Rapides man accused of possessing 'hydro' marijuana

Local authorities have arrested a 68-year-old man from Melder in Rapides Parish and charged him with possession with intent to distribute "hydro" marijuana.

Sgt. Clay Higgins with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's office said officers with the sheriff's Highway Interdiction Team stopped Lawrence H. Decuire for speeding on Interstate 49.

He said the stop was made by Detective Brandon Dugas, who noticed the suspect appeared nervous when he was pulled over. "Dugas became suspicious of Decuire when he smelled the odor of raw marijuana inside the vehicle," Higgins said.

He said Dugas located a small amount of marijuana and some drug paraphernalia on Decuire. That created a probable cause to search the vehicle.

The officer then located a taped box "containing a large quantity of hydro marijuana."

Higgins said "hydro" is the street name for marijuana grown indoors, often in a nutrient-rich solution instead of soil.

"Because the grower can add specific nutrients and pure supplements to the water, the THC content of hydroponically grown marijuana is very high, making this type of marijuana extremely powerful," Higgins said.

Decuire has been charged with speeding, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.