Comedian Tommy Chong Gets Nine Months on Paraphernalia Charges

Assoiciated Press ^ | Sept. 11, 2003 | Dan Nephin

[PaxMacian]

You seem to believe that an herb given by God to man and beast alike at the beginning of time and which has grown freely almost everywhere, including here long before our nation was formed, is permissibly eradicable or controllable by the federal government through powers granted by the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution. Though, it is an impossible task to devise a logical explanation of how this could be true. In light of the rest of the Constitution any such perceived mandate dissolves.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Preamble: ...secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity...

Amendment V: nor shall (anyone) be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the PEOPLE.

Amendment X: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the PEOPLE.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

Nowhere in the Constitution is it enumerated what one may put into ones body. Therefore, that right is reserved for the states or the people. However, since God has already specified in the Bible what one may consume, it is, in fact, the People’s God given right.

[PaxMacian]

I think that would be stated better as:
What or who has granted the federal government the power to force others to conform to a single community standard or, as is the trend, to a single world community standard?

[robertpaulsen]

Go find an island to live on. Live how you please. Once there, I have absolutely no desire to force you to comply with any standard.

Oh, you'd rather stay? Live among the rest of us? Then we have every right to decide how we will live.

[robertpaulsen]

The Constitution was written for a moral and religious people.

Why are you citing it?

[MEGoody]

"I saw a news story on Fox last week that discussed the fact that the state of Texas cannot keep up people on parole...the end result is they loose track of convicts that they should be watching."

Not sure of how things are organized in TX, but where I live, it is not the responsibility of police to keep track of parolees. There is a separate dept. that handles it. The police only get involved if the parole officer notifies them that the parolee has fled or committed a crime.

[MEGoody]

"Government has been given no power to regulate gifts from God"

On judgment day, I plan to scoot away from you when you stand before the Lord. I don't want to get hit by the lightening God's going to toss your way for trying to use His word to justify scrambling your brain.

[headsonpikes]

"Then we have every right to decide how we will live."

Stiff-necked and stubborn, aren't you?

You condemn God's laws, and affirm man's. Typical of 'Reno/Waco'-type thinking.

IMO.

[PaxMacian]

I will stand upright in the knowledge that I have opposed
an unjust, unholy, and unconstitutional war upon citizenry
by a nation attempting to impose arbitrary puritanical law
which violates the will, law and word of God.

Matthew Chapter 11:18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

[PaxMacian]

Ephesians 6: 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

PEACE!
End the War on Herb partakers and protectors!

[MrLeRoy]

Oh, you'd rather stay? Live among the rest of us? Then we have every right to decide how we will live.

I do not meld into a group mind simply by choosing to live among others. I agree for the most part that localities have the right to regulate public behavior---but you seem to support their right to regulate non-public behavior. On what basis? What your neighbor does behind closed doors has no bearing on how you choose to live.

[robertpaulsen]

'What your neighbor does behind closed doors has no bearing on how you choose to live."

I told you I would not respond to this "in the privacy of their living room" bull$it. Keep it up and I won't respond to anything you post.

[50sDad]

Clearly, as stated in Scripture, the only unforgiveable sin lies in cursing the spirit, that is as commonly read, rejecting the Holy Spirit. In what way would being against pot count as rejecting the Holy Spirit? Illumnate me.

[MrLeRoy]

What your neighbor does behind closed doors has no bearing on how you choose to live.

I told you I would not respond to this "in the privacy of their living room" bull$it.

Remind me---why is that?

Keep it up and I won't respond to anything you post.

Gee, that would be a shame.

[toothless]

"The Constitution was written for a moral and religious people."

No it was written for the people. If you want a theocracy move so saudi arabia.

[headsonpikes]

So who was the whining weasel on this thread?

SBR doughnut prize committee needs to know.

[PaxMacian]

The images of hell that Sacred Scripture presents to us must be correctly interpreted. They show the complete frustration and emptiness of life without God. Rather than a place, hell indicates the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy. This is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes the truths of faith on this subject: “To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called ‘hell’”

The above is quoted from:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_28071999_en.html

There is much more on hell there.

Remember the blessed are the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

So far, you have shown no mercy and seek no peace.

Peace be with you.

[PaxMacian]

Nobody is suggesting a theocracy.
But, adherence to the Constitution is mandatory.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ..."

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the PEOPLE.

Amendment X: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the PEOPLE.

[50sDad]

So you are denying a phyical hell? Is this a Catholic thing or a Morman thing? And again, how does this relate if the only unforgivable sin is cursing the Holy Spirit? How does this relate to your being able to interpret my Salvation, something we are told only God can do, for only God knows my heart?

[50sDad]

So far, you have shown no mercy and seek no peace.

Work with me here, I am slow. How in the world have I been unmerciful? Have I condemned you while I was busy disagring with your views? If I have done so, cite it and I will apologise. I still disagree with your views, but I in no way think I have been unmericiful? Use specifics...what have I done, other than disagree with your interpretation of the Word? Cite examples, don't just lump it into a glob of condemnation. To condemn me without having specifics to work from (other than to cite that I have the failing of not agreeing with you) would be "bearing false witness" just as under Jewish Law the Sanhedrin needed two witnesses to agree of the charges upon Christ. (Not of course that I place myself in his sinless position, for I, in the flesh, am a sinner.) Still, where have I been unmericful?

As for "seeking peace", is it the peace of "I, 50sDad, lay down and accept what I believe to be a misapplication of the Word?" I could "make peace" with my well-intentioned Christian Brother and Sisters who believe murdering a child in its mother's womb is OK with God by laying down and shutting up about it; that would bring peace between us, but it would still not be right in the eyes of God. I seek peace by attempting to convince you of the value of my arguement, as do you. But using the arguement that "you, 50sDad, do not have peace because you do not accept my way of thinking" is at once high-handed and devisive.

[50sDad]

I will, however, take the blame for failing to close my boldface! [\b] ;)