Posted on 10/10/2003 7:09:12 AM PDT by rface
This is another pot story, starring Tommy Chong. So it should be funny. Only this time, it's not.
Not to U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft, who announced dozens of indictments under "Operation Pipe Dreams" in February. Not to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Mary Beth Buchanan, who heads Ashcroft's advisory committee and turned up in court in Pittsburgh to personally accept Chong's guilty plea. Not to Asst. U.S. Dist. Atty. Mary Houghton, who prosecuted the case. And definitely not to Tommy Chong, who will be spending the next nine months in federal prison.
On Wednesday, Chong turned himself into the Taft Correctional Institution, near Bakersfield. He had pleaded guilty in May to selling bongs over the Internet through his family company, Nice Dreams Enterprises.
.... today's senior citizen Tommy Chong, 65, is a meditating, woodworking, charity-giving, inner-city-youth-teaching father of six who has been married to the same woman for more than 30 years. He practices Bikram yoga and hasn't gotten high since the bust. "I'm on a protest fast," he said.
"On the eve of my jail term, if you had told me Arnold Schwarzenegger would be the next governor of California, I would have said, 'What are you smoking?' " he quipped.
— a videotape of clips from Chong's recent shows includes a tragicomic riff on the morning federal agents raided his home.
"I finally got busted," he said. "I've been trying for 30 years."
Laughter.
"They said, 'Get out of the way, it's a raid.' They had flashlights. I said, 'What are you looking for, the light switch?' "
Laughter.
"The DEA said, 'Do you have any marijuana in the house?' I said, 'Of course. I'm Tommy Chong.' "
Laughter.
"He said, 'We don't have pot in the search warrant.' I said, 'Let me get this — you're the DEA and you aren't looking for pot?' "
Laughter.
"Well, what are you looking for?"
"Glass pipes."
The Web site for Chong Glass (which is preserved on another site called The Memory Hole) offers a colorful array of handblown glass pipes and bongs with whimsical forms and names such as "Tijuana," "Cheech," "Big Bamboo" and "Babe." Each bong, or water pipe, has Chong's name and face on it. According to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office, "Bombay" sold for $230 and was described as "too big for me, but you heavy hitters will definitely enjoy."
Chong's predicament has won the sympathies of both diehard potheads and law-abiding citizens. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) started a Free Tommy Chong campaign. The Los Angeles Times ran an editorial calling Ashcroft's "crusade" a "misuse of resources" when "measured against the war on terror." On the eve of his prison term, Chong himself seemed resigned, accepting. He was headed to Taft with gray sweats, sneakers sans logos and a bit of cash. His family will mail him his guitar and a stack of spiritual books. A family friend said he has been practicing the tango in small spaces, so he can dance alone in his cell.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
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Are people still crossing our borders illegally?
Are terrorists still operating in our country?
Ashcroft is a biggoted fool.
Like the stupid FBI undercover operation against a brothel in New Orleans, gasp, prostitution in the Big Easy, what a shock, this demonstrates that Ashcroft would rather see people convicted for enjoying themselves in ways he doesn't like, that catch terrorists.
So9
They know how stupid they would/will look in the next Cheech and Chong movie and are trying to shut him up.
So9
You're probably one of those fanatics who doesn't believe in trials!
Because he's a JBT .
Why aren't all possible Federal Agents redirected to hunting down Islamic militants until we are truly safe?
Because peaceful stoners (like Chong) don't shoot back; Islamists do.
Are people still crossing our borders illegally?
Yes, by the truckload. And you can bet that Jihadists are among them.
Too much like real police work.
I would like to hear from any "law-abiding citizens" who have expressed sympathy for Chong. So far, I've heard absolutely no one but the professional FR pro-dopers bring this up.
Free Tommy Chong!
Great! I'll take two - they'll look cool in my trophy case, or I can use them as bookends.
Not exactly Attica. I wonder if he'll be able to decide between polo or volleyball during the day for the next 9 months?
I wonder it he'll choose to go with the Acupulco Gold, Thai stick, or the "House Blend"?
Per capita, drugs are more prevalent in correctional institutions than on the streets. (personal opinion)
I think I'll set up a web site that sells turkish houkas..
Since their traditional use is for tobacco, any arrest should be totally bogus, and net me a bonus countersuit worth millions.
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