Comedian Tommy Chong Gets Nine Months on Paraphernalia Charges

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

[Wolfie]

Comedian Tommy Chong Gets Nine Months on Paraphernalia Charges

Pittsburgh — Tommy Chong, who played one half of the dope-smoking duo in Cheech and Chong movies, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 on Thursday for selling bongs and other drug paraphernalia over the Internet.

The 65-year-old Chong was allowed to remain free until federal prison officials tell him in a few weeks where he must report to prison.

Chong also forfeited about $100,000 for his arrest on federal drug paraphernalia charges. He'll spend a year on probation after he's released from prison.

Chong's business, Nice Dreams Enterprises, which made a line of marijuana bongs and pipes, was to be sentenced later Thursday.

Chong pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to sell drug paraphernalia and also pleaded guilty on behalf of Nice Dreams Enterprises, which did business under the name Chong Glass.

Chong's plea came after federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents purchased his paraphernalia and had them shipped to an undercover business in Beaver Falls, a city northwest of Pittsburgh. Agents also confiscated his company's paraphernalia during raids of "head shops" in numerous states and confiscated "thousands of marijuana bongs and pipes" in a raid of his Gardena, Calif., business.

His plea followed a series of raids in February by the DEA in which at least 55 people were charged with trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia. Federal officials said the investigation targeted the nation's biggest Internet distributors of paraphernalia.

Prosecutors said Chong was the first person to plead guilty in the raids.

The actor-comedian recently had a recurring role on Fox's "That '70s Show."

[50sDad]

The images of hell that Sacred Scripture presents to us must be correctly interpreted.

Ah, the Jehovah's Witnesses believe that as well.

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.

So no physical devil? Or where does that fallen angel exist if no Hell?

Is the Lake of Fire a literal Lake of Fire, or must that be interpreted?

Would this imply no afterlife, no spiritual heaven? Christ physically ascended into heaven, we are told. Or not?

[PaxMacian]

Proverbs 1
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

"So you are denying a phyical hell?"

As a physical place, yes.

"Is this a Catholic thing or a Morman thing? "

Catholic, via the Pope in 1999 at the link posted.

"how does this relate if the only unforgivable sin is cursing the Holy Spirit?"

Though I am uncertain as to the veracity of this statement, since I am unable to judge another's sin, I did quote two requirements for being blessed with the Holy Spirit which do not harmonize with the War on Herb.

"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?"

I did not interpret your salvation nor judge you. Rather, I pointed out activities contrary to the will of God which IF continued may disconnect one with the Holy Spirit leading to hell.

Matthew 7
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

[PaxMacian]

All those questions are hardly pertinent and answered at
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_28071999_en.html

[50sDad]

If the only Hell is separation from God, how could Christ descend into Hell for three days, as is held I believe in the Catholic traddition? How could God, in the Trinity, be apart from God?

[50sDad]

I'm lazy:

So no physical devil? Or where does that fallen angel exist if no Hell? Is the Lake of Fire a literal Lake of Fire, or must that be interpreted? Would this imply no afterlife, no spiritual heaven? Christ physically ascended into heaven, we are told. Or not?

[50sDad]

Dang, sorry. To fast on the post.

[PaxMacian]

Is it merciful to imprison and steal from those that would
dare to possess or protect this herb given to them by God?
Is it merciful to support a war which does these things?

Can one possess peace if their heart is filled with a sense
of iniquity which causes them to wage war upon their brothers
and sisters who dare to possess or protect this herb?

[PaxMacian]

You've got me on that one.
I was raised catholic and never heard about a descent into hell.

[50sDad]

Is it merciful to imprison and steal from those that would dare to possess or protect this herb given to them by God? Is it merciful to support a war which does these things?

Oh, OK. I thought I 'dis'd you in some way.

Can one possess peace if their heart is filled with a sense of iniquity which causes them to wage war upon their rothers and sisters who dare to possess or protect this herb?

In that, than how can I possess peace if I insist that someone who steals from the till of a quickie mart, or a pederast, or a murderer go to jail...if all small sins are the same as any large sin in God's eye?

[50sDad]

You've got me on that one. I was raised catholic and never heard about a descent into hell.

Andybody in here want to help with this? I was always told that the Catholic traddition taught that Christ's spirit decended into Hell for the three days He hung on the cross as a method of replacing our own decent after death. Anybody? (If in fact anyone is still on this thread but the Honored Opposition and myself...)

[PaxMacian]

Angel means host.
Fallen angels are known in this world as demons.
The adversary, Satan, is there leader in the battle
between light and dark in this world.
He refused to serve us as God commanded.
While, the angels are the ones which obey and serve mankind.
If you read the book of Revelation literally you are missing the point.
Fire is an elemental symbol representing carnal desires or passions. Water=spirit, Earth=body, Air=mind.
There is an assured afterlife in that we are eternal beings.
The question is whether or not one resides within the Holy Spirit.
Christ ascended into the heavens and there is much in the heavens.
Moreover we, as an entire planet, are temporarily isolated from the heavens because of an arrow shot from the top of the tower of babel. If we can come to a peace amongst ourselves we may be permitted to join the greater community.
We must make our own peace, our own heaven here.
On earth as it is in heaven.

[PaxMacian]

Catechism of the Catholic Church on this issue is below:

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p122a5p2.htm

[PaxMacian]

Ephesians 4: 9 But that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same who has also ascended up above all the heavens, that he might fill all things;

[50sDad]

Moreover we, as an entire planet, are temporarily isolated from the heavens because of an arrow shot from the top of the tower of babel.

Woah, where is that in the Bible? I see arrow mentioned 14 times in the Bible, and no where in connection with Babel. Are you using a King James?

...Fire is an elemental symbol representing carnal desires or passions. Water=spirit, Earth=body, Air=mind.

You crafty fellow! I'll bite, what does Earth represent in the four elemental forms of the Ancients?

The other obvious question is what standard do you use to determine what is "real" in the bible and what is a "symbol" in the bible?

[PaxMacian]

You may have me on the arrow thing.
I have been looking and I too am unable at the moment to back that up.
But, an unbelievably large number of sites online have the same notion without any of them quoting scripture.
I am certain it is in some old religious movie and this may be the source for all the confusion. I will continue my efforts and inform you if I find anything.

As to a standard for determining the context or the mode of writing in the Bible, I generally turn to one or more of the many commentaries written by experts for guidance. But, I suppose, in the end it always comes down to the individual. For this reason, combined with our freedom of religion protected by our constitution, citizens should be permitted to possess and protect this herb gifted from God.

[jmc813]

The Constitution was written for a moral and religious people.

...who owned and f'd slaves.

[MEGoody]

If you 'wrestle not against flesh and blood' you seem awfully anxious to spend your time fighting for the right to use herb instead of fighting spiritual battles. Perhaps you already lost that war.

[PaxMacian]

Slavery and re-education of your surrendering enemy is far more noble than slaughtering them. And, far more intelligent than becoming slaves to your surrendering enemy.

[PaxMacian]

This is a spiritual battle.
All those who support the WOD
leave this country open to one day
becoming an islamic nation
under sharia law, the rule of Satan.

[robertpaulsen]

At every Mass, the congregation says the Apostles Creed:

I Believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.