Timmonsville Police Seize Marijuana, Estimate Worth at $442K

A Timmonsvile resident has been arrested on marijuana charges after officers seized a huge amount of the drug from his house.

Lance Eric Miles, 36, was arrested on drug charges by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office narcotics division. He was charged with manufacturing marijuana.

The arrest comes at the end of a two-month-long investigation into the “sizeable grow operation” at Miles’s home in Timmonsville, SC.

According to police reports, officers seized 177 marijuana plants, valued at approximately $442,000. Officers also seized “sophisticated hydroponic growing system including lights and ventilation,” the sheriff said on his Facebook page.

The Florence County Sheriff’s Office states that the investigation into the marijuana growing operation will continue and additional arrests are possible.

Marijuana Drug Charges Including Possession and Trafficking in South Carolina

In August of this year, the US Department of Justice said that it would not pursue legal action against Washington State and Colorado, two states which legalized the recreational use of marijuana in the November 2012 election. That statement has paved the way for both states to set rules for marijuana growing operations and use.

Meanwhile, South Carolina still has incredibly stringent marijuana regulation, from simple possession to growing operations. House Minority Leader Tim Rutherford recently proposed that South Carolina change their drug laws and allow for medical marijuana use, citing several studies that suggest that using marijuana in small doses can help patients who suffer long-term chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia or cancer. DHEC can, as of a law in 1980, choose to dispense marijuana, but only if the federal government OK’s the drug’s use. While federal regulators have not officially OK’d the use of marijuana, either for medicinal or recreational use, the decriminalization of marijuana could pave the way for Rutherford’s proposal.

Until different marijuana legislation is passed through the South Carolina state legislature, a first time offender charged with simple possession of marijuana can face up to thirty days in jail and be ordered to pay a fine, which can more than double when you add in court costs.

The penalties can significantly increase depending upon:

• The type of drug,
• the quantity of drugs,
• whether your case is brought in State or Federal court,
• your prior criminal record, or
• if you are accused of a drug crime within proximity of a school, park, or childcare facility.

Penalties for Trafficking Marijuana: more than ten pounds, but less than one hundred pounds, can include:

• First offense: One to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines;
• Five to 20 years in prison and $15,000 in fines for a second offense trafficking charge;
• 25 years in prison and $20,000 in fines for a third or subsequent offense.

If you are charged with trafficking over one hundred pounds of marijuana your possible conviction can result in up to 30 years in prison and $200,000 in fines.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Marijuana Drug Charges

The marijuana trafficking and possession lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients, providing aggressive representation grounded in our years of experience building and interpreting the laws of South Carolina. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. 803.252.4800