Border barter: This bud's for you

[zengrifter]

Border barter: This bud's for you

By ANGELA BRANDT - Independent Record - 09/23/07

HAVRE — Just as cocaine originates only in South America, the potent marijuana known as “B.C. bud” is grown only in British Columbia.

Demand for the two illicit drugs creates a steady crossover at the U.S.-Canadian border.

In the past, the typical barter involved a pound of the Canadian cannabis for an ounce of cocaine, but the exchange rate fluctuates drastically, Havre Police Chief George Tate said.

Havre, a north-central Montana border town of about 10,000, sees its share of marijuana trafficking. About 75 percent of that is B.C. bud, said Havre Police Lt. Jerry Nystrom, who is the Tri-Agency Safe Trails Task Force team leader.

“Bud is everywhere. It’s like buying a cup of coffee,” Nystrom said.

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