Man Texts Florida Detective For Weed By Accident

Sometimes, buying weed can be a little bit of an adventure. You have to hunt around to find a dealer you like and trust. There are times when the search for a dealer can create uncomfortable situations. According to the Gainesville, Florida Police Department, that’s exactly what happened recently to an unfortunate guy looking for some green.

Texting the Wrong Number

The Florida man in question apparently texted a detective with the Gainesville Police Department asking for weed.

The conversation allegedly started when the man texted the detective’s number: “Hey do you have bud I might need some.”

In response, the detective who allegedly received the text sent a picture of a Gainesville Police Detective badge. Beneath that, the detective texted: “I think you have the wrong number. Drugs are no good for you.”

After that, the man looking for bud replied: “oh my god” with an embarrassed emoji face. He wrapped up the conversation with: “I’m so sorry.”

Screenshots of the conversation were posted to the police department’s Facebook page, along with the message: “PSA: If you’re looking to score drugs….please double check the number before you text.”

“Also, drugs are bad, mmkay?”

Cops, Cannabis and Social Media

At this point, it’s unclear if the man who supposedly texted the detective has been identified. It’s also unclear if he’s faced any criminal charges.

It’s also unclear if this incident really happened the way the cops said it did.

In fact, over the last couple years, there’s been a growing trend in which police take to social media to crack exactly these kinds of weed jokes.

For example, last year, cops in Wyoming, Minnesota staged a photo for social media. In the foreground, it showed a row of snacks and video games. A cop holding a net crouched a few yards behind the stereotypical stoner treats. The post read: “Undercover #420 operations are in place. Discreet traps have been set up throughout the city today.”

There have been tons of variations on this general theme. In all of them, cops use social media to make cheeky jokes about busting people for cannabis.

And while it may appear to be nothing more than innocent—if cheesy—humor, there may also be a darker side to this trend.

At best, it’s a subtle way of continuing to vilify cannabis and delegitimize the legalization movement. It presents itself as benign fun. But beneath that, it reinforces the idea that cannabis is a dangerous drug that ought to be punished by law.

And at worst, it makes light of the ways that anti-cannabis laws have inflicted—and continue to inflict—incredible harm on people and communities of color.

Final Hit: Man Texts Florida Detective For Weed By Accident—Or Did He?

It’s unclear what happened in Gainesville. On the one hand, it could be an innocent and amusing mistake made by a guy trying to find a dealer. But on the other hand, the cops could have created the entire thing specifically for a social media post.

After all, there is a precedent. This could be the latest instance of cops using social media to hide the harms of anti-weed laws behind cheesy and playful-looking humor.