Los Banos Rotary Club History
Chief of Police Tells of Marijuana

Speaking before the Los Banos Rotary Club Tuesday noon, Chief of Police R. H. McSwain stated that to the best of his knowledge, there are no marijuana smokers in this community, though use of the drug is increasing throughout California at an alarming rate and is obtainable in almost every California city of any size.

The State Division of Narcotics, he said, is working unceasingly to bring use of the drug under control, but the department is understaffed and financially limited to such extent that all their attention is at present devoted to the large California cities, where use of the drug is being increasingly reflected in increase of crime.

By way of comparison, McSwain said there were more state game wardens assigned to this district for apprehension of game violators during duck and pheasant season than there are state narcotics agents in the entire state.
Commenting on the drug itself, McSwain quoted the medical profession as declaring that the smoking of marijuana in itself is not habit forming, but he pointed out that almost invariably it leads to the far more dangerous and body-wrecking drug heroin, which he said is the "last page in the book." McSwain also emphasized the fact that marijuana smokers are mostly juveniles and said that at one time last year there were known to be 5,000 teen-age addicts in New York City alone. Last year one out of every five dope peddlers arrested in New York were juveniles.

McSwain also told something of the plant itself, growing characteristics, and processing; and showed samples of both marijuana leaves and the processed cigarette filler that were taken by the Los Banos police several months ago in a raid in this city. Commenting on the same case, McSwain said he had received information several times that the drug was being sold in Los Banos, and after several unsuccessful investigations finally received information that places suspicion directly at "Bunky" Farrar, the man who was later arrested for growing and processing the weed and who is now serving a sentence in the penitentiary for such offense.

McSwain said he and his men kept a constant watch over Farrar for 39 days without result, then one evening he was driving through the alley back of Farrar's home and saw a marijuana plant growing just outside his bedroom window. Arrest followed the next morning and Farrar pleaded guilty as charged.

Chief McSwain was introduced by program chairman Gilbert Elliott.

Dinner Meeting

It was announced at the meeting next week would be an evening session, with members of Boy Scout troop 85 as honored guests.
Presiding officer duties at the luncheon were divided between City Clerk Mike Dambrosio and grammar school superintendent R. M. Miano, the former turing the gavel over to Past President Pete after first explaining that Rotary Club Uresident Wm. Woo, was enroute to Los Vegas with his bride-to-be.

November 30, 1951

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