Do the Crime, Do the Time: America's Drug War Farce

[eauclaireliberal]

Do the Crime, Do the Time
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Americas Drug War Farce
America's Drug War Farce
By DEROY MURDOCK
Oct 24, 2003, 06:05

Comedian Tommy Chong began a nine-month federal prison sentence on Oct. 7 for operating a glass-blowing shop that sold pipes to marijuana smokers. Prosecutors were not impressed that his Nice Dreams Enterprises marketed a morally neutral product. Chong's pipes, after all, could be used with loose-leaf tobacco, just as any stoner in an Armani suit can smoke pot in a lawful Dunhill meerschaum.
In fact, as the Los Angeles Times reported Oct. 10, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Houghton's court pleadings sought Chong's harsh punishment because he got rich "glamorizing the illegal distribution and use of marijuana" in films that "trivialize law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking and use."

Chong must have wondered when such activities became criminal. Perhaps the FBI now will arrest Sean Penn for hilariously smoking grass in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Then they can handcuff Denzel Washington for portraying a crooked narcotics officer in "Training Day."

At last, the homeland is secure from Chong, a 65-year-old comic whose merchandise spared potheads from fumbling with rolling papers. Could there be any greater triumph for public safety than that? And in this peaceful world and placid nation, taxpayers can rest assured that officials are using their hard-earned cash as wisely as possible. Recall that Chong and 54 others were busted in Operation Pipe Dreams, a Feb. 24 crackdown on the drug paraphernalia industry. That project involved 1,200 local, state and federal authorities, the Drug Enforcement Administration estimates. These professional sleuths could have pursued al Qaeda instead, but what would that have accomplished?<<<

[Langis]

1. Can someone explain to me why he get put in jail for selling pips

But we have Head shops all over the place selling pipes and bongs, and nothing happens to them. I just don't get it.

[donhakman]

2. sounds personal

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Houghton's court pleadings sought Chong's harsh punishment because he got rich "glamorizing the illegal distribution and use of marijuana" in films that "trivialize law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking and use."


And Rush will go free because he maximizes law enforcment efforts.


In my opinion "glamorizing" is the last thing Cheech and Chong films portrayed. I mean look at those characters they played. Were they really glamorous in any stretch of the imagination.

[pretzel4gore]

5. nevermind that...this mary houghton is

obviously a political agent.....
mygod, 'home of the free' usa aint

[jokerman93]

3. To use a recently coined term:

Operation Pipe Dreams, as well as recent DEA raids on legal medical marijuana clubs in California is nothing more than a "new species" of terrorism. It offends logic and insults intelligence, but it's also meant to jack up the collective fear index among evildoers in Murika.

[tabasco]

4. Justice in Ashcroft's America

Chong sold bongs. Limbaugh gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to criminal gangs. The old hippie goes to jail. The right-wing hatemonger will be overlooked.