Aeon Aviation Photography/iStock
Ohio has approved a grant to cover a helicopter for seeking out illegal cannabis grows across the state.
The state Attorney General's Office asked the Controlling Board to waive competitive selection in the amount of $70,000 to renew a contract with the Butler County Sheriff's Office to provide helicopter services for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation's illegal marijuana eradication initiative. This expense is subject to reimbursement from a federal grant.
This request is a renewal of an existing contract. The agencies validated the expense by saying that last year, the efforts of the marijuana eradication and suppression program resulted in 271 illegal marijuana plants pulled, and 2,186 pounds of processed marijuana seized.
Butler County is one of a few law enforcement agencies to have an aviation unit available for illegal marijuana eradication. The Drug Enforcement Administration grant funding that supports this initiative has stipulations regarding the use of private civilian vendors, limiting use to only law enforcement aircraft as well as state-owned aircraft. The agency said that based on industry standards, the hourly rate of an aircraft is $1,000 to $1,200 per hour. The Butler County Sheriff's Office is currently charging the AGO $900 an hour for the use of the aircraft and an additional $50 per hour for a spotter if needed.
