'Always seems to be over marijuana': Illegal pot sales driving some crime in Baltimore Co.

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — With Maryland on the verge of legalization, some point to the underground market for cannabis as a source of crime in Baltimore County.

“The thing that’s driving a lot of the violence is marijuana,” Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said during an interview on WBAL Radio this week. “Marijuana -- the distribution of marijuana.”

McCullough referred to illegal marijuana as a “cash crop.”

“Despite the changes, the underground economy for marijuana still exists,” he said.

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McCullough also told WBAL Radio marijuana is “a key factor in the majority” of homicides in Baltimore County.

“I think the Chief is absolutely correct,” said Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

Shellenberger told FOX45 News illegal pot sales are often an element in homicide cases his office deals with.

“There was a murder at the Trader Joe’s off of Kenilworth Avenue in Towson some time ago -- that was a drug deal and it was over marijuana,” said Shellenberger. “There was a murder in Towson near the credit union -- that was a murder, again, over a marijuana deal.”

He said the revelation that illegal weed – and not more serious, addictive drugs – are often linked to killings, comes as a surprise to many.

“Everyone has the same reaction -- like shocked,” he said. “Looking at me like, ‘you gotta be crazy!’ You just don’t see homicides over heroin, or homicides over fentanyl, or homicides over cocaine. But it always seems to be over marijuana.”

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On Friday a spokesperson for Baltimore County Police said, in a statement:

The issue is not unique to Baltimore County; it is a reality being faced by communities across the United States. While the legalization of recreational marijuana may have an impact on an illegal underground market, the men and women of the Baltimore County Police Department are prepared to address it.

Illegal underground markets will thrive as long as they are making money. The Baltimore County Police Department will be prepared to continue doing all it can to help combat illegal activity.

Baltimore County’s State’s Attorney told FOX45 News it will take at least a year to see any potential crime reduction due to the looming legalization of cannabis.

“A lot of that’s gonna depend on people’s attitudes towards walking into a store and buying versus getting it on the street,” said Shellenberger.