Marijuana found in The Junction
Approximately an ounce of marijuana was found at the Utah State University eatery, The Junction Nov. 24.
A Junction employee found the marijuana in a plastic bag under a beverage counter and notified USU Campus Police, Lt. Joe Izatt said.
How long the marijuana had been there or who it belongs to is unknown. Investigation is still underway.
Izatt said while drugs are not an unusual problem on campus, the recent situation is a little out of the ordinary.
“There are always drugs on campus, but it’s a little unusual that we find them out in the open,” Izatt said.
Lt. Greg Riddler of the Logan City Police Department and supervisor of the Cache and Rich counties Drug Task Force are also aware of the drug problems on campus.
“We have received info that there is drug activity up there,” Riddler said.
Riddler said the police department often receives calls regarding parties where drugs may be present and advises students to be as specific as possible when reporting such events so patrol officers can be prepared.
The task force, headed by Riddler, is made of police officers from the area including USU police and investigates almost any situation having to do with narcotics. The task force focuses on finding those who are selling drugs. The majority of drug problems in the area deal with drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and “club drugs” such as ecstasy, Riddler said. While harder drugs such as heroine are less common, drug crimes in the area are not to be taken lightly.
“I think the general perception is that we don’t have a drug problem. Granted it’s not as big as what happens in Salt Lake or Ogden, but we still have surges in use and possession,” Riddler said. ” It’s a problem because it affects everybody and their quality of life.”
Riddler said many other crimes, especially auto burglaries and other forms of theft, are committed because of addictions to drugs.
It is doubtful task force will get very involved in the Nov. 24 case because the amount of marijuana was quite small, Riddler said.