Word to the wise, don’t smoke dope with celebrities in Richland County, South Carolina. Media reports indicate that the Sheriff’s Department have arrested eight people in connection to the controversy. It would also indicate that criminal charges are being contemplated against Phelps since such arrests are often useful in coercing cooperation from witnesses.
It appears that seven arrests are for drug possession and one for distribution.
It is hard to feel sorry for one of the arrestees who was nabbed when he tried to sell his bong on eBay for as much as $100,000. Yet, it is notably that he was not at the party but was still charged.
For those around the world who view our criminalization of pot as insane, this will likely reaffirm and magnify that view. Surely, the good Sheriff of Richland County has something better to do than chase down bong buddies. The appearance left is not just an over-reaction to a minor crime but a celebrity driven investigation.
For the full story, click here.
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oh, shit.
you mean THIS leon lott?
“The Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department has acquired an armored personnel carrier complete with a turret-mounted .50-caliber belt-fed machine gun for its Special Response Team.
Sheriff Leon Lott told the Columbia State newspaper that he hoped the vehicle, named “The Peacemaker,” would let the bad guys know that his officers are serious.
“We don’t look at this as a killing machine,” Lott told the paper. “It’s going to keep the peace. We hope the fact that we have this is going to save lives. When something like this rolls up, it’s time to give up.”
http://knowyourgovernment.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/protecting-you-from-yourself/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/11/kellogg-boycott-pot-activ_n_166120.html
Kellogg’s feels the burn!
GW 1L,
Tobacco lobby had some input, but the real driver was the chemical industry, specifically Du Pont. The tobacco industry was more a beneficiary through the law of unintended consequence. It’s all about the nylon (and the cheap lightweight non-petroleum based lubrication you can get from seed oil). You can’t sell nylon rope for 15 cents a foot when a hemp rope costs 7 cents a foot (numbers not historical but illustrative). Who buys the most rope? Historically, the military does. It’s all about greed.
Publius-
I think you may be on to something. Would a state less reliant on the tobacco trade prosecute violations of pot laws this vigilantly?
I am definitely not an expert on the history of anti-pot laws, but I believe that they originated -at least in part- from lobbying efforts by the tobacco industry.
On the other hand, an easier explanation for prosecuting the “bong buddies” may have been accurately identified by Buddha. “Opportunistic”, “coercive”, and “douche bag” pretty much sum it up. I guess everyone is entitled to their 15 seconds…
(by the way I may have gripes with Turley but he sure knows how to create a catchy phrase – “acapulco gold” had me laughing out loud)
Tio,
Now that there was just funny. You just gotta luv the tune ‘Tie Me Kangaroo’ on didgeridoo, “acrylic” or otherwise…
What gets me is the fact that no one yet has pointed out that he’s actually blowing on an acrylic didgeridoo.
Once again we can never overestimate the total foolishness of elected prosecutors/Law Officers in the service of their careers and pursuit of easy publicity. This is another bad joke in the ongoing comedy/tragedy of the “War on Drugs.” Publius pointing out the hypocrisy of this State where dealing addiction, sickness and death is their major business, just underlines the stupidity of the whole thing.
Insane?
It is madness.
The economy of South Caroline depends on tobacco, an addictive, cancer-causing substance. Its victims get sick, suffer long and painfully, and often die from it.
But the state, in all its majesty, brings criminal (!!!) charges against pot smokers.
Jonathon,
I have never heard your stance on drug laws, especially on marijuana (although reading between the lines I can get a hint).
I would appreciate, very much, knowing how you feel. Both as a law expert and personally (not asking if you partake, but your personal opinion on its usage and its reported harm towards Americans).
My agenda is from seeing friends die in pain and afraid to use to ease the pain and nausea, besides the fact that there are many ways the hemp plant could be useful to us.
(I understand if you feel you shouldn’t, but I am curious)
The Sheriff’s name is Leon Lott.
5623 Two Notch Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29223
(803) 576-3000 phone (803) 576-3195 fax
sheriff@rcsd.net
http://www.rcsd.net/
Why not contact him and tell him exactly what an opportunistic coercive douche bag he looks like? He’s elected, so please feel free to complain about to him to any other official listed on the Richland County website.
Prof. Turley,
You are right that the sheriff should have something more important to deal with than this situation. We have waqr criminals in our midst that have not been investigated or charged, but yet we go after kids on a marijuana beef.