The Jefferson Police Department confiscated some $40,000 in marijuana and arrested one person Wednesday in a raid on a Jefferson home.
Charles Mark Day, 43, Storey Street was arrested and charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of non-game species and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Officers conducted a search warrant on Day’s home where they found 40 marijuana plants being grown in his basement. Officers also found a frozen owl and hawk in the house.
JPD OFFICERS WITH SOME OF THE MARIJUANA FOUND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
Here's my Hard a** take on this situation.
1. he was growing an illegal substance
2. he had children in the house.
3. he had DEAD (and dont let him fool you BOTH were dead and frozen)Birds protected under a federal law in his possession (If he had contacted DNR they would have come to get them).
If I had my way(and i dont care if he is your friend or not) he AND his wife would be in jail(sorry but you cant tell me she didn't know he had that much pot growing). His Kids would be in DFCS care OR the care of a family member. His house would be seized, his cars and bank account would also be seized.
You might think it is O.K. and that the police Shouldn't have bothered with him but guess what, HE WAS BREAKING THE LAW. not just possession but Manufacture of Marijuana.
As for judging you...you were the one who said you would allow your children to go over to a Marijuana grow house.
someone said:
Q: "why dont we let the drug dealers out so they can work and support their families"
A: because they didnt do that in the first place. Instead they CHOSE to break the law and now must suffer the Consequences.
it was also said:
It is like minded people like yourself that have this country in the quandry that it's in.
If you mean people who follow the law and try to live a good life WITHOUT Growing pot. maybe you should rethink YOUR opinion of the world because it might be people like you who think nothing should be done to CRIMINALS. that is what really has this country in the shape it is in.
Why is it always the police department's fault when someone breaks the law and is caught?
this conversation shouldnt even be going on. I dont care if he is your friend, brother, neighbor, cousin, father, or mother. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW.
would I turn in a family member I thought was Growing pot...I would tell them to stop first, and if they didnt, then sorry but you have to go.
I'm not going to judge you as a mother; I'm sure you love your children. I do however question your judgment in allowing your children around someone who uses illegal drugs.
One last time, here we go.
If you didn't know about the pot NO HARM NO FOUL.
If you did know about the pot(and i'll bet you did) then yes your screen name say's it all. Bringing your children to a place where you know an illegal activity is going on is in all senses of the work stupid. if they found out or knew about the activity then what message are you sending them? That if you dont like a law JUST IGNORE IT because it does not apply to you.
I hope you dont punnish your children If they get in trouble in school because they are just following YOUR example.
but what can you expect from, just another "idiot"
Should we do a study before we rip these CO2 absorbers from their pots? Why hasn't anyone printed anything about this concern?
And now what? Send this man to prison for 20 years for growing a little pot? Doing his part fighting global climate change?
After all of the plant life is ripped up and destroyed and Wall street has collapsed, at least this poor fellow will have 3 meals a day , clothes and a roof over his head.
We're making real progess here in America.
Yeah, I'm *sure* that Jefferson is a lot safer with this "dangerous" criminal off the streets...please. Educate yourself before you go posting such ignorant comments.
You do know, of course, that if pot were legal and regulated and taxed, we'd have 1) no financial crisis and a huge surplus, and 2) far less non-violent offenders clogging up our so-called justice system.
Folks can drink themselves into oblivion every night of the week and it's totally accepted, despite the toll in human misery alcohol produces, yet a completely harmless *plant* such as this lands people in jail and worse. America, wake up!!
believes everything you read. When a person is arrested in
their home and a gun is found in the home, the person is
charged with possesion of a firearm during a felony. This
gun could have been found in a top drawer, it could
have been anywhere. The police still have to take the gun
and charge the person. At his arraignment, he was not charged with a firearm. It is standard procedure if a child lives in the home and there has
been a crime committed,a person CAN be charged with
child cruelty in the third degree. However, in this case,
Mr. Day was not charged with Child cruelty at his arraignment. Get your facts straight before casting stones. Lastly, I have been to the basement of this home in recent time, and never saw a so called grow house! It was just a basement with T.V and pool table.
As for number 6, you really put a lot of thought into that statement. Good job.
Don't police have anything better to do, any "real" criminals to go after? HMMMMMMMMM
$40,000 in pot doesn't sound like personal use. Looks like they got a REAL CRIMINAL.
just another "idiot,
Yes my children have been to his house and will continue to do so. HMMMMMMMMMM
Says a lot about your judgment as a parent. If I found out that my children were going to a pot grow house, that would come to a very fast stop(I dont care how good a parent he seems to be)Maybe next time they will be at the house and they can end up in child protective services. I just had an after thought.....Unless he is giving you some pot and then you would WANT your children there to keep open the connection. HMMMMMMMMMMMM
Michael McCarthy,
Guns are a right under the 2nd Amendment (Bill of Rights)HMMMMMMMMMMMMM Unless you are commiting a crime and have one then it is not covered under the 2nd amendment.
My point is people:
They took out a POT GROW HOUSE. It is no different than the several others that were taken out all over the county. Just this time it was someone you may know.
Don't police have anything better to do, any "real" criminals to go after?
40 marijuana plants sounds like a real criminal to me.
just another "idiot said,
Yes my children have been to his house and will continue to do so and he is a better father than 90% of the fathers out there SHAME ON YOU.
Shows a lot about your decisions as a parent. I would NEVER allow my children to go to a POT GROW HOUSE. SHAME ON YOU AND HIM (by allowing your children to go to his house knowing he is breaking the law, you are telling them that if you dont like a law ignore it).
Michael McCarthy said,
Guns are a right under the 2nd Amendment (Bill of Rights)
Unless you are possessing them during the commission of a crime. Then they are not covered under the bill of rights.
My point is:
This man was breaking the law. What is the difference from the Grow houses that were being broken up about a year ago other than you might know this person. should the police have let those grow house operators go?
By the way Mike did forget some of the facts...according to the Athens Paper he also had a frozen Owl and Hawk in a freezer. Just to refresh your memory THESE ARE PROTECTED BIRDS under the MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT. So he may also face FEDERAL charges for that.
DD
I am embarassed for my family and apologize to all my friends and those that love us. I am now charged with multiple felonies, which is sad, for I would never take anything to your streets. It was a victimless crime until my home was invaded and my property siezed. My motorcycle was my only means of transportation, and my grill (borrowed from a friend), was my livelihood. They were both taken as if they had been purchased with drug money, but if I've never sold drugs, then I have no drug money possessions. I have and am challenging a law that should be challenged. Personal use is just that. I believed that if I skirted the mainstream and was self-sufficient, I would not further the drug trade, I would rather circumvent the mainstream than contribute to the problem. If that were the norm, we would not have the trafficking problems that we have now. That said; I have ceased and desisted. I will face the courts and likely pay a steep fine, serve probation, and even face more jail time. I will do it with a clean consciene, for though I broke the law, I did nothing wrong.
My child was never exposed to any of this, and lives in a world made for boys. Go to Amberlandinc.com and you'll see the paradise that I have spent 15 years building for him. There were no child endangerment charges pressed- and I thank the JPD for recognizing that Little Man lives in a child's paradise.
The firearm possession charge consisted of an antique 1910 Webley Tank Officers' .38cal, empty, with no rounds available, tucked away deeply in my artwork drawer.
And "Insider" got it right. I would never harm a bird of prey.
I broke the law and will serve my penance. In doing so, I will serve with a clean conscience.
Thank you for your understanding.
CM Day
It is people like you, that believe that they can make up their own rules to suit themselves, that have caused America to plunge to her current moral low.
You admittedly broke the law, yet you are completely unrepentant! Please, do not make excuses.
You said, "GA's strict laws are...another example of their morals being decided for them"! What? Where in the world do you think laws (all laws!) come from? ALL laws have a moral basis! The reason we even NEED laws is because we cannot be trusted to do what is right without them (as you have so aptly proven).
Your child is going to have a tough road ahead of him, since you have taught him such tripe as "situational ethics", "anarchy", and "relativism". It's only wrong if you feel that it is wrong--and it matters not what the law says?!
There is no such thing as a victimless crime. Your son is now a victim of your foolish choices. My wallet is a victim, because now we have yet another "criminal" to push through the system. Thanks!
I still cannot believe my eyes. And PUH-LEEZE do not compare yourself to America's founding fathers!
For Hmmmmmm... I would suggest that the victims you list are victims caused by our politicians writing laws promoted by the very people that benefit from locking up people. (police, lawyers) (no, not all police and not all lawyers as the majority of these people are good too and most are just doing a job they sometimes don't like, like all of us) The cost of pushing an accused person through the system is expensive I suppose. Lawyers are making a killing on these cases. Private probation companies are making a killing on these cases. If the government had not invaded our neighbor's home then there would be no victim I can think of and it wouldn't cost the taxpayer a dime and we wouldn't be looking for a 4th Superior Court Judge to handle the backlog of cases.
I would also like to point out that Mr. Day did not post his comments anonymously and I applaud him for his honesty and courage. To the others, I would like to point out again, we are a community. Why not identify yourselves? If you really feel Mr. Day is so awful then why not say it publicly, rather than behind a mask? I don't know Mr. Day but I do know he is my neighbor and a part of this community and I'm not in fear for my life because he had an old rifle in his home. And it's not right that his motorcycle has been stolen from him by our own government. How is he supposed to get to work now? And pay his fine? Try putting yourselves in his shoes for just one moment. Close your eyes and think about it. Are we really this cruel of a nation? Or a state? Or a city?
Of course we need laws. Who would want to live in a community without police? Without government services, ems, fire dept etc? I doubt very many, including Mr. Day.
First, I'll take a wild guess here that since I never adressed you in my statement that you Also use "Just another idiot"
Second, I'm not trying to judge you but you said you would allow your children over there even knowing they have a POT GROW HOUSE working over there.
Third, We are not talking about alcohol here we are talking about an ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE(and more than can be considered for personal use)
Fourth, so the country is in the shape it is in due to my like kind of thinking??????? What that criminals go to jail(If he had only a small amount o.k. give him a citation and let him go, but 40 plants). Maybe, you need to rethink your take on things, maybe, it is your way of thinking (we should let him get away with this infraction) that has this country in the shape it is in. Look back to the old days, when they caught a criminal the punishment was swift and severe, so other people didn't want to try it for fear of recieving the same punnishment they didn't put people on Probation so they could be breaking the law while on a time out from jail.
Fifth, I do know about the birds and BOTH were dead and frozen.
To Michael McCarthy, you said why dont we just fine tham and let them go so they can take care of their families. the only response I can give for that is.... Why didn't they do that in the first place instead of trying to make a fast buck doing something illegal?
ONE LAST THING: If he had not been breaking the law maybe his family wouldnt need positive thoughts. He would be there with them instead of in JAIL.
I will gladly give positive thought to someone who has ran into problems through no fault of their own but not for someone WHO KNEW HE WAS BREAKING THE LAW.
I would like to say I'm Glad you decided to post so as to get your side of the story out and stop speculation.
But with that said Please don't try to put yourself in the same class and Washington, Jefferson, MLK or Rosa Parks. these people were fighting because they were being descriminated against due to geographical location, sex or race.
There are plenty of ways to get laws changed without just deciding to BREAK them(remember that laws are writen by ELECTED officials) We put these people in office to decide MORAL issues for us(for the most part laws are not writen because someone did something good but because someone did something bad). Hopefully our elected officials work within the scope and view's of the community they represent. But if they dont then we have a way to Change that and put someone in who will.
The Constitution was drafted as to not stop individual states from imposing laws as they see fit for their citizens. (so if you dont like the Marijuana laws here you are allowed to MOVE to where the views on that subject fit you own or attempt to change them where you live.) This is why in Ohio it takes larger quantities to get arrested than in GA. although Marijuana is still considered illegal on the federal level
Ohio law States that:
Simple possession up to 2.2 lbs is a misd. and anything over that is a felony
cultivation: 200 grams or more is a Felony
And for ALL drug convictions drivers license are suspended for 6 mo.-5 years and ALL professional licenses are suspended(just do a google search for ohio marijuana laws)
Basic alaska law:
Alaska State Laws
Possession ----- Incarceration -----Fine
1 oz or less in your residence or home - no penalty - N/A - N/A
1 oz to 4 oz - misdemeanor - 90 days - $1,000
More than 4 oz, or 25 OR MORE PLANTS- felony - 5 years - $50,000
Any amount within 500 feet of school grounds or rec. center*- felony - 5 years - $50,000
Although the news from alaska is that law enforcement is still prosecuting under FEDERAL law.
Maybe someday you will have your wish and Marijuana is legal but until then what have you truly taught your child? That Breaking laws is O.K.
By the way it does affect someone, his family. He CHOSE to break the law so his family is affected because of his choice.
If you dont like the laws where you live then read my previous post. you can move to where the laws are more in line with your views or you can elect people who share your views, but breaking the law because you dont like it gets you these results.
P.S. it is also a known gateway drug, kids try pot it doesn't effect them, or kill them, like they were told, so they figure other drugs might be as bad as they were told. talk to ANY hard drug addict and ask where they started and I'll bet 90-95 % will tell you the first drug they tried was POT.
Let me challenge the good people of our community. To the police that don't agree with these laws, don't arrest people for this. To the judges, don't write no-knock warrants any longer for non-violent crimes. It's un-American. For those sitting on juries, don't convict. For the rest of us, let's look out for our neighbors and not be so judgemental and nosey. Be a good neighbor. And I'll be yours too.
personally i feel pot is less dangerous than alcohol but the fact is alcohol is legal, pot isn't.
I did offer both choices (move or change things) BUT until things ARE changed it is still against the law to grow or possess marijuana! If you deciede to do these activities you most likley WILL get arrested. I also offered the option of electing people who share your views. there is also a system to REMOVE people who vote against things you feel should pass it is called recall vote.
the criminal justice system if fueled by who? the politicians who we elect to make the laws.
you are right most drugs were legal until the late 19th century BUT the powers that be outlawed them because we were becoming an addicted society(watch the history chanel they have a great series called Hooked on illegal drugs. it is a history of drug use broken down into different drugs). there were a bunch of JUNKIES in this country. Violence was rare compaired to today because they knew that if they broke into their neighbors house they would be dead, and the neighbor would be a hero.
I did not say POT was the bigest gateway drug I said it is a known gateway drug cigarettes are legal although harmful. POT is not legal.
Your right, this debate has turned american against american, so, we should just let your side of the debate have its way because thats the way you want it? My arguments are just as valid as yours.
If you truly want to be an "educated populace" as you put it then i suggest doing research. go to webmd and look up marijuana, go to surgeon general's site, go to the national institute for drug abuse and educate your self, THEN deciede. you may find that it is not as harmless as people think.
this following information is off of caniblog.worldpress.com
As for the question as to why cannabis is illegal (and for example, why tobacco is not), that is simple due to the consequence of history. That tobacco is legal, however, it is no justification for the legalization of cannabis. Arguably, it is the other way around.
Until and unless it is legalized you will face criminal prosicution for marijuana, END OF STORY! Wanting it to not be illegal will not work. the only way you will get it your way is to pressure you representitives to VOTE for it.
And I will Pressure them JUST AS HARD to keep it illegal.
I appreciate the civil debate. It's not the debate that has turned American against American. I believe it is the unconstitutional laws that make it routine for the military (you can refer to them as police if you like) to break into an American citizen's home in the middle of the night with no warning. (what if he shot the police thinking they were burglars?) Couldn't the police go during the day and knock on his door? This kind of treatment used to be reserved for the Bonnie and Clyde types, not a well-known, local resident who has lived here all his life with no violent history.
How about a different approach? (thinking outside the box) How about writing the man a certified letter asking him to come in and talk about this and perhaps he'll change his mind before a military assault is necessary on his home, scaring his children to death?
I'm just offering some ideas so that we can become more of a community and help one another rather than being so harsh.
I've often heard from my youth that you catch more flies with honey than salt. Maybe we would all cooperate more with the police if we knew their intentions were to help a troubled individual rather than their desire to put him in little more than a dungeon and charge the taxpayer $40,000.00 / year to keep him locked away, making us all "safe."
Actually, I've met some real kind police officers who are gentlemen and above reproach. You may be one of them. I'm only suggesting that our laws (yes, I know, the damn politicians wrote them) are causing more problems than they solve many times.
You wouldn't put your child in a dark closet for misbehaving. So why would you do that to minor criminals?
By the way, I talked to Mr. Day on the telephone for quite a while. He seems like a nice guy. He was simply trying to produce his own weed so he didn't have to become involved with dealers as he had no connections for years. This seems less harmful than putting money into the drug smuggling ring but his charges are worse than if he just bought some. I'm not defending his right to smoke a harmless plant as much as I am pointing out the absurdity of the severity of his charges and the possible consequences. (I know, the damn politicians again)
Compare our society to what it once was. We're not better off due to these draconian practices.
Thanks again for the civil discourse. Although we differ, perhaps we're more alike than we are different.
As far as POOR MR Day....how is he supposed to get to work without his motorcycle? He should have thought about this before he broke the law as the rest of us do on a daily basis!
Mr. McCarthy, I would love to know what healthcare provider you are employed with. I hope they are aware of your opinion on POT use as this could be a work hazzard condition for them! A drug test should be recommended!
Why would you think, because I have an opinion, that I would act illegally? Are opinions threatening to you JC? If so, there are a number of countries you could move to where people are not allowed to have opinions. You would fit in just fine in these places. Perhaps China.
Opinions are healthy in a thriving democracy. Get over it.
No thanks, China is not for me. I enjoy the USA where there are laws to take care of criminals, maybe you need to go somewhere....Think you would fit in in Mexico just fine!
I hate animal crueltist: Crueltist is not a word. But that doesn't surprise me about you. I'll live and die here with the stars and stripes wrapped around my patriotic and free body. It is freedom I desire sir. Not your socialist drivel.
Just because someone disagrees with you is no reason to think he should move to Mexico. But a person who doesn't respect his neighbors freedom doesn't deserve it for himself.
We live and die for freedom, not control of one's neighbors' lives. The King of England had many laws for we Americans and when we got good and tired of them we had a revolution to throw off the yoke of England.
It is freedom that runs through my veins, not totalitarianism sir. I also have opinions about prostitution. But I've never frequented one. And gambling, but never have I ever bought a lottery ticket. Some people actually think about things. They don't accept the status quo just because "we've always done it this way."
Perhaps there are better ways of doing things. Has that ever occurred to you? Or is jail all you understand? Has it ever occurred to you that the constitution was written to protect the minority from the majority?
Do you know what time the search warrant was executed? I think you will find it was at about 5:30 pm hardly the middle of the night.
As for sending him a certified letter to "come in and talk about it" Give me a break! lets see the course of action:
1. receive letter.
2. destroy evidence.
3. come up with reason water and electric bill are high.
4. set up appointment to speak with police.
5. deny ANY illegal activity.
6. Laugh your ass off at the Stupid aproach the police took.
As for scaring his children to death....HE was involved in CRIMINAL activity therefore HE put his children in that situation. Don't try to blame the police for that one.
You spoke with MR. Day for quite a while on the phone. He was simply trying to NOT HAVE TO BREAK THE LAW GOING TO A DRUG DEALER TO BUY AN ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE, SO, HE DECIDED TO BREAK THE BY GROWING IT HIMSELF.
Maybe we would all cooperate more with the police if we knew their intentions were to help a troubled individual rather than their desire to put him in little more than a dungeon and charge the taxpayer $40,000.00 / year to keep him locked away, making us all "safe."
how about this: he isn't a troubled individual he CHOSE to do something that is ILLEGAL.
Like it or not until the laws change IT IS AN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. Break the law go to jail. Dont break the law dont go to jail.
Mr. Day had 40 plants, these plants at maturity(which is 6 feet tall) can yield 2 pounds of marijuana per plant which equals 80 pounds.
I have been told this was "hydro" marijuana which is high end marijuana which currently sells in Atlanta for $ 3000 to $5000 dollars per pound, so 80 pounds at $5000 dollars per pound = 400,000 thousand dollars not 40,000. so as you can see this was not personal use this was a business.
http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr2/estproc.html states that 3.5 oz can be expected from a full grown plant grown indoors.
Everyone in law enforcement knows or should know male plants are not used for smoking as their potency is very weak. (Ask any farmer: 50% yield under the best of circumstances) So, let's assume 3.5 oz times 20 female plants. (most yield possible) This is 70 oz. or 4.375 lbs. Assuming this is an annual crop this would be the total weight for the year. This would produce only .36 lbs per month or about 5-6 ounces per month or 0.01 lbs per day. (1/100th of a pound per day for you folks that like fractions) This is not a tremendous amount of pot. And if the crop wasn't as good then you can look at half that, just enough for a fellow to smoke pot pretty regularly through the year.
I haven't bought any pot so I assume the price you list for a pound is probably inflated at about the same rate as the weight you overestimated. (800% or 3.5 oz vs. 32 ounces)
I assume there was no evidence of sale or certainly he would have been charged. (receipts, money, lots of valuables) Just a motorcycle. No car.
I just can't make that jump to think this was a big money making operation.
Don't misunderstand me. I'm not promoting marijuana. I'm only proposing a different, better way to deal with the perceived problem. Just how serious is this problem?
It doesn't help law enforcement's cause when weights and values are inflated just to make the defendant look bad. Also the false health claims against marijuana are ridiculous. You lose credibility with that kind of thinking. I get the CDC's morbidity and mortality report every month and have never read one death or illness from marijuana in the United States for years. There are 300 million people in our nation. And none have died from marijuana? Amazing. Must be no one is smoking that stuff or with all the health threats listed in this blog you'd see dead bodies lying around in the streets.
It is called being a informed citizen in our community. I talk to people and 90-95% of my comments are based on comments placed by other people(with a little research on the internet) or just some Rational thought.
As for My Knowledge of drugs and the history of drugs, it is a subject that interest's me. I have watched the history channel and the shows they produce on the history of drugs in america(hooked on illegal drugs).
Now I'll even divulge why it is so interesting to me:
I have lost several friends to drugs including a 1st cousin. I have also lost several friends to alcohol(DUI crashes one not more than 500 feet from my parents front door when I was 19. imagine walking out your front door after hearing a terrible crash and seeing your friends car wrapped around a large oak tree), and in that same note, I know some people who have gotten quite deep into drugs and pulled themselves out. Today they live a good life(one of my cousins was in Vietnam and came back hooked on heroin but he decided that was not where he wanted to be so he cleaned himself up).
One of the best peices of advice I have ever recieved was from him while talking about drug use in general, and it goes like this......don't try it you'll like it.
I have applied that to many things in my life that could have gotten me in trouble and it has served me well, that and the fact that my parents instilled some VERY strong morals in me.
So you can see why I am so DEAD SET AGAINST drug use and driving under the influence of alcohol.
If the people reading this are church going people then think about this.....God made us this way for a reason. WHAT RIGHT DO WE HAVE TO ALTER OUR PERCEPTION OF THE UNIVERSE HE CREATED FOR US?
If you believe in evolution, then, it took millions of years to evolve to this state. why do you want to destroy the product that is continuing to evolve to who knows what by taking something that DOES destroy your body(I'm sorry but inhaling smoke is not good for you).
so either way you look at it NOTHING good comes from it.
and from this comment: "one of my cousins was in Vietnam and came back hooked on heroin but he decided that was not where he wanted to be so he cleaned himself up"
okaaaay... so, when he came back hooked on heroin, did you "tell him to stop" and then tell him he "had to go"? Did you arrest him? why not? because he got clean? How long did it take him, upon return to the US to get clean? How long did you know that he was hooked?
Seems a bit contradictory to me, sir. Sounds like you talk one way and then act another. And it seems funny to me that you would "tell them to stop first" -- did you go to Mr. Day and tell him to stop? Why would you extend that courtesy to one, but not another? Because they're family, I assume? Sounds like a bit of hypocrisy there to me...
It is a sad, sad day when our police officers get their drug education from the History Channel!
You mentioned how you have personally seen the negative effects of alcohol and heroin; have you ever seen anyone overdose on marijuana? I didn't think so. Why then, do you support the legality of alcohol, but not marijuana?
Your arguments as to creation/evolution are just absurd: "WHAT RIGHT DO WE HAVE TO ALTER OUR PERCEPTION OF THE UNIVERSE HE CREATED FOR US?" Why do you think the plant is here? GOD created it! So why do you feel that the plant is inherently evil? (And the argument that it is illegal is totally irrelevant here. The argument that something is inherently "wrong" because it is illegal does not hold any water.) And on the other side, if you believe in evolution, you argue, "why do you want to destroy the product that is continuing to evolve to who knows what by taking something that DOES destroy your body". Well... maybe marijuana is supposed to play a key role in our evolution. How can you be so sure that it's not?
Do you think that a mature individual should have the right to decide whether or not they smoke cigarettes? Drink alcohol? Own a gun? Have piercings? Tattoos? I really am curious what your positions on these topics are...
Freedom is sometimes dangerous. Many of us do dangerous things, i.e. ride motorcycles, sky-dive, race cars and other risk-taking adventurous activities.
We are Americans and we demand our freedom and resent it when busy-bodies try to control our lives when we are only risking our own lives. It is a part of the American character.
So please, try to mind your own business. Don't assume we need your advice or your silly victimless criminal codes. If we need your help we'll ask.
The following are victimless crimes:
1. gambling
2. prostitution
3. drug use
free mark day
Does his arrest surprise me? Not really.
Do I think it's unfair? Without a doubt.
But Mark's a grown man, and he knew what he was doing. I sincerely hope he avoids jail time...he certainly isn't the "criminal element" that they're really designed for.
I'm don't make the claim that Mark should be exempt from the laws or that he should walk because he's a great person. I do make the claim that if his previous record is clean, which I think it is, that he should not face jailtime. Hell, I don't think he should face jailtime even if he does have a few dings on his record.
I just support the belief that marijuana shouldn't be illegal in the first place. And that it shouldn't be a crime for people to smoke it, grow it, etc.
I don't believe that something is wrong simply because it is illegal. Imagine what kind of society we'd be living in if nobody challenged the nation's laws. That doesn't mean I condone illegal activity just for the sake of it; I just think that I, an intelligent, educated adult, have enough sense to decide which potentially dangerous activities I would like to partake in, and which have a risk level that I'm not willing to accept. I don't think marijuana has a high (heh, no pun intended) risk level -- certainly not as high risk as other substances, like cigarettes, alcohol, prescription drugs, etc. I realize that there are many who are not responsible enough to make that decision for themselves, and I don't mean to say that all drugs should be legal. I just think it's absurd that marijuana, a relatively low risk substance, is completely illegal, while other substances that KILL PEOPLE are sold legally everyday (well, except maybe Sunday in some cases --> that's just absurd as well, but it's an entirely different debate), sold to minors regularly, and they are condoned, encouraged, and taxed by the government, no less!
I don't imagine that most of you have been to Amsterdam, but I'd like to look at how they deal with marijuana there. It's not legal, but it's tolerated. It's regulated. The government realizes that they don't need to worry about a bunch of "marijuana junkies" destroying their town and their way of life. They have turned it into a tourist attraction -- they have made it boring! The argument that marijuana is a "gateway drug" also completely falls flat here -- did you know that it is very difficult to find "hard drugs" - cocaine, ecstasy, etc - there?
The War on Drugs in America has done more harm than good, in my opinion, and must be stopped!
I encourage everyone who agrees with me to visit NORML, become a member, and support a truly good cause!
God created pot but he never said to smoke it or not smoke it.
if you speed they usully dont steel your property they just make you pay a fine for a couple of hundred dollars
they stole his grill and his motorcycle.
so arquing the speeding being illeagal to drugs being ileagal is like comparing apples to oranges.
O.K. as paul Harvey would say "Here is the rest of the story".
when my cousin came back from nam I was about 9-10 years old. Did I tell him to stop, Hell I didn't even know him(my Parents kept me sheltered from things like that at that age as do most parents) I met my cousin years later at a friends house when he was there with my friends older brother. At the time I didn't know who he was I only knew he was Mark. but as I got to know him I discovered that he was my cousin and a really decent person. When I told my Mother I had met him both my mother and Older sister said stay away from him he is trouble. The problem was I had already formed my own opinion about him before I knew who he was.
Next you assume I'm a police officer and that I would have had access to go to Mr.Day to talk to him about it.
There are a LOT of informitive shows on the history channel and A show about the HISTORY of drug use Is hardly getting their drug education. you can go online and find plenty of information about the effects, history, usage, terminology, abuse or any other aspect that interests you about drugs.(some people do more on the internet than play games although I do that also)and Yes I read ALOT from both sides of the argument, but my views keep me on the side that is opposed to their use.
Now for the religious aspect: I don't believe that GOD put everything on this earth. I do however believe that SATAN had a hand in some of the things here.
For the evolution side: I might be right, you might be right I dont know BUT that is my opinion(and you know what they say about opinion's...they are like a**holes everyone has one and they ALL stink).
Now for the other topics you mention I am not going to comment on them because that is NOT what this blog is about. maybe we will come across a different story and be able to debate them at that time.
NOW FOR MR. MCARTHY,
I have noticed that you have become hostile to me have I struck a nerve with you or did you finally find someone who together you can gang up on me and shut me up...not likley I will stop posting WHEN I DECIEDE not because you haven't asked for my opinion.
And for mind my own business, when it effects the community I live in it is MY business as it is everyone who lives IN the community's business. (P.S. dont you live in Arcade)
and for your VICTIMLESS crimes
gambling...tell that to the family who is on the street in Las Vegas because they have gambled everything away(It happens more than you would ever think). OR to the people who just sat down at an illegal gambling machine in a store and lost their paycheck. tell their famile it is victimless.
Prostitution....tell that to the wife who just found out that her husband went to a hooker and is now taking the children and leaving and will end up on welfare.
DRUG USE...THELL THAT TO THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST PEOPLE BECAUSE SOMEONE THEY CARED ABOUT WAS DOING DRUGS OR WORSE KILLED BY THE ACTIONS OS SOMEONE ON DRUGS.
MY OPINION AND ARGUMENT IS AS VALID AS YOURS(actually more valid due to the fact that the people we all elect to office to make these decisions so far still agrees with MY opinion)
one last thing MR. Mcarthy,
all of the activities you listed involve RULES and LAWS that MUST BE FOLLOWED.
Ride motorcycles. the rules of the road.
skydive. you MUST TAKE A COURSE and before you can free fall you MUST have a certain number of jumps.
RACE CARS. one of the most restrictive sports known.