A pilot from Kissimmee has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a marijuana smuggling operation.
In October, Randall C. Starcher, 44, pleaded guilty in federal court in Orlando to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Starcher was also ordered by the federal court to forfeit a Cessna 206 aircraft, which was used to transport the drugs. Starcher was paid to fly the marijuana from Texas to Central Florida between 2009 and 2010. He was paid for his services.
Posts Tagged ‘marijuana’
Pilot Sentenced To Federal Prison For Drug Smuggling
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Marijuana is Dangerous
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
More teenagers than before are using marijuana and experts believe it could be because marijuana has the perception of being less dangerous than other drugs.
With the issue of medical marijuana featuring prominently in the news, many teenagers may think that the drug is not as harmful and addictive as it truly is. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one in three high school seniors reported that they had used marijuana in the past year. This is a slight increase from previous years and an increase of note since the numbers had been falling for about ten years.
It is important to reinforce the dangers and addictive nature of marijuana to your teenager. A frank and open discussion about marijuana and other drugs will only strengthen your relationship with your teenager and reduce the likelihood of drug abuse in the future.
George Michael Charged with Marijuana Possession
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
George Michael has been charged with marijuana possession and driving while unfit through alcohol or drugs after an incident in north London last month. Michael, 47, was arrested on July 4 after allegedly crashing his Range Rover into the front of a photo shop in Hampstead.
Michael, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, was formally charged when he reported to a police station in Camden. He was later released on bail. He will appear in court on August 24.
Top 10 Most Addictive Drugs
Monday, August 16th, 2010
1.) Nicotine
Smoking tobacco causes chemical and structural changes in the brain. An increasing number of brain receptors become sensitive to nicotine and in turn, require more nicotine to function. This is what causes addiction and nicotine withdrawal when a person attempts to quit smoking.
2.) Alcohol
The human body can become dependent on alcohol. Many people are predisposed to alcohol abuse because of a family history. Other factors like environmental causes and personality can also contribute to an addiction to alcohol.
3.) Caffeine
Caffeine addiction is real. Coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks all contain caffeine. Withdrawal symptoms can occur 12 to 24 hours after quitting and symptoms may include headache, depression, lethargy, nausea and muscle pain or stiffness.
4.)Marijuana
Marijuana use produces relaxation, increased hearing and taste and euphoria. Negative effects of marijuana use can include panic attacks, paranoia, lack of coordination and difficulty performing tasks. Users of marijuana find it tough to quit and may experience anxiety, irritability and insomnia while trying to quit.
5.) PCP
Phencyclidine is also known as PCP or angel dust. It creates feelings of euphoria. It can also cause hallucinations and lead to kidney failure, heart arrhythmias, seizures or death. PCP was first developed as a painkiller but was not approved because of its mind-altering side effects. Many PCP users are not conscious of the dangerous effects of using the drug.
6.) Cocaine
Using cocaine provides a feeling of euphoria. There is a marked feeling of increased energy, less inhibition and stimulation of the central nervous system. Cocaine use can eventually cause social withdrawal, depression, memory loss and mood swings.
7.) Amphetamines
In the 1960s, amphetamines were used to fight fatigue and treat mild depression. Amphetamines are a very addictive class of drugs. The drug is a stimulant that can be found in lower doses of over-the-counter medication, sometimes used in appetite suppressants or to help keep people awake. Abuse of amphetamines in high doses can cause regular users to suffer from irritability, restlessness and tremors.
8.) Inhalants
The abuse of inhalants has become a huge problem, especially among teenagers. Inhalants are found in cleaning fluids, paints, model glue, hairspray, spray paints, gasoline and aerosol cans. The use of inhalants can cause brain damage, liver or kidney damage, convulsions, nerve damage and sudden death.
9.) Heroin
Heroin is a highly addictive drug. Heroin addicts can overdose, and often die. Withdrawal from the drug must be done under medical care. The drug is often injected so there is a significant risk in the sharing of needles. This raises the likelihood of contracting a bloodborne virus like hepatitis or HIV.
10.) Oxycodone
Oxycodone is a prescription pain medication. It is a highly addictive drug. Those who are addicted to oxycodone may experience bursts of energy but also depression or nervousness.
07-25-2010 Alcohol and Drug The Treatment Center’s Blog of the Day
Sunday, July 25th, 2010
The closing of a residential drug treatment center in Indiana due to a $400,000 deficit has caused concern among county officials who rely on the program as an alternative to jail. Hamilton Center Inc. has announced the closing of its seven-bed residential drug treatment center in Terre Haute, Indiana. The drug treatment center will close on July 23. It has provided recovery services for men in the community since 2005. Many of those in the program were assigned through a Vigo County court.
The implications of the drug treatment center’s closure have been felt throughout the local justice system. Judge Michael Lewis of Vigo County Superior Court said that the 28-day program has been an essential tool for the courts to use in getting treatment help for defendants.
“Keeping them involved in some type of rehab keeps them off of drugs,” Lewis said. “I’m not sure about the success rate, but I know if it helps even a few to turn their lives around, then it’s worth it. If we can save even one life, it’s a good thing.”
Most of the inmates in the Vigo County jail are struggling with some kind of drug or alcohol addiction. Often, those inmates are not released from the jail until they have had some time to detox. This makes them more suitable to successfully complete a program at a drug treatment center.
“Any incentive we can give these people to stay away from drugs, stay away from alcohol, we utilize. And that’s another one that’s gone now,” Lewis said. Another drug treatment center in the area, Fellowship House, closed its doors in April, a victim of the poor economy. The closure of the Hamilton Center leaves Freebirds Solutions Center, Club Soda and Club Gobi as the only drug treatment centers available in Vigo County.
A local defense attorney said the loss of the Hamilton Center will add to the county’s jail overcrowding and budget problems.
“The most expensive thing to do for someone is to incarcerate them,” said Christopher Shema. “If you can put someone in a residential treatment program or a halfway house where they can get the help they need, at a much lower cost than incarceration, everyone wins.”
Shema said many of his clients are assigned by the court because they are indigent and benefit from treatment programs. He believes that if they do not have access to treatment besides jail, they are more likely to commit other crimes in the future.
“It’s like having a toolbox with only a hammer, a sometimes a screwdriver or pliers is the more efficient tool,” Shema said.
The county sheriff knows that the closing of the Hamilton Center program is a problem for the community.
“Even though it’s only seven beds,” Sheriff Jon Marvel said, “those seven beds are freed up every 28 days, so seven a month are basically getting out of jail into treatment.”
Transferring nonviolent offenders into drug treatment programs is more cost efficient. It also means a person is less likely to commit future crimes because of an addiction to drugs. The Vigo County jail is constantly overcrowded and is currently over its limit of 268 set by an agreement with the Indiana Civil Liberties Union following a lawsuit ten years ago.
07-23-2010 Alcohol and Drug The Treatment Center’s Blog of the Day
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
New research finds that older women who binge drink during pregnancy are at a higher risk for giving birth to babies with permanent alcohol-related brain damage. Children of pregnant women age 30 or older are more likely to suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, a group of birth defects that includes irreversible physical and mental problems and mental retardation.
“Our finding that children born to older drinking mothers have more alcohol-related attention deficits than children born to younger drinking women is consistent with prior studies,” said Lisa M. Chiodo, an assistant professor in the college of nursing at Wayne State University in Michigan.
“Although not conclusive, this finding may be due to older moms drinking for longer periods, greater alcohol tolerance, and having more alcohol-related health problems – all leading to higher levels of alcohol in their fetuses,” said Chiodo. “It has also been suggested that changes in body size, metabolism or composition, or number of births, which are all related to maternal age, may be factors increasing the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure.”
The study involved 462 children – an equal amount of boys and girls – who were born to inner-city women. The researchers looked at binge drinking, smoking, cocaine, marijuana and opiate use during pregnancy.
The researchers discovered babies born to mothers who were binge drinking while pregnant had more attention deficit issues than those babies born to younger mothers.
The National Women’s Health Information Center cautions that there is no safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.
7-13-10 Alcohol and Drug Treatment centers Blog of the Day
Saturday, July 17th, 2010A new compound similar to the active component of marijuana may provide effective pain relief without all the negative side effects. A new study published in the journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society discovered that MDA19, a synthetic cannabinoid, seems to avoid side effects by acting on one specific subtype of the cannabinoid receptor.
“MDA19 has the potential for alleviating neuropathic pain without producing adverse effects in the central nervous system,” said study author Dr. Mohamed Naguib of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The study involved analyzing the pharmacology and effects of MDA19. The research led by Dr. Naguib was designed to see if the cannabinoid receptors can be a target for new drugs to treat neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is difficult to treat and common in patients with diabetes.