COLLATERAL COSTS

The Beaufort County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force filed 613 drug-related charges in 2003. Of these, 314, were for possession of marijuana. Sheriff P.J. Tanner says they continue to make undercover controlled drug buys and take dealers and users off the street one at a time, but it is a perhaps never-ending effort.

I'd give that the award for understatement of the year. Of course the sheriffs note they seized a significant amount of property in conjunction with these arrests.

In 2003, the task force seized $79,424 in cash, vehicles valued at $43,161, and 27 weapons, and filed 613 drug-related charges, according to the year-end report.

There's no estimate for the costs of manpower to effect these petty busts but according to official 2002 figures, the annual cost to house these 'offenders' was $13,023 per inmate. I leave it to you to do the math.

I can't believe the good citizens of Beaufort county haven't done it themselves. You would think they would realize the money they are spending on 'protecting' themselves from non-violent cannabis consumers could be paying for more police protection from actual crime, not to mention a few more firefighters to protect their property.

Go figure.