Family Massacre Reveals Ohio’s Massive, Illicit Marijuana Business

Daily Beast ^ | April 27, 2016 | Abby Haglage

[C19fan]

The only thing more shocking than murder of an entire family in rural Ohio might be to learn how big the area they grew marijuana in is to the international drug trade. Eight members of the Rhoden family, ranging in age from 16 to 44, were shot to death in four homes early Friday morning and three of those homes had considerable marijuana operations.

[SMARTY]

What kind of a moron would expose their own children to that environment?

The ‘victimless crime’? Really?

[alexander_busek]

Dear fireman15,

Thanks for the measured, informative reply!

I sincerely respect your opinions and observations. If I had accompanied you on only a few of those calls, I probably would have experienced even more disgust and/or resignation. I have even made similar observations regarding blood-relatives who are users.

Having said that: Freedom has a price. And denying freedom also has a price. (The War on [Some] Drugs is a golden opportunity for the Nanny State to further erode our hard-earned civil liberties.) That's why I favor legalization - and in the same breath, I also advocate the imposition of strict regulations about mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients, etc.

Regards,

[A_Former_Democrat]

ACLU: Victimless crime

[A_Former_Democrat]

Yeah, it’s like all of this would just go away if you legalized and taxed it

[A_Former_Democrat]

Colorado:

“In 2009 when medical marijuana took effect, about 10 percent of all our traffic fatalities were marijuana related,” Gorman said. “Now it’s 19 percent. You’d have to be in total denial to say this is not related to legalizing marijuana. More people are going to use marijuana, and because of that you’re going to have an upward trend in all these areas.”

But #onlydoperslivesmatter

[alexander_busek]

'state regulated', I keep hearing the 'government' should stay out of the pot users lives. Which is it?

State-regulated businesses. Private pot users - as far as they aren't recipients of government largesse - would be free of state interference.

I don't think that anyone advocating the decriminalization of marijuana is saying that commercial enterprises shouldn't be supervised.

How many killings have there been among state regulated marijuana businesses?

I think that this poster's point is that there aren't many such gangland slayings over marijuana in states where marijuana has been legalized - since, when it is legalized, the whole rationale for murdering growers/dealers vanishes.

Regards,

[Wallace T.]

The end of national alcohol prohibition ended Mafia involvement in the alcohol trade. However, many states, especially in the South, maintained state prohibition for decades, and widespread dry counties Until the 1990s, most counties west of Fort Worth were dry until you reached the Far West Texas ranch country. There were plenty of local bootleggers supplying those who were not country club members. (The law seldom busted them as they were membership only private clubs where the local gentry hung out. An example may be seen in the 1970s movie, The Last Picture Show.)

I am no believer in the effectiveness of vice laws, including narcotics prohibition. However, the law is supposed to be based on moral principles. Before the 20th Century, these principles were Biblically based. Self-destructive behavior and violations of the sanctity of marriage and the family were considered legitimate cause for prohibition.

[Thibodeaux]

—— Self-destructive behavior and violations of the sanctity of marriage and the family were considered legitimate cause for prohibition.——

and still are in some places

[Ken H]

Drug prohibition was virtually non-existent in the US before the 20th Century. I don't believe drug prohibition existed in either the New or Old Testaments. There are admonitions against intoxicating oneself, I believe, but nowhere does the Bible advocate government prohibitions that I'm aware of.

As a believer in the Constitution, however, those decisions should be left to the states. Too much nastiness from fedgov in the WOD.

[discostu]

Black markets kill.

[fireman15]

Thank you Alexander,

I do not pretend to know what the solution is to the challenges that marijuana poses to our society. It has been “legalized” in our state for a couple years now, but even before that “medical” usage was permitted and most of our “customers” made no attempt to conceal their usage from us or the police. I think that the widespread perception that marijuana is completely harmless is the biggest problem.

Even caffeine and aspirin have negative consequences if used inappropriately. There are actually many people who perceive marijuana as having less negative consequences than aspirin and caffeine. I think that this perception is actually a bigger problem than whether or not it is legal. Unfortunately, at least where I live legalizing marijuana has tended to legitimize the perception that it is a harmless substance.

I completely understand your arguments for legalization. “Strict regulations and mandatory drug testing” were discussed during the legalization fight that took place here. Nothing like that has actually taken place to my knowledge. My perception is that usage is up. It seems like you cannot go to a public park, a theater, a restaurant, or even the mall without the smell of marijuana being present at some point during your day. I worry that this sends a bad message to my grandchildren.

[Just mythoughts]

That's like saying => 'Well regulated militia', I keep hearing the government should stay out of gun owners lives. Which is it?' I think we both would agree it's a silly question with a silly premise. So how many killings have there been among state-regulated marijuana businesses?

Ah we have a doper in the White House you tell me how many have 'died' under his rule? Dopers are pathetic in claiming the 2nd Amendment is equal to brains messed up on a flipping weed. Enjoy your high while you can, because God has no use for those that push mind altering weeds. I long for the day when HE takes control over His Creation.

[Ken H]

In one post you managed to dodge a simple question, distort my position, and toss in a nasty insinuation to boot. Typical of anti-Constitutional prohibitionists.

[Just mythoughts]

Distort? Hello..

[gundog]

They just need to be cheaper than the taxed legal stuff which is expensive.

$5 and up a gram is pretty cheap. That's legal, taxed weed in Oregon. People just give it away or trade it anymore, hereabouts.

[gundog]

....

[gundog]

People are just more open about using and growing. I don’t think there’s been much of an increase.

[fireman15]

People are just more open about using and growing. I don’t think there’s been much of an increase.

You might be right for where ever you are at. I don't know if there are any accurate statistics about it. The number of people using marijuana around here seems to have gone up significantly since it was legalized.

[gundog]

Where? I’m in coastal Oregon. I see more use, but by “seasoned” users. Nobody’s hiding any more.

[fireman15]

We are in Washington in the Seattle/Tacoma area where it has been legal for a couple years now. People weren’t hiding it much before it was made legal here. But since it was legalized there are people smoking it in front of malls, theaters, restaurants, grocery stores, in parks and about every other location you might think of. Then they get in their cars and drive off. I don’t know if there is a corresponding increase in traffic accidents. But the perception where we are at is that usage is up. I don’t know if there is anything concrete that could prove it one way or the other.