TRIAD, NC -- After one of the largest marijuana busts in county history, the Randolph County Sheriff's Office was being criticized, instead of praised.
Randolph County deputies found a grow operation in the small town of Franklinville.
166 plants were found worth an estimated $140,000.
Sheriff Robert Graves called it a "sophisticated operation."
But instead of receiving support from the community, a lot of people were posting negative comments about the bust on the WFMY News 2 Facebook page.
Some people wrote things like, “Who cares? It's just marijuana,” or “Why don’t you go after the real crime and the real drugs?”
A lot of people said this bust was a waste of officer's time.
However, police say marijuana can create problems, not just for dealers and users, but for everyone in the community.
While there may be a perception that marijuana isn't necessarily dangerous, Sgt. Alan Balog with the Burlington Police Department says it often leads to the harder, more addictive drugs, like heroin or crack.
Worst of all, Balog says marijuana can lead to a lot of violent crime in our community.
"The distribution of marijuana has frequently led to disagreements that have resulted in violent crime,” said Balog. “People become involved in drug dealing and drug trafficking and that can result in deaths to others, shootings, and other kinds of violent disagreements."
Balog says he has seen all those violent crimes happen because of drug deals gone wrong.
He says marijuana also causes impaired driving, which can cause deadly accidents.
Plus, according to substance abuse counselors, marijuana is a gateway drug.
The Centers for Disease Control says, people who use weed are three times more likely to try heroin or other more addictive drugs!
Balog says those are just a few reasons why marijuana is illegal.
"Anytime that law-enforcement is in a position to seize illegal drugs, it's going to benefit the community directly,” said Balog. “We are impartial in what we enforce and we are going to continue to enforce the law fully and appropriately whenever necessary."
Most people who try marijuana never go on to use any other illegal drug, according to the CDC.
In fact, some substance abuse counselors say marijuana can even serve as an "exit drug."
Marijuana has been proven to help people reduce or eliminate their withdrawal symptoms while coming down from the use of more harmful drugs.
Two people were arrested in connection to the grow operation in Randolph County.
Deputies think this case might be connected to another bust in Moore County.