ORLANDO, Fla. — Nearly 900 pounds of marijuana headed to Orlando was intercepted in Georgia as part of a larger interstate shipment, according to the Butts County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Gary Long said authorities seized approximately 1,800 pounds of marijuana in Butts County on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The shipment originated in Sacramento, California. Long said approximately half was destined for Atlanta, while the other half was headed to Orlando.
The Sheriff’s Office released photos showing law enforcement officers standing behind a large pile of bags containing what authorities identified as marijuana.
The agency’s statement did not identify anyone connected with the shipment, announce any arrests or charges or disclose its intended destination in Orlando.
Florida permits medical marijuana for qualified patients, but only state-licensed medical marijuana treatment centers are authorized to cultivate, process and dispense it, according to the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use.
Long used the seizure to make a broader argument about marijuana legalization and the continued existence of illegal sales.
“The illegal marijuana trade does not stop at the state line,” Long said.
The sheriff argued that criminal operations can undercut licensed marijuana businesses because they do not pay taxes, licensing fees or regulatory expenses.
Long also said Mexican drug-trafficking organizations and other criminal groups continue to move marijuana across state lines. However, the Sheriff’s Office did not connect this shipment to a particular cartel or criminal organization.
The sheriff urged Georgia lawmakers to examine the experiences of states that have legalized recreational marijuana before expanding the state’s existing medical cannabis program.
Georgia allows registered patients to possess certain medical cannabis products, but recreational marijuana remains illegal. The Georgia Department of Public Health says the state’s medical program does not legalize the possession or sale of other forms of marijuana.
“Georgia, let’s get it right the first time,” Long said.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
TOP STORIES FROM WFTV CHANNEL 9
©2026 Cox Media Group