NOLA.com: Fourth marijuana conviction gets Slidell man life in prison

[ACW]

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2011/05/fourth_marijuana_conviction_ge.html
Cornell Hood II got off with probation after three marijuana convictions in New Orleans.

He didn't fare too well after moving to St. Tammany Parish, however. A single such conviction on the north shore landed the 35-year-old in prison for the rest of his life.

State Judge Raymond S. Childress punished Hood under Louisiana's repeat-offender law in his courtroom in Covington on Thursday. A jury on Feb. 15 found the defendant guilty of attempting to possess and distribute marijuana at his Slidell home, court records show.

Hood moved from eastern New Orleans to the Slidell area after he admitted to separate charges of distribution of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana on Dec. 18, 2009, in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. He received a suspended five-year prison sentence and five years' of probation for each -- which was precisely the same penalty he got in that court after pleading guilty to possessing and intending to distribute marijuana on Feb. 22, 2005.

Jurors deliberated for less than two hours and convicted Hood of a reduced charge, which usually carries no more than 15 years' imprisonment.

Assistant District Attorney Nick Noriea Jr. then used Hood's past convictions on Thursday to argue that he was a career criminal worthy of a severe punishment.
Drug offenders in the state are subject to life imprisonment after being convicted three or more times of a crime that carries a sentence exceeding 10 years.:doh:
**** the legislators, **** the judge, **** Noriea, and **** this drug war stupidity.

[Hubbs]

:doh:

Don't you just love a war in which a "victory" means sentencing a man to life in jail over a substance that's less dangerous than most of the stuff I can buy at CVS?

[SnyderShrugged]

End the ridiculous drug war that has added no value and made the problems worse overall.

[Predicto]

I thought only California was stupid enough to have a three strikes law. :doh:

[ConnSKINS26]

Wow. Just wow.

[I_Bleed_B&G]

I hope the judges son grows up to be a pot head and gets caught a few times

[GoSkins561]

Wow, how f-ing stupid even though the guy is a "career criminal" and probably a dirt bag.

[fullnelson9999]

This is how I see this playing out.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WVmJGsBBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Maxima2000]

So what happens if (when) that state legalizes marijuana?

[SnyderShrugged]

Any so called "crime" where the victim is oneself shouldnt be considered a crime in the first place.

[ACW]

I hope the judges son grows up to be a pot head and gets caught a few timesWouldn't matter...http://harrybrowne.org/GLO/DrugWar.htm

[Popeman38]

Guys, this was a dealer, not a petty user. He was arrested with 2 pounds of an illegal substance. Argue all you want about the merits of the law, but his prosecution (for the 4th time mind you) is pretty much simple. He is a 3 time convicted criminal, arrested for intent to distribute.

[Predicto]

Guys, this was a dealer, not a petty user. He was arrested with 2 pounds of an illegal substance. Argue all you want about the merits of the law, but his prosecution (for the 4th time mind you) is pretty much simple. He is a 3 time convicted criminal, arrested for intent to distribute.

We know that.

[Teller]

We know that.

Some apparently don't. Pothead =/= dealer.

That being said, I'm all for stiff sentences for a four-time convicted drug dealer, but life for pot is extreme.

[Toe Jam]

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

[Zazzaro703]

He should have moved to California where you can just go to the doctor, say you leg hurts, and get a prescription card. Then you can buy as much Mari as you want without getting in trouble.

[Hubbs]

Any so called "crime" where the victim is oneself shouldnt be considered a crime in the first place.

Come on. I can't be trusted to determine whether or not pot is good for me. I should be arrested if I smoke the stuff, so that I'll learn my lesson. And I should be arrested even harder if I use something like speed. How else will I learn?

Now please excuse me while I walk up to a cop, take the rest of my Adderall pills at once, spike the empty bottle at his feet, and walk away.

---------- Post added May-10th-2011 at 04:04 PM ----------


Guys, this was a dealer, not a petty user. He was arrested with 2 pounds of an illegal substance. Argue all you want about the merits of the law, but his prosecution (for the 4th time mind you) is pretty much simple. He is a 3 time convicted criminal, arrested for intent to distribute.

God forbid he was helping other people smoke something that should be completely legal.


Perhaps if he was given jail time during the 1st 2 offenses he would have taken the whole thing a bit more seriously. This guy is not the poster child for legalization, he is a repeat criminal who had no respect for the law.

I've gotten multiple speeding tickets. I still speed quite often. Should I get life in prison, too?

[Popeman38]

Come on. I can't be trusted to determine whether or not pot is good for me. I should be arrested if I smoke the stuff, so that I'll learn my lesson. And I should be arrested even harder if I use something like speed. How else will I learn?

Now please excuse me while I walk up to a cop, take the rest of my Adderall pills at once, spike the empty bottle at his feet, and walk away.Exaggerate much? you'd get arrested for literring.

Duh

---------- Post added May-10th-2011 at 04:06 PM ----------


God forbid he was helping other people smoke something that should be completely legal.This can't be a serious statement. It so foolhardy, it is hardly worth a response. Society should have no rules that apply to you? ****ing stupid.

[Hubbs]

Dunno, how many times have you received 10+ year prison sentences for your speeding?

About as often as this guy spent ten years in prison for being caught with marijuana. Which, coincidentally, is as often as anyone should spend ten years in prison for being caught with marijuana.


This can't be a serious statement. It so foolhardy, it is hardly worth a response. Society should have no rules that apply to you? ****ing stupid.

I have no idea how you got "society should have no rules that apply to me" from "pot should be legal," but however you did it, well done.

[rictus58]

While the law may be stupid, it's the responsibility of the citizen to know it, and to follow it. It's the responsibility of police to enforce it. It's the responsibility of the Judge to punish those who break it.
I will not shed any tears for this habitual law breaker.
As an aside, ACW's relentless complaining about "unfair" laws has grown to be quite tiresome. He needs a new schtick.

[Popeman38]

About as often as this guy spent ten years in prison for being caught with marijuana. Which, coincidentally, is as often as anyone should spend ten years in prison for being caught with marijuana.The point was he knowingly engaged in an activity that carried a sentence of 10 years if caught. You can argue about the merits of the law all day, but the mentality required to knowing violate a law that carries a 10 year sentence, be convicted of doing so 3 times, and still get arrested for having 2 pounds of an illegal substance, a scale, and distribution bags is the definition of stupid.

No ones human rights are being infringed on for having laws against weed. No one is dying because they have been denied legal access to weed. There is no need to have an underground support system to bypass US laws that infringe on anyones right. It is illegal. If you get caught doing it, you have no right to complain. You knew it was illegal when you bought/consumed/smoked it.

I have no idea how you got "society should have no rules that apply to me" from "pot should be legal," but however you did it, well done.You mentioned speed earlier, implying that should be legal as well. If that is not what you meant, my response is over the line.

[Hubbs]

Kid, I have been on the pot should be legal bandwagon since before you were a perverted thought. But I am not dumb enough to put my eggs in this guy's basket.

Then I really have no idea what point you're trying to make. What "basket" are my "eggs" going into? I think pot should be legal. I'm pretty sure that means that I don't think people should go to prison for being caught with marijuana.

[grhqofb5]

Any so called "crime" where the victim is oneself shouldnt be considered a crime in the first place.

I'm cool with that, as long as I don't have to contribute to their health care costs.

---------- Post added May-10th-2011 at 04:35 PM ----------


Then I really have no idea what point you're trying to make. What "basket" are my "eggs" going into? I think pot should be legal. I'm pretty sure that means that I don't think people should go to prison for being caught with marijuana.

I think he may mean that the pro-pot argument needs a better standard bearer. Someone who does nothing criminal but smoke pot.

[Hubbs]

The point was he knowingly engaged in an activity that carried a sentence of 10 years if caught. You can argue about the merits of the law all day, but the mentality required to knowing violate a law that carries a 10 year sentence, be convicted of doing so 3 times, and still get arrested for having 2 pounds of an illegal substance, a scale, and distribution bags is the definition of stupid.

No ones human rights are being infringed on for having laws against weed. No one is dying because they have been denied legal access to weed. There is no need to have an underground support system to bypass US laws that infringe on anyones right. It is illegal. If you get caught doing it, you have no right to complain. You knew it was illegal when you bought/consumed/smoked it.

I think we're getting some wires crossed here. I don't go around selling pot just because I think it should be legal. The guy's a moron. I'm criticizing the law itself.


You mentioned speed earlier, implying that should be legal as well. If that is not what you meant, my response is over the line.

Ah, now we're getting somewhere. That's not what I meant. (Maybe I misunderstood something you said, too.) I mentioned speeding because Timmy seemed to be saying that a life sentence is perfectly justifiable if the guy's broken the law multiple times, which is ridiculous if you apply that sort of thing to other laws, like speed limits. I would hope that nobody thinks that someone who gets four speeding tickets should go to jail for life.

[PokerPacker]

While the law may be stupid, it's the responsibility of the citizen to know it, and to follow it. It's the responsibility of police to enforce it. It's the responsibility of the Judge to punish those who break it.


One may well ask: "How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?" The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all."

[SnyderShrugged]

I'm cool with that, as long as I don't have to contribute to their health care costs.[COLOR="Gold"]

[


I'd be very cool with that

[Hubbs]

I think he may mean that the pro-pot argument needs a better standard bearer. Someone who does nothing criminal but smoke pot.

Wait, who was saying that this guy is some sort of standard-bearer for legalization? If doing hard time for pot was enough to become the standard-bearer, we'd have millions of them.

[Popeman38]

One may well ask: "How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?" The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all."Like I mentioned earlier in anticipation of a post just like this, no one is having a human or civil right violated by not being able to buy/sell/consume/smoke weed. ANY attempt to compare this to a civil/human right is intentionally obtuse. And with your posting history, you know that.

---------- Post added May-10th-2011 at 04:41 PM ----------


Ah, now we're getting somewhere. That's not what I meant. (Maybe I misunderstood something you said, too.) I mentioned speeding because Timmy seemed to be saying that a life sentence is perfectly justifiable if the guy's broken the law multiple times, which is ridiculous if you apply that sort of thing to other laws, like speed limits. I would hope that nobody thinks that someone who gets four speeding tickets should go to jail for life.I was referring to you post:
And I should be arrested even harder if I use something like speed.I took this to imply that speed should be legal as well. (one could extrapolate, as I did, that you feel you should have the right to do to yourself whatever you want)

[PokerPacker]

Like I mentioned earlier in anticipation of a post just like this, no one is having a human or civil right violated by not being able to buy/sell/consume/smoke weed. ANY attempt to compare this to a civil/human right is intentionally obtuse. And with your posting history, you know that.

Not at all. The right to do with your own body as you please is a basic human right. Also, that quote I pulled up, while by a famous civil rights leader, mentions "unjust laws", not just specifically civil rights. The ban on a safe substance such as marijuana is unjust, and as it has been outlawed for a LONG time, the system has shown it will not just fix itself.

[Popeman38]

Not at all. The right to do with your own body as you please is a basic human right. Also, that quote I pulled up, while by a famous civil rights leader, mentions "unjust laws", not just specifically civil rights. The ban on a safe substance such as marijuana is unjust, and as it has been outlawed for a LONG time, the system has shown it will not just fix itself.That is not, in any facet, true. Society has long established limits to what you can legally do to yourself. It is in no way a human rights violation to deny you access to weed. North Koreans are living on fake rice. You think weed is important. You can argue all you want, but these laws do not impact anyone that does not choose to be impacted by it. Unless, of course, you want to include family impacted by a loved ones arrest. But then breaking the law didn't just impact you, did it?

[grhqofb5]

Wait, who was saying that this guy is some sort of standard-bearer for legalization? If doing hard time for pot was enough to become the standard-bearer, we'd have millions of them.

Correct. But it's important to pick one, focus on him, and use his image throughout the campaign.

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

Life sounds excessive to me...but he should have learned the first 3 times...oh well

[PokerPacker]

That is not, in any facet, true. Society has long established limits to what you can legally do to yourself. It is in no way a human rights violation to deny you access to weed. North Koreans are living on fake rice. You think weed is important. You can argue all you want, but these laws do not impact anyone that does not choose to be impacted by it. Unless, of course, you want to include family impacted by a loved ones arrest. But then breaking the law didn't just impact you, did it?
Different societies have long established many civil rights violations, that doesn't make it okay.

[Destino]

Weed is not a civil right. Sorry but I agree Popeman38 on that point.

Everyone in this thread is talking about weed and I think it misses the point of drug dealing out of your home. I have a question for all of you. Have you ever had a drug hour in your neighborhood? I have and let me tell you how wonderful it is to have the wonderful people coming to buy drugs at all hours of the night roaming around at 2am. How fun it is to watch the swat team show up in the middle of the day. Oh those were the days let me tell you. Dealing drugs is more of a problem then just the substance in question. When a house starting selling in my old neighborhood it took about 2 months before gang tags started popping up. The dealer wasn't a gang member. Some of his suppliers however were.

This guy is a 4 time convicted DEALER not user. You've got to be a dedicated law breaker to be convicted on four separate occasions. I agree life in prison is too severe but the guy made his own bed in this case. One conviction should be enough to wake you up. Four is just pushing your luck and when you do that you get burned. Plus he was dealing drugs out of a home he shared with his young son. You guys know drug houses get robbed by other criminals routinely right? That's insanely irresponsible.

[Popeman38]

Weed is not a civil right. Sorry but I agree Popeman38 on that point.

Everyone in this thread is talking about weed and I think it misses the point of drug dealing out of your home. I have a question for all of you. Have you ever had a drug hour in your neighborhood? I have and let me tell you how wonderful it is to have the wonderful people coming to buy drugs at all hours of the night roaming around at 2am. How fun it is to watch the swat team show up in the middle of the day. Oh those were the days let me tell you. Dealing drugs is more of a problem then just the substance in question. When a house starting selling in my old neighborhood it took about 2 months before gang tags started popping up. The dealer wasn't a gang member. Some of his suppliers however were.

This guy is a 4 time convicted DEALER not user. You've got to be a dedicated law breaker to be convicted on four separate occasions. I agree life in prison is too severe but the guy made his own bed in this case. One conviction should be enough to wake you up. Four is just pushing your luck and when you do that you get burned. Plus he was dealing drugs out of a home he shared with his young son. You guys know drug houses get robbed by other criminals routinely right? That's insanely irresponsible.The responses will be that this is all because drugs are illegal. If we made them all legal, rainbows and unicorns all around!

[SC_RedskinsFan]

This guy knew it was against the law, he rolled the dice and got hammered. You can say what you want but it is illegal and until it is not if you are man enough to do the crime do the ****ing time.

[kubstix]

He wouldn't be a drug dealer if it was legalized. Anything that is naturally grown that is illegal is downright ridiculous. Cocaine on the other hand is made from the plants but also mixed with 200 other chemicals to make it what it is.........rightfully so illegal.

[Hubbs]

I was referring to you post:I took this to imply that speed should be legal as well. (one could extrapolate, as I did, that you feel you should have the right to do to yourself whatever you want)

Oh, that kind of speed. I thought you meant the speeding thing. I mentioned speed because it's virtually identical to Adderall. But being caught with speed will land me in jail, while I can take Adderall in front of 1,000 cops and never be arrested. There's nothing that even comes close to logic and reason when it comes to our drug laws.

And yes, I do think that I should have the right to do to myself whatever I want.


That is not, in any facet, true. Society has long established limits to what you can legally do to yourself.

Erm... do explain.


It is in no way a human rights violation to deny you access to weed. North Koreans are living on fake rice. You think weed is important.

The distance between Earth and the sun is roughly 93 million miles.

See, I can interject a completely unrelated statement into the conversation, too.


You can argue all you want, but these laws do not impact anyone that does not choose to be impacted by it. Unless, of course, you want to include family impacted by a loved ones arrest. But then breaking the law didn't just impact you, did it?

That sounds like a dandy train of thought to justify laws that ban... well, just about anything. Anything that's not absolutely necessary for basic survival, anyway.

---------- Post added May-10th-2011 at 05:32 PM ----------


Correct. But it's important to pick one, focus on him, and use his image throughout the campaign.

What are you talking about?


The responses will be that this is all because drugs are illegal. If we made them all legal, rainbows and unicorns all around!

No, you're right. It's much more logical to believe that if everyone could walk to CVS and buy pot, there would still be a bunch of people who would go to dangerous neighborhoods in the middle of the night to buy pot that could be laced with other things from somebody they don't know very well.

[clietas]

Weed is not a civil right. Sorry but I agree Popeman38 on that point.

Everyone in this thread is talking about weed and I think it misses the point of drug dealing out of your home. I have a question for all of you. Have you ever had a drug hour in your neighborhood? I have and let me tell you how wonderful it is to have the wonderful people coming to buy drugs at all hours of the night roaming around at 2am. How fun it is to watch the swat team show up in the middle of the day. Oh those were the days let me tell you. Dealing drugs is more of a problem then just the substance in question. When a house starting selling in my old neighborhood it took about 2 months before gang tags started popping up. The dealer wasn't a gang member. Some of his suppliers however were.

This guy is a 4 time convicted DEALER not user. You've got to be a dedicated law breaker to be convicted on four separate occasions. I agree life in prison is too severe but the guy made his own bed in this case. One conviction should be enough to wake you up. Four is just pushing your luck and when you do that you get burned. Plus he was dealing drugs out of a home he shared with his young son. You guys know drug houses get robbed by other criminals routinely right? That's insanely irresponsible.

How do you know they were dealing cannabis and not something else?

[PokerPacker]

No, you're right. It's much more logical to believe that if everyone could walk to CVS and buy pot, there would still be a bunch of people who would go to dangerous neighborhoods in the middle of the night to buy pot that could be laced with other things from somebody they don't know very well.

Of course they would. You can't get that same family-friendly service at CVS. That's why people still buy milk from the milkman rather than the Supermarket.

[DarrellsMyHero28]

Life sounds excessive to me...but he should have learned the first 3 times...oh well

Yeah, that was what I was coming into say.

Life is excessive, but how many times do you have to get convicted of the same thing to take the hint?

---------- Post added May-10th-2011 at 05:39 PM ----------


Weed is not a civil right. Sorry but I agree Popeman38 on that point.

Everyone in this thread is talking about weed and I think it misses the point of drug dealing out of your home. I have a question for all of you. Have you ever had a drug hour in your neighborhood? I have and let me tell you how wonderful it is to have the wonderful people coming to buy drugs at all hours of the night roaming around at 2am. How fun it is to watch the swat team show up in the middle of the day. Oh those were the days let me tell you. Dealing drugs is more of a problem then just the substance in question. When a house starting selling in my old neighborhood it took about 2 months before gang tags started popping up. The dealer wasn't a gang member. Some of his suppliers however were.

This guy is a 4 time convicted DEALER not user. You've got to be a dedicated law breaker to be convicted on four separate occasions. I agree life in prison is too severe but the guy made his own bed in this case. One conviction should be enough to wake you up. Four is just pushing your luck and when you do that you get burned. Plus he was dealing drugs out of a home he shared with his young son. You guys know drug houses get robbed by other criminals routinely right? That's insanely irresponsible.

Yeah, and you'd be wrong to presume all dealers are the same.

Lived with one for 3 years. He sold to put himself through college.

Totally legitimate guy, now has an excellent job after graduation.

So lets not group them all together.

[Hubbs]

Of course they would. You can't get that same family-friendly service at CVS. That's why people still buy milk from the milkman rather than the Supermarket.

**** the supermarket. I wait until it's past midnight, then I drive into Anacostia and buy a couple gallons from this guy who lives in a house with bullet holes and claims his name is Tiny. His "stuff" is always in containers that have already been opened, so I know he's checked what's inside. On the way back, I flick off every grocery store, CVS, and 7-11 I pass by. The man isn't gonna tell me where to get my milk.

[sportjunkie07]

dont agree with the law, but he got what was coming to him, i dont have pity for him.

[grhqofb5]

[QUOTE=Hubbs;8294496][/COLOR]

What are you talking about?


[QUOTE]

This string started with a pro-pot guy telling you that he didn't want to put his eggs in the offender's basket. You didn't seem to understand what he was saying. I'm suggesting that the pro-pot crowd choose a standard bearer for the movement, sort of like a martyr or someone who has been seriously wronged, but that it is essential that this person very thoroughly vetted (lest other unsavory stories about him come out of the woodwork). This person should essentially just be a pot smoker, not a thug, murderer, pedophile, etc. That way the movement will be more focused.

[Hubbs]

This string started with a pro-pot guy telling you that he didn't want to put his eggs in the offender's basket. You didn't seem to understand what he was saying. I'm suggesting that the pro-pot crowd choose a standard bearer for the movement, sort of like a martyr or someone who has been seriously wronged, but that it is essential that this person very thoroughly vetted (lest other unsavory stories about him come out of the woodwork). This person should essentially just be a pot smoker, not a thug, murderer, pedophile, etc. That way the movement will be more focused.

Ah, I see what you're getting at. I'm not sure I agree that it would make the movement "more focused," though.

[Bang]

Ah, I see what you're getting at. I'm not sure I agree that it would make the movement "more focused," though.

Maybe the movement should smoke a joint.
Sometimes that really helps you focus.

I've heard.

~Bang

[clietas]

I'm suggesting that the pro-pot crowd choose a standard bearer for the movement, sort of like a martyr or someone who has been seriously wronged, but that it is essential that this person very thoroughly vetted (lest other unsavory stories about him come out of the woodwork). This person should essentially just be a pot smoker, not a thug, murderer, pedophile, etc. That way the movement will be more focused.

You mean like Tommy Chong? How did that turn out?

[twa]

Probably be out in five....if not,who cares?

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

I'm as much about prison/sentencing reform and drug legalization/decriminalization as anyone on this board. I actually have firsthand knowledge of the system and the destruction it rains down upon a person's life. I didn't just read about it. With that said, it's hard for me to have sympathy for someone arrested FOUR times for the same thing.

I've always said that drunk drivers are one of the lowliest creatures on Earth. But everyone makes mistakes. It's the two+ timers who irk me. And this guy was arrested four times. Life in prison is exceedingly strict and ridiculous, but it's not like he's some noob who was oblivious to the consequences of his actions. He played with fire and he got burnt. Take a number. There are a ton of better, more deserving people who are trapped in the prison system who we should be fighting for.

[mmzznnxx]

I can't wait to pay taxes the rest of my life to keep this guy in jail.

[Popeman38]

Yeah, and you'd be wrong to presume all dealers are the same.

Lived with one for 3 years. He sold to put himself through college.

Totally legitimate guy, now has an excellent job after graduation.

So lets not group them all together.He was not legitimate. He ran an illegal drug distribution operation. He was committing multiple FELONIES per week. Knowingly committing multiple felonies per week. He may have been a nice guy. Mighta been cool to live with. But he was a drug dealer. Plain and simple.

[NickGiaquinto1]

Good. People this stupid are better out of society.

[Predicto]

That is not, in any facet, true. Society has long established limits to what you can legally do to yourself. It is in no way a human rights violation to deny you access to weed. North Koreans are living on fake rice. You think weed is important. You can argue all you want, but these laws do not impact anyone that does not choose to be impacted by it. Unless, of course, you want to include family impacted by a loved ones arrest. But then breaking the law didn't just impact you, did it?

It impacts the hell out of me. My taxes are wasted putting this guy in prison for the rest of his life.

[Destino]

How do you know they were dealing cannabis and not something else?
It's what the cops said and what his "friend" said after he got busted by the swat team.

---------- Post added May-11th-2011 at 02:34 AM ----------



Yeah, and you'd be wrong to presume all dealers are the same.

Lived with one for 3 years. He sold to put himself through college.

Totally legitimate guy, now has an excellent job after graduation.

So lets not group them all together.
First of all "totally legitimate guy" and dealing to put yourself through college don't go together. I'm glad to hear everything worked out for you guys and for your friend. College is different then your neighborhood dealer most of the time and I doubt your friend would have kept doing it after his 3rd conviction.

[Forehead]

I can't believe how long this thread has gone on. Reading through it, it seems pretty straightforward to me:

1. You might not agree with the law, but it's pretty well known, and isn't there to be casually ignored. Four times...seriously, this is not someone worth defending. He's an idiot and doesn't deserve any better.

2. Using a prominent civil rights figure to frame your argument against unjust laws is horse****. MLK, regardless of everything he may have fought for that wasn't a civil right, is most well known for civil rights. And the right to smoke pot isn't a civil right, like it or not. There's no "equality" in pot smoking.

3. ACW posted another thread expressing his anger about drug laws. At least I know which cycle the moon is in. It rotates between this, anger at some industry that did the common man wrong, which celebrity he'd most like to hump, how much he wants to make love to Radley Balko, etc. ACW does not need a new schtick per se, he has a few already. He just needs to add more of them to the rotation so they don't come up as frequently. :ols:

4. I'm glad some of us can justify a man being "a legitimate drug dealer" because he used it to put himself through college. Are we serious with this garbage?


Everyone is entitled to their viewpoints, but I really don't understand the way some people think.

[Tweedr01]

This is how I see this playing out.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WVmJGsBBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
You read my mind, great movie

---------- Post added May-11th-2011 at 10:11 AM ----------


Kid, I have been on the pot should be legal bandwagon since before you were a perverted thought. But I am not dumb enough to put my eggs in this guy's basket.
wow i'm surprised you could see the keys well enough to type out both of those sentences, and get a point across at your age.

[S.T.real,lights,out]

Guys, this was a dealer, not a petty user. He was arrested with 2 pounds of an illegal substance. Argue all you want about the merits of the law, but his prosecution (for the 4th time mind you) is pretty much simple. He is a 3 time convicted criminal, arrested for intent to distribute.

Yea im with u on this one.

[Tweedr01]

Ah, I see what you're getting at. I'm not sure I agree that it would make the movement "more focused," though.
Lol, suggesting pot heads will be focused at all is a huge stretch

[KarmicNoose]

One point of contention. Your taxes don't go to keep this guy in jail unless you live in the state of Louisiana. Prisons are run a state-level.

[Tweedr01]

I happen to sit very close to the keyboard. Sad to say I did not get my point across, to him anyway.

2 things that always appear to be getting closer in the last 25 years. Pot being legal, and the Caps winning a Stanley Cup. They are both mirages.
Ugh, too true.

Just for future reference though, points are easier to get across when they aren't started with condescending nouns.

[pjfootballer]

Guys, this was a dealer, not a petty user. He was arrested with 2 pounds of an illegal substance. Argue all you want about the merits of the law, but his prosecution (for the 4th time mind you) is pretty much simple. He is a 3 time convicted criminal, arrested for intent to distribute.

That's what I was going to say. If it was possession of a few grams, this would be bull****, but the guy is a dealer. I'd rather see dealers go then users.

---------- Post added May-11th-2011 at 11:07 AM ----------


Yeah, and you'd be wrong to presume all dealers are the same.

Lived with one for 3 years. He sold to put himself through college.

Totally legitimate guy, now has an excellent job after graduation.

So lets not group them all together.

He was the exception, not the norm.


It impacts the hell out of me. My taxes are wasted putting this guy in prison for the rest of his life.

You're in California. If you're paying taxes in Louisiana, you should check with your accountant.:ols:

[ACW]

I happen to sit very close to the keyboard. Sad to say I did not get my point across, to him anyway.

2 things that always appear to be getting closer in the last 25 years. Pot being legal, and the Caps winning a Stanley Cup. They are both mirages.Both will happen in my lifetime :fingersx:

[Prosperity]

While the law may be stupid, it's the responsibility of the citizen to know it, and to follow it. It's the responsibility of police to enforce it. It's the responsibility of the Judge to punish those who break it.
I will not shed any tears for this habitual law breaker.
As an aside, ACW's relentless complaining about "unfair" laws has grown to be quite tiresome. He needs a new schtick.

exactly, it's the voters, stupid (not calling you stupid :ols: just saying it's voters' fault for electing dumb legislators)

[Prosperity]

Like I mentioned earlier in anticipation of a post just like this, no one is having a human or civil right violated by not being able to buy/sell/consume/smoke weed. ANY attempt to compare this to a civil/human right is intentionally obtuse. And with your posting history, you know that.

---------- Post added May-10th-2011 at 04:41 PM ----------

I was referring to you post:I took this to imply that speed should be legal as well. (one could extrapolate, as I did, that you feel you should have the right to do to yourself whatever you want)

speed is legal, it's marketed as adderall

[Popeman38]

speed is legal, it's marketed as adderallSpeed is not legal. Adderall is legal to treat ADHD. Meth is speed. Adderall is only available by prescription. Hey look, a drug is legal. Surely there wouldn't be anyone who would abuse a legal drug, causing a seedy, late-night, dangerous dealing game?!?

Seriously, the same recycled logic has been used to justify legalizing all drugs for years. It ain't happening. Imagine having to deal with Meth heads on a daily basis?

---------- Post added May-11th-2011 at 02:59 PM ----------


And still you and I could not sell it without risking going to prison.Shhhhhhh, logic is not liked in the "Legalize anything that makes me feel good" threads.

[Predicto]

You're in California. If you're paying taxes in Louisiana, you should check with your accountant.:ols:

Don't worry. My California taxes go to pay for the incarceration of literally tens of thousands of people similar to this guy. I was feeling empathy for the people of Louisiana.

I'm sure that they don't have anything better to spend their money on. Like, say, their schools, rated 47th in the nation by student performance. :whoknows:

---------- Post added May-11th-2011 at 12:16 PM ----------


Speed is not legal. Adderall is legal to treat ADHD. Meth is speed. Adderall is only available by prescription. Hey look, a drug is legal. Surely there wouldn't be anyone who would abuse a legal drug, causing a seedy, late-night, dangerous dealing game?!?

Seriously, the same recycled logic has been used to justify legalizing all drugs for years. It ain't happening. Imagine having to deal with Meth heads on a daily basis?

We now have 40 years of hard proof that dealing with a social problem as a criminal issue doesn't work.

[Hubbs]

I happen to sit very close to the keyboard. Sad to say I did not get my point across, to him anyway.

2 things that always appear to be getting closer in the last 25 years. Pot being legal, and the Caps winning a Stanley Cup. They are both mirages.

Again, I'd be happy for you to make your point if you'd try to make one when I specifically asked what it was you were trying to say. It seems you're happy to tap out at, "Kid, I want pot to be legal. Now let me tell you how stupid you are for not wanting this man to go to prison because of pot."

Of course he should have known better. That's not the point I was trying to make, but sadly I didn't get that across, to you anyway.

And the legalization process is moving slowly, but it is moving. California's proposition on pot legalization was, what, 53%-47%? Give it another decade or two and you'll see the same dominoes start to fall that have been falling for medical marijuana for the past ten years.


Imagine having to deal with Meth heads on a daily basis?

Yes, just imagine it. Millions of people using meth in the United States. Good thing it's illegal, so that terrible scenario is kept from being reality.


Shhhhhhh, logic is not liked in the "Legalize anything that makes me feel good" threads.

Well, you're right about one thing. Logic sure isn't liked in these threads.

[Popeman38]

We now have 40 years of hard proof that dealing with a social problem as a criminal issue doesn't work.I agree with you when it comes to recreational use. However, we are talking about a dealer. As has been stated, you are no longer dealing with just a use issue, but a mentality of ignoring a law, repeatedly, and continuously committing felonies. To say that all we have to do is legalize is ludicrous. This guy would find something else to deal.

Human nature is constantly ignored in this argument. For arguments sake, lets say all drugs are legalized. This doesn't happen in a vacuum. All of the people earning money and gaining power through the planting, raising, harvesting, refining and selling drugs won't magically be reformed into upstanding members of the community. They will identify another market demand and set up a distribution ring. It has been happening since the dawn of time and will continue through the dusk of time. Human nature has to be accounted for.

[Hubbs]

Human nature is constantly ignored in this argument. For arguments sake, lets say all drugs are legalized. This doesn't happen in a vacuum. All of the people earning money and gaining power through the planting, raising, harvesting, refining and selling drugs won't magically be reformed into upstanding members of the community. They will identify another market demand and set up a distribution ring. It has been happening since the dawn of time and will continue through the dusk of time. Human nature has to be accounted for.

I hate to break it to you, but you just made a compelling argument for legalization.

By the way, how exactly would you legalize recreational use if selling various substances was still illegal? How would users get whatever they were going to use in the first place?

[PokerPacker]

I agree with you when it comes to recreational use. However, we are talking about a dealer. As has been stated, you are no longer dealing with just a use issue, but a mentality of ignoring a law, repeatedly, and continuously committing felonies. To say that all we have to do is legalize is ludicrous. This guy would find something else to deal.

Human nature is constantly ignored in this argument. For arguments sake, lets say all drugs are legalized. This doesn't happen in a vacuum. All of the people earning money and gaining power through the planting, raising, harvesting, refining and selling drugs won't magically be reformed into upstanding members of the community. They will identify another market demand and set up a distribution ring. It has been happening since the dawn of time and will continue through the dusk of time. Human nature has to be accounted for.

Then let them move onto something else (well, not LET them, but go after them on the new thing). Just because scum will find ways to be scum doesn't mean you should keep drugs illegal. If we made bread illegal (just go with it) and there was a black market for bread, does that mean we should keep bread illegal so that we can keep going after bread dealers for dealing bread? Its not the selling of bread that's the problem, its the turf wars and other activities associated with the dealing that is the problem.

[Popeman38]

I hate to break it to you, but you just made a compelling argument for legalization.Like I have said, legalizing recreational use is ok for certain things. No one really wants crack legalized.

By the way, how exactly would you legalize recreational use if selling various substances was still illegal? How would users get whatever they were going to use in the first place?Well, if you legalize it the industry will obviously be regulated. And only certain people will be permitted to sell it. It will become the new tobacco. Like the saying goes: Wanna make weed addictive and kill you? Let the government regulate it.....

There will never be unregulated drug cultivation, consumption, and marketing. NEVER. Only way it ever happens for weed is if the government gets to make massive profits off it.

---------- Post added May-11th-2011 at 05:35 PM ----------


Then let them move onto something else (well, not LET them, but go after them on the new thing). Just because scum will find ways to be scum doesn't mean you should keep drugs illegal. If we made bread illegal (just go with it) and there was a black market for bread, does that mean we should keep bread illegal so that we can keep going after bread dealers for dealing bread? Its not the selling of bread that's the problem, its the turf wars and other activities associated with the dealing that is the problem.So we start the next war on.......?

[PokerPacker]

So we start the next war on.......?
war on <insert item> is stupid. How about we not worry about what the scum move onto because that has nothing to do with the actual topic at hand. Scum will be scum, get them for doing bad things, not things we don't want happening.

[pjfootballer]

Don't worry. My California taxes go to pay for the incarceration of literally tens of thousands of people similar to this guy. I was feeling empathy for the people of Louisiana.

I'm sure that they don't have anything better to spend their money on. Like, say, their schools, rated 47th in the nation by student performance. :whoknows:[

I was just joking with you on the tax thing, hence the OLS. But yeah, there's probably better things for LA to spend their money on, like schools.

[grhqofb5]

Man, i've been wondering lately. Would smoking improve my life at all? I'm in a lot of pain and don't really want to go through the surgeries to fix my various problems. What is the procedure for receiving medical marijuana?

[Hubbs]

Well, if you legalize it the industry will obviously be regulated. And only certain people will be permitted to sell it. It will become the new tobacco. Like the saying goes: Wanna make weed addictive and kill you? Let the government regulate it.....

First of all, that's not a saying. Probably because marijuana isn't physically addictive, and no amount of regulation could magically change that fact. Also probably because it's about as catchy as Polish rap lyrics.


There will never be unregulated drug cultivation, consumption, and marketing. NEVER. Only way it ever happens for weed is if the government gets to make massive profits off it.

Who said anything about unregulated? I'm one of the most libertarian people on this board, and I'd regulate the hell out of drugs.

[clietas]

Man, i've been wondering lately. Would smoking improve my life at all? I'm in a lot of pain and don't really want to go through the surgeries to fix my various problems. What is the procedure for receiving medical marijuana?

http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3391

[Prosperity]

Speed is not legal. Adderall is legal to treat ADHD. Meth is speed. Adderall is only available by prescription. Hey look, a drug is legal. Surely there wouldn't be anyone who would abuse a legal drug, causing a seedy, late-night, dangerous dealing game?!?

Seriously, the same recycled logic has been used to justify legalizing all drugs for years. It ain't happening. Imagine having to deal with Meth heads on a daily basis?

---------- Post added May-11th-2011 at 02:59 PM ----------

Shhhhhhh, logic is not liked in the "Legalize anything that makes me feel good" threads.

huh? I'm not sure what you are saying... but

1. Adderall is an amphetamine, it's really not that different from meth-amphetamine, though the manufacturing standards at big Pharma are obviously better than some trailer park chemistry lab

2. I do deal with meth heads on a daily basis, you know how many kids take amphetamines? (aka adderall)

3. I'm not really arguing for the legalization of marijuana here, I mean, don't get me wrong, it's the ****ing obvious thing to do, I'm just pointing out that "Speed" aka amphetamines are "legal" and tons of our kids and young adults are on it

[Kosher Ham]

Legalize all of it.

But especially weed. I don't smoke weed and I don't advocate it's usage. But seriously ?

So many things can get you in a pretty bad state, a lot worst than weed.

[Hubbs]

Legalize all of it.

But especially weed. I don't smoke weed and I don't advocate it's usage. But seriously ?

So many things can get you in a pretty bad state, a lot worst than weed.

Come on, Kosh, don't you know that if we legalize weed, there will be pot dealers in every neighborhood basement? You know, kind of like how I have to go to a shady dealer every time I want to get my purple drank on.

http://behindblondiepark.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/PurpleDrank.jpg

[Kosher Ham]

I just feel like we should let people kill themselves if they want to.

Clearly we have no major problems with people eating themselves to death, or smoking 3 packs a day.

What's the difference really ? Oh...drugs are more profitable.

[JPG]

I think it is hypocritical to make dealers sound like Tony Montana and then advocate smoking . Most dealers are just smart users of the drug. People that demonize pot dealers and then smoke themselves make as much sense as the people who think you should go to jail for mary jane. People get bent out of shape over a petty pot dealer yet let corruption reign all through the government and big corporations in this jackwagon society.

[mmzznnxx]

I think it is hypocritical to make dealers sound like Tony Montana and then advocate smoking . Most dealers are just smart users of the drug. People that demonize pot dealers and then smoke themselves make as much sense as the people who think you should go to jail for mary jane. People get bent out of shape over a petty pot dealer yet let corruption reign all through the government and big corporations in this jackwagon society.

Couldn't agree more. What's the difference between a dealer and a user in this instance? The only one I can see is possible gang relations and as another mentioned earlier, the fear of living in the neighborhood of a drug house. But make a legal avenue for people to buy it (pot), and you'll take away a major source of revenue away from cartels/gangs, and you won't have to deal with police conducting military-like raids down the street (assuming no harder drugs, of course).

Also, as someone who is only a few years removed from high school, I could ask half the kids in my school and find pot. Alcohol was tons harder for me to get prior to turning 21. I think future generations will read about the "Drug War" in textbooks and laugh.

[JPG]

You can be charged with intent to distribute in for having anything over an ounce. If its low grade high grade they dont care. low grade ounce can cost you 80 bucks and can easily be smoked in one night at a get together. Should that person be charged as a dealer when they are a user. It is known fact that marijuana laws are too harsh but they are making too much off the whole process. Just another thing that sickens me. This shouldn't even be a debate. The white collar criminals need to be the focus of the justice(lol) system not potheads. But then they would have to sentence all there golfing buddies to jail. But... hey it's easier to ignore the real problems.Atleast for some people out there. **** the majority of Lawyers,judges,bankers,politicians, police and whoever wants to interfere with peoples right to make there own choices and live fair life.Rant over. Judge as you want.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Marijuana laws differ by the state and from what I'm reading, Louisiana (where his guy is) has some of the harshest in the country.

As I said in my original post, the sentence is harsh and absurd. But there are SO, SO many more people out there that deserve the attention and care more than this guy. It seems to me that people are caring more about the marijuana than they are the human beings.

[Tweedr01]

Then let them move onto something else (well, not LET them, but go after them on the new thing). Just because scum will find ways to be scum doesn't mean you should keep drugs illegal. If we made bread illegal (just go with it) and there was a black market for bread, does that mean we should keep bread illegal so that we can keep going after bread dealers for dealing bread? Its not the selling of bread that's the problem, its the turf wars and other activities associated with the dealing that is the problem.
It's not even 8am and that was hilarious

Watch out for the International Bread Wars!

[DarrellsMyHero28]

He was not legitimate. He ran an illegal drug distribution operation. He was committing multiple FELONIES per week. Knowingly committing multiple felonies per week. He may have been a nice guy. Mighta been cool to live with. But he was a drug dealer. Plain and simple.


First of all "totally legitimate guy" and dealing to put yourself through college don't go together. I'm glad to hear everything worked out for you guys and for your friend. College is different then your neighborhood dealer most of the time and I doubt your friend would have kept doing it after his 3rd conviction.

You all clearly haven't spent much time in college towns.

You would be shocked at the amount of people who sell drugs.

Some for pure profit, some for tuition purposes.

[Forehead]

You all clearly haven't spent much time in college towns.

You would be shocked at the amount of people who sell drugs.

Some for pure profit, some for tuition purposes.

You clearly seem to still think a person committing multiple crimes is "legitimate" just because he's using his profits to pay tuition. The amount of people selling drugs has no bearing on the "legitimacy" of the act. It's still illegal.

[DarrellsMyHero28]

You clearly seem to still think a person committing multiple crimes is "legitimate" just because he's using his profits to pay tuition. The amount of people selling drugs has no bearing on the "legitimacy" of the act. It's still illegal.

I meant the guy himself outside of his illicit activity.

I'm telling you, I wouldn't be surprised if you've hired a person that sold drugs. I'm not saying its necessarily ok but seriously, its exceptionally common.

[Prosperity]

You all clearly haven't spent much time in college towns.

You would be shocked at the amount of people who sell drugs.

Some for pure profit, some for tuition purposes.

selling pot is not an immoral act, maybe if you're selling to middle school kids or something :ols:

you can't just drop "drug dealer" and expect everyone to agree that the guy sucked, more likely than not he sucks about the average person, but at least he had an entrepreneurial spirit, so maybe above average.

[Gator Bait]

amazing...this dude gets life...yet a murderer or rapist can get off in 5-10...society is so stupid!