Is 'BC Bud' Marijuana Making Inroads Here?

Two men from New York are facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized five pounds of BC Bud marijuana, valued at $25,000, during a traffic stop last week on the Ohio Turnpike.

In a separate incident, a third man from New Jersey was also arrested yesterday with $50,000 of BC Bud.

BC Bud marijuana is one of the most potent strains of cannabis, which is usually cultivated in British Columbia. It has a THC content of 30 percent, compared to 4 percent in traditional marijuana.

It has typically been found in California, Washington, Oregon and other northwestern states.

Detective Lt. John Janowski said have not yet encountered the potent drug. 

But it has turned up twice now in adjacent Lorain County.

Troopers stopped a 1995 Buick for a following-too-close violation on the turnpike about 3 p.m. Oct. 27. A drug-sniffing dog alerted to the vehicle and troopers then found the marijuana.

At 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, a trooper stoppped a 2010 Subaru Forester improperly changing lanes, then smelled marijuana. A drug-sniffing dog alerted the vehicle and 10 pounds of BC Bud was found. Also located during the search were Ecstasy, Klonopin and other unidentified pills.

The driver, Robert Cascella, 36, of Kendall Park, N.J., was charged with possession of marijuana and aggravated trafficking in marijuana, both third-degree felonies, and multiple counts of possession of schedule I narcotics, all fifth-degree felonies.

In the earlier incident, Christopher Keller, 54, of Middleport, N.Y., and Michael Ryckman, 45, of Painted Post, N.Y., were charged with possession of marijuana and trafficking in marijuana, both third-degree felonies.

They could face up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

According to U.S. Customs, BC Bud has become Canada's No. 2 cash crop, and users "consider it so exceptional that they are willing to pay cocaine prices for it."