If you’re going to drive around with nearly 500 pounds of marijuana packed into the back of your SUV, you’d probably want to do everything possible to avoid attracting the attention of police. Speeding down the highway might not be the best way to accomplish that.
One California driver apparently learned that lesson after getting stopped by a California Highway Patrol officer on Highway 20, west of Walnut Drive. What started as a relatively ordinary speeding stop quickly became something much bigger once the officer approached the Toyota SUV.
According to CHP’s Williams Area office, the officer noticed “numerous signs of criminal activity” while speaking with the driver. There was also the not-so-small matter of nearly 500 pounds of marijuana filling the rear passenger area of the vehicle.
California might have legalized recreational marijuana, but that doesn’t mean you can simply load hundreds of pounds into an SUV and hit the highway without following the law. Police said the driver didn’t have the documentation required to legally transport the marijuana, resulting in a trip to jail instead.
Speeding Stop Uncovers Nearly 500 Pounds of Marijuana
The incident began when the CHP officer spotted the Toyota SUV speeding on Highway 20. Exactly how fast the vehicle was traveling wasn’t included in the department’s post.
Once the officer approached the SUV, however, the traffic violation quickly became the least interesting part of the stop. CHP said there were nearly 500 pounds of marijuana inside, with the accompanying photo showing what appears to be a massive amount of plant material packed throughout the rear passenger and cargo areas.
Authorities said the driver was unable to provide the required documentation to legally transport the cargo. The driver was subsequently arrested and booked into the Colusa County Jail on multiple drug possession and transportation charges.
CHP didn’t identify the driver or provide additional information about where the marijuana came from or where it was headed. The agency did, however, say it remains committed to removing illegally transported drugs from California roads.
Commenters Can’t Get Over Speeding With That Much Weed
Considering the sheer amount of marijuana discovered, plenty of commenters had essentially the same reaction. One reached for Bill & Ted and simply wrote, “Whoa,” while another perhaps described the photo best with, “Dats-alota-weed!”
Others couldn’t understand why someone carrying that much marijuana would do anything to attract police attention in the first place. One commenter sarcastically wrote, “Speeding was probably a good idea,” while another couldn’t believe the combination either, writing, “Speeding really with 500 pounds.. wow.”
There was also plenty of debate over the reported weight and what exactly was inside the vehicle. One person questioned whether the nearly 500-pound figure included wet or untrimmed plants, while another joked that there was “no way 500 footballs can fit in that vehicle” and suggested much of the material must have been leaves.
Then there were commenters questioning how the officer knew something was wrong in the first place, with some speculating about surveillance technology. Others offered a much simpler explanation: once an officer has lawfully stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and walks up to an SUV with its rear passenger area seemingly packed with marijuana, it might not take futuristic technology to notice something unusual.