Pot seized may be medical marijuana

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE) - A New Mexico man was busted for marijuana, but narcotics agents said this isn’t your run-of-the-mill weed.

Agents said it’s high-grade and can cost a lot more than normal, low-grade marijuana.

Just over five pounds of marijuana is now evidence, seized by Otero County agents and deputies, along with U.S. Border Patrol agents Monday.

“The individuals that are licensed producers, oftentimes their product will hit the black market, and it’ll be sold or transported or mailed,” said Otero County Undersheriff, David Hunter.

Investigators suspect that is what may have happened in this case.

Agents received a tip that someone was selling marijuana out of a house in Boles Acres south of Alamogordo.

Deputies searched that home, which belongs to Shawn Danielewicz, 39. They reported finding drug paraphernalia, a gun and more than $800 cash in his wallet.

Agents also found about five pounds of what they refer to as high-grade marijuana.

“It’s very well manicured; a lot of it is grown hydroponically ," Hunter said.  They cultivate the marijuana to get the highest amount of THC, which is more common with your medical producers,” Hunter explained.

THC-- tetrahydrocannabinol --is the active ingredient in marijuana.

High grade marijuana, Hunter said, is also very expensive.

Narcotics agents said the five pounds seized from Danielewicz has a street value of nearly $20,000. Agents said if it were low-grade marijuana, the same amount would be worth around $1,500.

Agents believe the batch from Danielewicz may have come from California.

Hunter said their narcotics department is seeing more high-grade marijuana turning up in their drug seizures. He said some of it may be medical marijuana.

“We’re doing the best we can to interdict whenever it gets into distribution points or through the pipeline,” said Hunter.

Danielewicz is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of forfeitable property. He bonded out of jail Monday.