‘Best Buds’ owner charged, shops in Bristol and Wytheville searched

A Bristol man identified by the Virginia State Police as the owner of two marijuana shops was arrested and faces four charges after search warrants were served at those businesses.

Brandon Garden, 33, is charged with one count of distribution of marijuana over five pounds, two counts of possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, and possession of a firearm while in possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, according to a report issued by VSP on Friday.

Officers with several local drug task forces, the US Postal Service, and other personnel conducted a search at Garden’s personal residence.

Items that were seized include:

• 17,083 grams of marijuana valued at $204,996
• 1,173 THC vapes valued at $35,190
• 1,163 grams of THC edibles valued at $13,956
• 1 gram of cocaine valued at $89,222
• 80 bottles of THC syrup valued at $11,100
• 63 grams of psilocybin valued at $2,457
• 23 doses of LSD valued at $230
• 4,136 grams of THC butter/dub valued at $202,664
• One Glock pistol
• $394,926.06 in U.S. currency

The investigation is ongoing, according to a VSP spokesperson.

(IMAGE: Contributed photo)