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Pot is just nature’s way of saying “Hi”
In honor of today’s date, we bring you several thematic stories. Of course, QuizLaw does not condone the use of any illegal substances. But, for better or worse, today’s date is what it is, and to many people that has a special meaning.
First, a lesson. On Tuesday, Delaware cops pulled over a Ford Escort for crossing a solid line while trying to merge onto an off-ramp. When they spotted marijuana in the driver’s purse, they asked her to step out of the car. They then noticed the passenger furiously attempting to swallow his own stash of pot, and they removed him from the car and removed as much pot from his mouth as they could. While the driver was only charged with possession of marijuana (plus a traffic citation for the original reason she was pulled over), the eater got charged with resisting arrest, possession and consumption of marijuana, and hindering prosecution by destroying evidence. The moral of the story is that unless you’re sure you can swallow your whole stash, you’re probably better off just taking the possession charge.
Second, a celebration. Today, the students at Macalester College will be celebrating the date by throwing CHEEBAdanza, the “premier marijuana festival” of the Twin Cities. It’s being thrown by the school’s official CHEEBA Club, which has held past festivities including a chili cook-off, a bike tour and a previous pot fest (called Cheebonanza that time around). CHEEBAdanza will include free food (including tacos and a roasted 100 pound pig), jam-band performances, dodge ball games, lawn bowling and a bonfire. The school’s director of campus programming has said that it does not advocate drug use or that its student break any laws, but it does recognize that its students are attempting to advocate for the change of marijuana laws.
Third, speaking of those marijuana laws. There has been an ongoing battle between California, where voters have legalized the medical use of marijuana, and the Drug Enforcement Agency, which continues to enforce federal prohibitions of marijuana. The latest battle took place yesterday, when DEA agents conducted a raid of a Sacramento cannabis club amid protests from medical marijuana supporters. The agents confiscated 22 pounds of marijuana (street value of approximately $88,000), along with almost $50,000 in cash and a computer containing patient records. While supporters argue that all this does is hurt AIDS and cancer patients who are entitled to use marijuana under state law, the DEA shows no sympathy, noting that these people are “rolling the dice with their freedom.”
Quite frankly, this seems like one place where the principals of federalism are firmly on California’s side. Particularly as this use of medical marijuana, which is grown, sold and distributed wholly within the state, does not have any direct interstate commerce implications. Seems like the Republicans who push the DEA to keep conducting these raids forget that one of the tenants of the Republican machine is the support of states’ rights. I’m just saying….
