5-Pound Pot Donation Poses Predicament For Sarasota Nonprofit

SARASOTA, FL -- The Pines of Sarasota Thrift Shop at 1038 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota, is always thrilled to receive donations from the community.

The thrift shop and the items it sells are integral to supporting the nonprofit Pines of Sarasota rehabilitation and senior care community.

However, last week the thrift shop received a donation that could have landed thrift shop employees in jail if they tried to sell it.

A white duffel bag left outside the thrift shop contained 4.7 pounds of marijuana, valued at about $5,400.

Unfortunately, the nonprofit won't enjoy the profits. The pot has been confiscated by the Sarasota Police Department.

Employees say it's not unusual for donations to be deposited outside the thrift shop after hours. The workers simply picked up the duffel bag and placed it in a donations bin for inspection later.

When an employee finally got around to opening the bag on Saturday, Sept. 1, and saw what it contained, he called the police immediately.

Police have no idea if the donation was an accident or intentional. They're looking at surveillance video from outside the thrift shop to determine who dropped off the pot and testing the vacuum-sealed packages of pot for DNA.

The Pines of Sarasota board of directors said this was a first-of-its-kind donation in the nonprofit's 70-year history and commended its "quick-thinking, honest employees who are always willing to do the right thing."

However, in the future, the nonprofit would prefer that the community limit its donations to furniture, books, clothes, toys and household items.

Images via Sarasota Police

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