for Kathryn Trimble was $40,000.
335-6611, extension 245
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Oh my Gosh! I know people who have more tomato plants than that in their summer gardens. They probably grow it for their own consumption, and if there is any left, they have friends that don't mind off-setting the cost for their effort and expense. The Drug Task force people are going to make a big deal of this. What a waste of time. And you wasted fuel of a helicopter and man hours on this. How about looking for a few more meth labs. Keep up your funding and attention on more important matters.
I say a BIG THANKYOU to all the law enforcement involved in this drug bust. They did NOT waste their time or money. Apparently some people don't realize just how much pot can enter the streets from 14 marijuana plants. I personally have seen the effects it has on some of our teens from not only the pot but also the chemicals some people use on it and other things i.e. their girlfriends mentrual blood to fertilize it! Not forgetting to mention sneaking it around in the bellies of dead animals in backs of trucks from area to area. Yes, THAT is what I said. It is a very sick world out there and I am so sick of hearing from people offended by law enforcement who are just trying to make the streets safer for our kids. ANd no I am not married to a cop, just sick of seeing kids in the hospital because of drugs and alcohol, and likewise, ADULTS using it and coming to work impaired. PLUS it is still illegal, like it or not. And who cares if law officers gloat because they got it off the streets, kudo's to them!
Kwilthappy--if you have personally witnessed the things you describe you need to be investigated next. And you certainly don't have the authority to tell me what I should or shouldn't do.
Kwilthappy;
You have NO idea what your talking about!
Kids are not going to hospitals because they
inhaled some pot smoke!Marijuana should be decriminalized.This indeed was a waste of
manpower and money.Prohibition does not work
and never will!We are sending pot smokers to jail more often then rapist,child abusers and
thieves even murderers!That is ridiculous!
Marijuana's use is enormous among a large segment of society and it needs to be
decriminalized.Prohibitionist like yourself,
help to create black markets and with that, MORE CRIME.If Pot is decriminalized you will take the money out of the picture.When you do that,you take away the crime.Its rather simple!You have a right to your opinion and I respect that as you should mine.
More people have died as passengers in Ted Kennedy's cars than have died using marijuana.
An adult should be able to smoke all of it they want as long as they don't drive impaired using it.
M.J. (hemp) used to be legal. George Washington grew it, Jefferson grew it. All our founding daddies grew it.They used it to make paper, clothes,lamp oil.(our constitiution is written on hemp paper)the first flags were made of hemp.
Hemp was legal until it was demonized in the 30's because the fascist. protif at any cost corporations figured out a natural growing plant, given to us by God,competed to much with slow growing trees (for paper)cotton (for clothing and rope)oil,and yes the medical benifits of hemp, and much more.How dare Americans grow their own medication when they have the nutritious drugs the chemical companies give us.
Alcohol kills ten's of thousands of people a year. Why in the world can't someone relax with their own (non-taxed) home grow natural drug? If they drive while impaired, then deal with that, but otherwise, leave the poor folks alone. Millions of good citizens smoke pot. I don't anymore, but you should be able to if you want.
I support the reform of marijuana laws. I also support the enforcement of the laws against marijuana until, if ever, they are reformed.
Inarguably, the prohibition of marijuana has caused more damage to our society than the recreational use of marijuana ever could.
If it's illegal-it's illegal.
I'm all for busting the coke, meth & crackheads of the world, but please quit wasting time/tax money on pot smokers. Even alcohol is far more dangerous than pot. How about we go after a few more drunk drivers that kill tens of thousands every year.
I know the Trimbles. They are not hardcore gansta' drug dealers. These are a couple of the nicest people you could meet. They probably grew this for their own use and shared a little with a few friends.
BTW I've haven't smoked in years, but...
It's time to legalize pot... seriously.
Hey Kwilthappy
Are you a Waste of skin or what,open your eyes and see what a waste of time to bust Pot users.
Check this out if you are not too stupid
www.LEAP.cc
Thank you Greywolf and others for realizing the Truth about Pot
Just some Real Idiots still out there
To quote a comedian, "You've never heard of anybody overdosing on marijuana, but if you take 13 Tylenol, that'll be your last headache"
Mutt that wasnt a very intelligent response considering depending on the maturity of the bud and wether they also mixed in the leaf you would get anywhere from 6-10 pounds of Marijuana from those 18 plants. Plus they already had 1 1/2 pound of dried Marijuna. Gee thats alot of personal use for maybe a small infantry group spread out over a year. They were selling thats clear. Now as far as legalizing Marijuana, No Marijuana is not the worst thing out there by far, thats why if you get caught with USER AMOUNT (i.e. NOT POUNDS) then u typically get a $100-200 fine and no jail time. Prove me otherwise for first time or even multiple offenders and I would be impressed. Not just from what your pot smoking buddies say. You dont go to prison for having user amount I dont care how many times your caught. Thats the paranoia in your head that Marijuana amplifies when smoked over long periods of time. Now if you ask any crackhead, Coke using, Heroin shooting, Meth snorting person on this planet what drug they first experimented with....ITS MARIJUANA....Bar none. And they like the high and want more. Now if you want your 18 year old kid to go try that legal bud from the grocery store and then think its ok to try meth and other things to get high then go right on ahead. I'll still get up everyday and fight the losing war on drugs and not give up on our kids or some peoples twisted ideals. Have a nice day.
If it's illegal-it's illegal.
-- Posted by olebluehair
It was also ILLEGAL to help runaway slaves. Just because something is ILLEGAL doesn't mean it is lawful. Too many good people have been deemed criminals by this unjust prohibition. I'd much rather my children grow up to be a pothead than a alcoholic any day (preferably neither). Too many families have been shattered because of alcohol, including my own, it is FAR MORE WORSE than pot.
As a woman who was a young adult in the 70's and 80's, I had my share of pot. I agree it should be legalized again. Although I made the choice to no longer consume, from my personal experience, I can tell you that back even then there was hard drugs. The choice to advance further than just smoking a little weed was just that...a choice as it is today. There were no meth labs in this area that I know of, there were no kids killing their classmates and shooting their parents. We tended to just mellow out and not consume much alcohol. The last thing we really wanted was to get into any trouble. That was the age of peace, remember?
I agree that the harder drugs, alcohol included are very dangerous. As a bartender, I see people, including some in the legal field get totally blown away and then get in their car and drive. That is another subject that I could go on forever about...but anyhow...
The only thing that I see that would be wrong is in fact driving or operating heavy machinery under the influence of it, although back in the day, I could smoke a bit and clean house from one end of the other and be extremely happy doing it. I could get in the mindframe to do just about anything I chose to do.
I feel that if you have never smoked it then you really don't have anything to say about it. There's been some that have tried it, just like alcohol, and didn't like it. That's your choice, but I do believe that if it was packaged and marketed, this country could be out of debt in no time. It is a natural plant that has been put on this earth for some reason. The indians smoked it in the peace pipe and the medicinal benefits are definitely proven, just like the opium plant.
I also know John and Kathy and yes they are fun and seem to be just harmless old hippy's and I understand where some of you are coming from in saying what harm is it to smoke a little pot--but I also agree with the fact that if you ask any crackhead, Coke using, Heroin shooting, Meth snorting person on this planet what drug they first experimented with....ITS MARIJUANA..... And they like the high and want more. Now if you want your 13 year old to go out to John and Kathy's and have a little smoke... or if the "friends" with who John and Kathy are sharing the marijuana with happens to be a friend of your 13 year old child and then think its ok to try meth and other things to get high then go ahead.and keep telling yourself that it is just a little pot it won't hurt you... I'll still stand up and fight the losing war on drugs and not give up on our kids or some peoples twisted ideals. and I will still pray that your child down the road does not end up dead or with aids from sharing needles. Ya it is just a little pot..what harm can it be..try telling that to the families who have lost loved ones from OD ing on drugs.. Try telling that to the children who watch there mother shoot up and they go hungry while she spends the grociery money on drugs...ya she started out on just smoking pot.. and thinking what harm can it do...So for all of you out there blaming the law enforcement officers.. if you have not lost a loved one to drugs get down on your knees and thank God and thank God for these men and women who risk their lives daily to try to keep these drug pushers from getting your children hooked on drugs..
If you think it is ok to use marijuana do you think it should also be ok for athletes to use HGH and steroids? HGH and steroids actually improve your performance. Marijuana just makes you feel numb and all you want to do is sit in a chair and veg.
The "Gateway Drug" theory is a joke. Most abusers of hard drugs ate french fries before they started using drugs, too. Does that also make french fries a gateway to hard drugs?
If you can substitute thousands of items in your example and get the same result, then your example is worthless.
I'm sad to see how easy people view smoking pot as alright.. I had a friend who smoked pot and believe me I sure did not want them driving on the road,when I was...I realize there are people on things that should not be driving BUT this is against the Law.
I'm sad to see how easy people view smoking pot as alright.. I had a friend who smoked pot and believe me I sure did not want them driving on the road,when I was...I realize there are people on things that should not be driving BUT this is against the Law.
GOOD JOB THATS WHAT WE PAY POLICE TO DO!
Intoxicated people should not drive. Has anyone presented an argument otherwise? If not, then your comment is meaningless.
I agree that this is exactly what we pay the Police to do. I disagree with the prohibition of marijuana, but the law should be enforced unless it is changed.
But, it should be changed.
If police have been doing such a good job at combating drug usage, specifically marijuana, then why is it easier for a high schooler to get ahold of a bag of pot, than a pack of cigarettes or a bottle of booze??? My answer would have to do with the government's inability to monitor and regulate something that is under outright prohibition. If people are truly interested in protecting our children then shouldn't we be focusing on what is proven to be more effective?
The gateway for me was alcohol. I never liked pot because I would just eat then go to sleep. I have friends that are in their mid 60's that are still daily smokers. It would surprise most of you who they are.
Meth is bathtub and any fool knows it is bad but some are too stupid to realize the long term problems.
A heavy smoker is going to go through an ounce a week. 52 weeks equals 3.25 pounds a year. Everyone also knows the leaves are no good and you would not dare put then in your personal stash.
The rule is never sell the stuff or it might find it's way to your kids. I think a transaction between two 50 year olds for personal use is OK. A transaction of 5 bricks will end up on the playground. The law should recognize this.
Legalize it and it will be harder for the kids to get.
I don't know about you but I ALWAYS keep $6000.00 layin around the house. Nothin suspicious there. I normally keep several prescription medecines around also.
Wise up. They were not "sharing" with like minded people.
Sorry folks,
Are some of you just plain nuts? Drugs, including Pot are dangerous and if you didn't notice-illeagal. It has been proven time and time again smoking Pot leads to other drug use.
Do you have children, do all of you sit around and smoke this crap together? No wonder the world has gone mad. Have you participated in the DARE program at school and made the pledge to not use drugs and alcohol? Hipocrites. What kind of examples are you setting by saying the Timbles are nice people, I'm sure they are, but they grew Pot and obviously smoked it, again the word illegeal comes up, see a trend here?
SE Missouri should be known as the "dope" capitol of the state.
Some of you down the St. Louis every chance you get and now the tables have turned in terms of drug busts, shootings etc.
What goes around come around.
Marijuana and only marijuana must be decriminalized simply because we can legally purchase alcohol and tobacco. I'd also like to point out, again, that in Columbia, Missouri, if one is caught possessing up to one ounce, they receive a simple ticket while people who get caught for the same crime right outside of Columbia's city limits receive punishments which typically average 2 or so years of unsupervised probation in addition to a fine or community service. Denver, Colorado, recently decriminalized possession of an ounce for 21+ year olds. And then explain to me medicinal marijuana and it's legalization in nine states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington ( http://ask.yahoo.com/20030718.html ) and Maryland has a less lenient medicinal marijuana law set up. Just recently, Nevada put marijuana possession--like Denver's policy--up to a vote and 44% of voters approved legalization ( http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/461/... ). Rumor has it that prior to Hillary Clinton, New York State was discussing legalization.
Like I said in yesterday's Speak Out, "addiction" to anything is just an excuse. All human beings are capable of fighting off "addiction" is they truly put their minds to it. Besides, I always thought that it was common knowledge that alcohol is more "addictive" than marijuana. You disagree, eh? Well consider how many times you have heard of a person going to rehabilitation solely because of marijuana use and then compare that number to how many times you have heard of a person going to rehabilitation solely due to alcohol use. Granted, alcohol is widely available and legal; but you'd be surprised at how accessible marijuana really is and the people that smoke on a regular basis: Sir Richard Branson, anyone?
You can go ahead and holler "crime" at me and I'll just roll my eyes. People who commit crimes--like burglary to collect money that is supposed to be for drugs--fall in a completely different category and should be dealt with severely. I know from personal experience (boy, I hope my mom doesn't read this) that marijuana is the only currently illegal drug that is worth it because it is an unaltered plant that is treated like cigar tobacco. I could go into details, but I need to stop right now and I hope you take my word for that. As far as I'm concerned, drugs not including marijuana should have penalties so stiff that they become totally unworthy.
Although it is debatable, the pharmaceutical lobby is the largest reason why marijuana is still illegal by federal standards. Speaking of pills: on a daily basis, can you imagine how many US citizens cross over to Canada and Mexico to pick up some pain killers? Although it is moot in this country, Canada and Mexico have really lax laws regarding marijuana.
Another large contributing factor to why marijuana is illegal is the simple fact that our beloved government has a hard time taxing marijuana because it can be grown just about anywhere. Now, if the government could only grow enough (anybody ever heard of Government-13? ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-13 )), the costs would be low enough to thwart black market business.
caperacer-I don't recall telling you what you should do. I DID say a big thankyou to law enforcement for helping rid of the STILL ILLEGAL drugs-like it or not. NO-I have not witnessed the things I mentioned as to the growing and transporting the pot-this came to me from my family who are in law enforcement. I know what pot does to our kids. I care about our kids. I have seen gifted kids go home and pass out from smoking pot all day after school. I have seen their grades go from A's to F's because of drug mentality. And I never said a word comparing alcohol & pot. And say what you will, I have heard from many that are addicted to harder drugs that they started with pot. Maybe you didn't, but just the fact that anyone does is enough proof for me. What you do is your business but when it involves "sharing with friends" I don't want it shared with my children.
Cape Cop, you are right, it wasn't a very intelligent response. I should have kept my mouth shut as my spouse would say. However look at the dialog! We have some very interesting and heart felt convictions. It is illegal and that is it in a nutshell--though it should be legalized, regulated and taxed. I still do believe it was for personal consumption. Lots of gardeners share there wares. Many people keep money stashed, and out in the sticks, if you don't have a gun, you are the exception rather than the rule. So $100,000 is excessive to say the least. They are not a danger to others.
Pot leading to other drugs is an example of the big lie theory. Make the claim enough and a lot of people will believe it. Elder is right, when you can substitute French fries for marijuana and get the same results then the study has no meaning.
Everyone knows that the real gateway drug is alcohol - not pot.
I don't think anyone on this thread wants kids smoking pot, anymore than they want them drinking beer or whatever.
I think the people here that have smoked pot are just stating that the laws need to changed. Probably something similar to alcohol - 21 years old and NO driving under the influence.
Just think, instead of the government having our underpaid law enforcement officers waste their time on pot smokers, they could legalize and tax it. Then they'd promise to use the new tax revenue to give raises to the same law enforcement officers that are now able to concentrate on more serious crimes. I'm sure the raises would be substantial because it's a biiiiig market - look at the beer sales in this country. Imagine... America's Pot Farmer, friend to law enforcement officers everywhere.
But all this will probably never happen, because lobbyists for the alcohol and pharmaceutical companies would shut-down any attempt to move-in on their market.
If half the alcoholics and pill poppers on prescriptions like prozac and xanax would flush everything down the drain and just go smoke a joint and relax, it would probably do them alot of good -- but it would really hurt the pockets of (legal drug) companies like Anheuser-Busch and Pfizer.
BTW I haven't smoked pot in years.
I too know the Trimbles and have for years. They are old hippies, and sounds like only supplying for themselves. Please law enforcement, take care of the meth labs, crack and cocaine dealers. Get them off of the streets. They are much worse criminals than the Trimbles.
What's up with the guy in Fruitland that was arrested a couple of weeks ago for growin MJ plants? It was on the news, but his name was never released. If my memory serves me correctly, he had quite a bit more than this couple. What's up with that?
SE Missouri should be known as the "dope" capitol of the state. by St Louis Lady
That is the quote of the day. If I remember correctly the Sikeston/Charlseton area was known as the Meth capitol of the state some years back.
But, if you think that the SEMO area is worse than the STL or even KC area then I must laugh at you.
Maybe the law enforcement in this part of the state is actually working to do something about it, instead of taking baseball tickets from scallpers and pocketing the (scallped) money.
GREYWOLF-NO where did I mention kids in hospitals because of inhaling pot. Please read more carefully instead of between the lines and putting words in my mouth. And I am not a prohibitionist and if you are so inclined, take yourself to Capitol Hill and fight for what you believe in the right way. We still have to abide by the laws in society until they are changed. I don't like a lot of our laws but we have to set examples for our kids. What I am most concerned about is our kids. I don't mean to argue a point about whether I believe it is right or wrong for personal use, but it has to be done legally and I don't agree with something that leaves weapons, large sums of cash, and illegal other drugs around for kiddies or thieves to find.
"Play it faster Sammy! Faster! Faster Sammy!".
My favorite line from Reefer Madness. Guess some folks never realized it was a comedy.
kwilthappy: Generally society does not obey laws until they are changed. Dead letter laws greatly outnumber laws that were ever officially overturned. Look at Anti-miscegenation laws, Anti-Sodomy laws, most Blue Laws, etc... those were ignored in the vast majority of the country for decades before laws were officially changed(and in a few places they are still on the books though hardly ever enforced).
I don't hold out much hope for legislatures to decriminalize drugs, I do hold a lot of hope that a sizable enough section of the populace will find the current drugs laws to be immoral and useless. All it takes is 1 person in each group of jurists who finds a law to be unjust before the law becomes unenforceable. I believe that widespread jury nullification is far more likely to lead to an end to drug prohibition.
Alcohol prohibition was significantly weakened by nullification, our US revolution was in part sparked by William Penns nullified conviction, and the Alien and Sedition Act & Fugitive Slave Act were widely neutered by rational jurists almost from the moment they became they became law. Hopefully informed jurists can eventually do the same thing to help end our current prohibition.
I must put my two cents in on this subject.....I have in my time experienced 'pot', I was too lazy to do anything, I certainly wasn't going to get off the couch to go out and commit a crime....and guess what? It never led to Meth, cocaine or any other drug.
Man made meth, man made cocaine, man made ALCOHOL.....these are horrible drugs and should be dealt with.
Where did POT come from? Now, who ya gonna trust? Oh....I forgot....some are wanting our dollar to omit God. God placed everything we needed on earth for healing and I trust God. God also says to obey the Laws of the Land and this is a particular law of the land.
I take Xanax as a prescription drug, by all rights if I should be pulled over and my Xanax bottle is on my being, I am driving under the influence of a narcotic and COULD go to jail. Once I get to jail, I am still under the influence while I am locked up distributed to me by the 'Law'.
Cape Cop, as I have said, we want these drugs off the street, but you are telling anyone who reads this...let me quote, "You dont go to prison for having user amount I dont care how many times your caught." What message are you sending? This statement says to me
Go ahead and smoke your personal stash all you will get is a slap on the wrist over and over and over. Well I look at it like this, if you have a personal stash it's ok to smoke it, BUT what about the 'Where did you get it?'part of it? Hmmmmm....probably from a dealer...HELLO against the LAW!
I think personally if 'Pot' was legal, we would find less crime on our streets because MOST would be too lazy to get off the couch and commit crimes. I also believe our main focus would be to get these 'man made drugs' off the streets and worry about the 'Pot' after we get the serious drugs cleaned up.
OPINION...doesn't make me right...but sure doesn't make me wrong! That goes for everyone who may post their 'OPINION' on this site or any other site!
One more thing....I don't feel this statement has one thing to do with another..."Now if you ask any crackhead, Coke using, Heroin shooting, Meth snorting person on this planet what drug they first experimented with....ITS MARIJUANA....Bar none. And they like the high and want more." I have no experience with being or knowing a "crackhead, Coke using, Heroin shooting, Meth snorting person on this planet....and I am greatful I can say that, but from my understanding, these are the ones out here doing the majority of crimes, more than likely due to the ADDICTION and wanting more but have lack of money for their habit which leads to serious criminal actions. I have never heard of 'POT' being an addiction, it can be quit at anytime with no symptoms of the "NEED more or I'm gonna lose it" type drug.
Just MY OPINION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Althouth this is completley unrelated, I personaly know these people and they are both two of the nicest people I have ever met, I hate how newspaper articles make people seem so bad, although what they did was "wrong" So what, they made a bad choice people learn from this, Everyone has made a bad choice or two and as a person that knows them both, I pray for both of them and hope that all of this just flies over smoothly