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Are Pot Users Criminals? The Tragic Case of Rachel Hoffman
ABC News ^ | July 24, 2008 | BRIAN ROSS and VIC WALTER

Posted on 07/25/2008 8:49:03 PM PDT by bamahead

After being caught twice with a "baggie" of marijuana, 23-year old Rachel Hoffman was reportedly told by police in Tallahassee, Florida that she would go to prison for four years unless she became an undercover informant.

The young woman, a recent graduate of Florida State University, was murdered during a botched sting operation two months ago.

"The idea of waging a war on drugs is to protect people and here it seems like we're putting people in harm's way," said Lance Block, a lawyer hired by Rachel's parents.

The Florida Attorney General's office says it is reviewing the procedures and protocol of the Tallahassee police.

"I'm calling her a criminal," Tallahassee police chief Dennis Jones told 20/20, who maintains that both drug dealers and drug users are considered criminals to his department.

Under Florida law, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana is a felony.

The Tallahassee police chief says Rachel was suspected of selling drugs and she was rightly treated as a criminal.

"That's my job as a police chief to find these criminals in our community and take them off the street, to make the proper arrests," Jones told 20/20.

Rachel's case also is raising questions about how police recruit and use informants in undercover operations.

"There need to be some safeguards here," said Block, the Hoffman family lawyer.

The young woman received no training before being sent to an undercover meeting to buy a large amount of drugs and a handgun from two suspects.

Police says Rachel was killed by the very handgun she was supposed to buy.

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

Rachel was in a drug court diversion program when she became an informant.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: baronmunchiehausen; criminals; donutwatch; jbts; lawsuit; libertarians; munchies; pot; potheadalert; potheads; themunchies; wod; wosd
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To: Redcoat1982
Obama has nothing to do with this, nor does ecstacy.

She was caught dealing Ecstasy. Obama is a pothead backed by Soros, who supports your pro-drug agenda.

301 posted on 07/26/2008 12:01:17 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: dragnet2
Since the drug alcohol is the biggest killer of them all, what qualifies that for being legal?

The voters.

302 posted on 07/26/2008 12:01:56 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: Mojave
"Hitler's private doctor kept him shot up with speed. You could party with him if he were alive today."

You truly are a jerk. Plus you are ignorant. I don't advocate drug use. The only drug I use is one to control blood pressure wich is elevated by assholes like you.

303 posted on 07/26/2008 12:02:11 AM PDT by blackbart.223 (I live in Northern Nevada. Reid doesn't represent me.)
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To: Mojave

The voters? LOL!


304 posted on 07/26/2008 12:02:57 AM PDT by dragnet2
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To: blackbart.223

” From 1942 until his death in 1945, Adolf Hitler was given frequent intravenous injections of methamphetamine by his personal physician, Theodor Morell as a treatment for depression and fatigue.”


305 posted on 07/26/2008 12:03:23 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: waiyu
Yes, criminalization does deter some use. But not abuse. To those who act recklessly I say good riddance, no pity. Same with the obese traveler having to purchase two seats on an airplane, for an example.

With legalization, like you, responsible people would continue to behave in responsible ways.

I believe a man's character is a man's character and is not swayed by the imprimatur of politicians.


306 posted on 07/26/2008 12:05:12 AM PDT by I see my hands (_8(|)
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To: dragnet2
The voters? LOL!

To blazes with representative government. Drugs über alles.

307 posted on 07/26/2008 12:05:14 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: Mojave

Don’t know the drugs but didn’t JFK get some injects as well??? The internet is tl;dr for me right now.


308 posted on 07/26/2008 12:05:15 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
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To: Mojave

Funny, you can’t seem to focus on the subject. If you worked for me, I’d send you for a drug test.

Again, for the 4th time, I am for legalizing pot and hash. Nowhere on this thread, or anywhere in the story is Obama mentioned.

Its the sign of a weak debater when he can’t stick to a topic and has to introduce new material.

Now, back to the question I asked about pot overdoses, will you be man enough to answer, or will you continue to chicken out on it?

Don’t bother, you have shown yourself to be very ignorant, and quite oafish, unwilling, or not smart enough to address the topic as presented.

In other words, you are a dim waste of time.

Enjoy what must be a really pathetic life.


309 posted on 07/26/2008 12:05:53 AM PDT by Redcoat1982 (When focusing manually, always set the switch to MF)
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To: blackbart.223

lol...I could not agree more. I feel like I’m dealing some some twisted, sadistic deviates here.

How anyone could support this action by law enforcement, is far beyond me.


310 posted on 07/26/2008 12:06:16 AM PDT by dragnet2
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To: MartinStyles
Google godwin’s law

I think you should. Godwin's Law doesn't say "You Lose"... :-)

Besides, it should be Sexton's Rule. ;-)

311 posted on 07/26/2008 12:07:09 AM PDT by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: Redcoat1982
Again, for the 4th time, I am for legalizing pot and hash.

She was dealing Ecstasy.

312 posted on 07/26/2008 12:07:19 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: Redcoat1982

Drug people like you sure get nasty when their addiction is threatened online.

I bet irl you’re a big wuss.


313 posted on 07/26/2008 12:07:34 AM PDT by MartinStyles
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To: Mojave
"” From 1942 until his death in 1945, Adolf Hitler was given frequent intravenous injections of methamphetamine by his personal physician, Theodor Morell as a treatment for depression and fatigue.”

You are skating around my earlier point. They feeding you meth to advocate mass murder?

314 posted on 07/26/2008 12:07:59 AM PDT by blackbart.223 (I live in Northern Nevada. Reid doesn't represent me.)
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To: dragnet2

“lol...I could not agree more. I feel like I’m dealing some some twisted, sadistic deviates here.”

Ha that is how I feel on the kittah threads lately.

trolls trolling trolling trolls.

Bah


315 posted on 07/26/2008 12:08:00 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
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To: happinesswithoutpeace

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200212/dallek-jfk/6


316 posted on 07/26/2008 12:08:28 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: Gondring

quirk’s exception, etc


317 posted on 07/26/2008 12:08:43 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
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To: blackbart.223
They feeding you meth to advocate mass murder?

English, please.

318 posted on 07/26/2008 12:09:25 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: Mojave

Ah thx! I was on strike for searching the tubes.


319 posted on 07/26/2008 12:09:27 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
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To: MartinStyles

Why don’t ya just answer his questions slick?


320 posted on 07/26/2008 12:10:13 AM PDT by dragnet2
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