Are Pot Users Criminals? The Tragic Case of Rachel Hoffman

ABC News ^ | July 24, 2008 | BRIAN ROSS and VIC WALTER

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Rachel Hoffman lost, her family lost, and the local taxpayers will lose when the Tallahassee police have to pay a multi-million dollar judgment.

[Liberty Valance]

"Pot should be legal, plain and simple."



Plain maybe but simple it aint. Decriminalization of simple possesion should be the only goal. Rachel was busted twice for a "baggie" of pot. That was enough for her to be used in an "undercover operation" to buy guns which ended with her death? This story needs more sirens and whistles.

[dalereed]

“The one you fired “

One, hell over the years I probablu canned 50 usless bastards for using pot.

[I see my hands]

"(even marijuana) has negative consequences"

Nothing inherent in marijuana contributed to the woman's predicament nor her subsequent death. Prohibition did.

Think. People die otherwise.

[Redcoat1982]

I have employees, and I drug test. Pot lasts 14 days in the body,opiates or cocaine burns out in a day or two, same with Meth. Alcohol is gone in hours.

All are so much more dangerous than weed.

It grows naturally, you can’t overdose, it makes you mellow, not manic or crazy or aggressive. Its such a benign drug.

[boogerbear]

And you probably promoted 150 pot users you never knew about.

Really most pot smokers are just like most beer drinkers, one or two here or there no big deal no interfering with work. Only difference is their buzz screws up their lungs instead of their livers.

[herewego]

What do the citizens need them for if untrained little girls are doing the work?
***************************

Amen.

If she was acting under color of law for these lazy bastards and died due to circumstances unduly put on her, I pray the family sues the crap outta these idiots.

[waiyu]

Can we legalize bank robberies while we are at it...

[Force of Truth]

The U.S. government is corrupt at many levels. This comes as no surprise to me, because I hear about this kind of stuff everyday even in my own town. I don't see an end to this kind of government corruption any time soon. It's only going to get worse, because too many people are not doing anything about this sort of thing. Too few people speak up when they see something wrong in their communities, which is why this sort of usurpation of power will continue.

[traviskicks]

...that she would go to prison for four years unless she became an undercover informant.

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.

[BreezyDog]

From personal experience, never hire anyone that uses it, they think they are really doing a great job and they aren’t doing squat! I fired them, no second chance!

That person probably had bigger problems. There are people like you fired/described that don't smoke dope...

[ConservaTexan]

"People die"

Yes they do.

(it is amazing what can be done with an incomplete quote)

[boogerbear]

About the only thing you can do with an incomplete quote is inform everybody that you’re not actually looking for informed discussion. Thanks for warning us.

[Redcoat1982]

How is a bank robbery like pot?

Bank robbery is a forceful action, and is theft.

Pot is a plant, put here by God, it doesn’t kill or harm.

[FFranco]

Can we legalize bank robberies while we are at it...

---

No, but let’s make alcohol illegal, and tobacco, and caffeine and sugar. That will solve a lot of problems.

[Gondring]

"I'm calling her a criminal." --Tallahassee police chief Dennis Jones

Let's see, Chief Jones...

You never charged her with a crime. You made a deal with her not to prosecute her, a deal that is not yours to make. If the prosecutor had declined to prosecute her, then that's one thing...but you, sir, had her convicted before even charging her, let alone giving her a chance at trial!

You, Chief Jones, are a criminal, the way I see it. You abused your position; you intimidated, coerced, and blackmailed a citizen with power you claimed but had no right to; and you now have blood on your hands...unless you've wiped them off on your shiny jackboots.

I'm no NORML fan, but I am ever vigilant of these encroachments on liberties.

[ConservaTexan]

I was referring to the incomplete quotation of something that I posted, but thanks for sharing.

[Eaker]

"I don't think she understood the risk or danger that she was in," said Block.

Not that I agree with the cops, but I call BS on the statement above. Drug users know exactly who they are dealing with.

[I see my hands]

"She was a criminal looking to cut a deal to cut time off her punishment. It is unfortunate that she was killed. Had she not been caught twice in possession of a controlled substance, she would not have been in a position to choose between becoming a confidential informant or going to prison for four years. Sometimes doing drugs (even marijuana) has negative consequences."

Nothing inherent in marijuana contributed to the woman's predicament nor her subsequent death. Prohibition did.

Think. People die otherwise.

It's amazing how little a troll can do.

[herewego]

didn’t they make alcohol illegal once? something about an amendment?