'Lean On Me' Actor Jermaine Hopkins -- Arrested for Trying to Buy 200 POUNDS of Weed

The guy who starred as troubled youth Thomas Sams in the 1989 classic "Lean On Me" was arrested in Arizona for allegedly buying 200 pounds of pot from an undercover cop this week.

Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins has been charged with two felony counts of possessing, transporting and trying to sell marijuana.

According to police, the 38-year-old actor lives in North Carolina ... but traveled to AZ to make the drug deal on Tuesday.

Cops in Maricopa County say they set up the sting operation ... and after Hopkins took possession of the dope, they pulled over his SUV and arrested him. Cops say they found $100k in cash in the ride.

Officials later searched Hopkins' Arizona apartment and claim they found an additional 100 pounds of weed.

Police say Hopkins told them he got involved in the drug deal to provide a nice Christmas for his family.