Typically, April 20, or 420, is a sort of pseudo-holiday celebrated by marijuana enthusiasts, but a trio that was transporting some 500 pounds of the stuff ended up leaving it all on the highway. Two of the three individuals were charged with drug trafficking and could face years of prison time. That could change though because Missouri is already in the process of considering whether or not marijuana should be legalized across the state.
Early on the morning of April 20, a 2007 GMC Sierra being piloted by David Navarro struck a semi-truck that was itself trying to avoid another accident already on the highway. To make matters worse, another big rig then hit the rear of the Sierra. Thankfully, only minor injuries were reported among the occupants of all three vehicles.
Unfortunately for Navarro and one of his passengers, a man named Victor Acosta, they were soon after charged with first-degree drug trafficking which is a felony. Navarro himself was additionally charged with “driving resulting in an crash”. Yes, “an crash”. Poor Missourian grammar (or typos) aside, that first charge was the result of some 500 pounds worth of marijuana that was strewn out across the highway so wide and far that Police couldn’t help but notice it when they arrived.
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After it was all collected at the crash scene, it took more than one patrol car to transport it to the evidence room. pic.twitter.com/gDm58b0PoK
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) April 21, 2022
There was so much of it that the Missouri State Highway Patrol said that it took more than one vehicle to transport all of it back to the station.
Right now, Missouri lawmakers are in different stages of potentially legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. One effort is already through two committees in the state’s legislature and another is a ballot initiative that’s continuing to gain signatures for a possible vote in November of 2022.
Politicians from the state have expressed interest in expunging the record of those previously convicted for marijuana-related crimes if the drug becomes legal but that may not apply to individuals like these that were transporting so much of it.
Certainly, for Navarro and Acosta, expungement would be a welcome reprieve as they could face anywhere from 5 to 30 years in prison if convicted under current Missouri law.