Something about this story feels off. Maybe it is just overzealous local cops looking for a big civil forfeiture payout. But if you are shipping a tractor trailer load of industrial hemp across the country under the current laws and police climate, wouldn’t you be extra careful to have all the necessary paperwork, documentation and manifest lined up proving that it is actually industrial hemp?
Did you read the original article?
“We have a suite of paperwork that (proves the shipment) is hemp, but they jump to the conclusion that it’s marijuana and that it’s the biggest marijuana bust of all time,” Robison said.
The crew apparently stuck around for hours working with the various officials trying to work this out, which I assume would have included calls to both the supplier and customer, but were still arrested.
What's telling to me is that they were offered the chance to leave, but authorities wanted to keep the truck. If were not about forfeiture, the cops could have simply recorded everything, taken a sample of load, and sent them on their way. Charges could be pressed later, if needed. But then the locals don't have the truck to sell later.
There is no way a law enforcement person could possibly think that was actual marijuana for distribution. I mean, look at it. At "best", they may have thought they could gin something up related to the THC content not testing low enough, but that's a stretch. They just wanted to keep the truck, or they are complete idiots, or both.
