Tourists: Don’t Keep the Giant Marijuana Bundles Washing Up on Florida Beaches
There are a lot of wisdom-filled pieces of advice thrown around during ones' childhood, but there’s one that stands out among the rest: Always assume you’re going to get caught. And this is the perfect phrase to live by if you’re ever faced with the question of “Should I keep this bundle of marijuana I just found washed up on the beach?”
Visitors along Florida’s beaches — specifically Daytona Beach — have spotted some interesting objects along the shores, due to the recent ocean upheaval caused by Hurricane Florence. Among these objects are individually wrapped five-kilo bricks of marijuana, according to The Washington Post, which have popped up across three counties in Florida over the past week.
As with any illegal substance that quite literally falls into your lap, there’s a little part of your brain that’s probably asking “If I take this anonymous gift from the ocean, what could go wrong?” The answer: Everything.
As you can imagine, there were quite a few beachgoers who decided to try their luck. As the Washington Post reports: “This moral quandary was best demonstrated in a 911 call to the Volusia County sheriff last Thursday morning, when a woman reported, ‘We’re at Jungle Hut (Park) and a huge bundle of drugs or something just washed up on the beach and there are people like fighting over it.’ How many people? the call-taker inquired, according to a recording of the exchange. ‘There’s like seven or eight people out here,” the caller replied, ‘and they’re all like huddling up against it, and my dad’s trying to take it so that you guys can have it all.”
But what can actually happen if you do take it? Norml — a group aimed at providing information around marijuana laws — shares that if you’re caught with 20 grams or less of marijuana in Florida, you could face up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. But five kilos is much, much more than 20 grams. In fact, five kilos, or about 11 pounds, can result in five years in prison and a $5,000 maximum fine. Grab three of the beached marijuana packages, and you could be sentenced with 3-15 years in prison with fines reaching $25,000. An impromptu prison sentence might just be the worst way to end a vacation.
Local law enforcement is not kidding around: One witness who the Washington Post identifies as 61-year-old Robert Kelley took one of the bricks to his car and was arrested for possession and jailed. Another thing to note: Medical marijuana is completely legal in Florida, but recreational use is strictly forbidden.
So far, officials share that they’ve gathered close to 100 pounds of washed-up marijuana in the span of two days. They are also currently looking for woman wearing a yellow bikini who was photographed stealing one of the bundles before fleeing the scene.
The thought is that these bundles came from the same shipment, given that most of the marijuana has washed up along the St. Johns coast. There’s no official word on how long these packages may have been floating and whether or not they came from a capsized boat or an airplane drop.
If you do find one of these bundles, the best thing to do is contact local law enforcement and stay on the scene until they arrive. Local news station 13 WTHR also reports that anyone with any information around the marijuana bundles can also reach out to tips@flaglersheriff.com.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.