Just trying to make a living

Some estimates are that in this county the unemployment/underemployment rate is over 25%. That leads some folks to go outside the law in order to survive.

The crime rate here is up and the police should be using their time to catch the real criminals. Until we address the legalization of marijuana, these photos ops and local news features will continue with no noticeable improvement in the lives of the county population.

As usual, the Nashville media is hyping the value of this crop at $2 million. Wow! Become a millionaire with only a basement, some equipment and a few seeds. Just don't get caught.

Sophisticated hydroponic marijuana operation found

A local husband and wife team were arrested Tuesday when a sophisticated hydroponic marijuana operation worth over a million dollars was found in the Liberty area of Cannon County.

Sheriff Billy Nichols along with the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department cooperated with the TBI in arresting the couple and confiscating the equipment, marijuana and 273 marijuana plants.

The TBI came to the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department stating they had an active marijuana drug case against Marilyn Greene, AKA Marilyn Campbell and requested assistance to locate the home on Bony Ridge Road and acquire a consent to search.

When officers arrived at the home, Gerry Lynn Campbell met officers at the door and after some conversation, produced a small amount of marijuana stating it was for personal use.

However, Detective Charlie Wilder noticed several stems that had been stripped of marijuana in the kitchen area. After that discovery, officers asked and were given permission to search the rest of the home and property.

Found in the bedroom was an ashtray with several marijuana roaches, glass pipe and rolling papers. In another room was four box trays with marijuana laid out to dry. In the kitchen was a set of digital scales along with a plastic bucket that contained a large amount of processed marijuana buds.

As the group were logging the items and photographing them, Deputy Fann noticed a trap door under a rug in the kitchen. He raised the door to reveal a set of steps leading under the house to the basement where they found a sophisticated hydroponic marijuana operation with 273 plants in various stages of growth.

The room had all the lights and starters, water pumps and a reservoir, fertilizers, written instructions and other paraphernalia needed to carry out the operation. There were three hydroponic tables in the basement, two were active and the other was ready to be set up. A freezer contained a large bag of processed marijuana.

Officers disassembled the operation and transported it to the evidence storage facility. The marijuana was bagged and transported to the TBI Crime Lab. {More}

Also see: Another Arrest Made In Alleged Underground Marijuana Growing