Are Pot Users Criminals? The Tragic Case of Rachel Hoffman

[JonLP24]

Friends Say She Had to Choose: Go to Prison or Work as an Informant

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.

Her case will be profiled Friday on 20/20.

"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.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5442615&page=1

[ixion]

1. millions of lives wasted, thousands killed over the years in the bogus 'war' on drugs

it's time to stop it.

[JonLP24]

2. I agree with you

It's getting no where, in fact I don't have my facts with me but cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamine usage increased after the Nixon term.

[timtom]

7. Not exactly.

Pot and psychedelics exploded during LBJ's term. Cocaine and bad stuff blossomed under Reagan (as did strong anti-drug sentiment).

[JonLP24]

21. I know that is my point

After the war on drugs started everything as far as usage has increased even though pot was popular it has grown as far as popularity, like you said it exploded during Reagan in which was after the war on drugs started. Even Amphetamines.

[spanone]

4. i couldn't have said it better.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

3. It'll never stop

until the pea-brained ass hats realize they could make more money legalizing, taxing, and regulating. Unfortunately, it's the local police forces that keep the war on drugs going: they have become addicted themselves to "war on drugs" financing, confiscation of assets, and their own sleazy corruption (special note for honest cops: I'm not talking about you two).

[intheflow]

13. Hey, someone has to provide fodder

for the massive prison-industrial complex addiction we have in this country. :grr:

[tblue37]

26. In our town it is commonly known that cops often

confiscate the weed while telling the teenagers and young adults that they will let them go "this time." Then the cops smoke the weed themselves.

[JuniperLea]

5. Big Pharma will never let them give up the fight

All the medicinal usage would put a big dent in profits. Bastards.

[shadowknows69]

9. Then big pharma is retarded

They already make Marinol, they could chop up the THC in pot and throw it into any number of new anti-depressants.

[JuniperLea]

10. It's too easy to grow

Once it was legal, it would be all over the place.

[Patiod]

22. Bullshit

Big Pharma HAS looked into it, and in at least one case doctors told them they were too afraid of the mental confusion side-effects in all but bed-bound patients.

I actually worked on a study for a company who was proposing a Marinol-like drug as a pain reliever for neuralgia, back pain and cancer pain. The doctors I spoke to were concerned about providing it for neuralgia and back pain patients. They worried that elderly patients might become disoriented, and that working patients might experience thinking problems (which you have to admit might happen).

Doctors were only enthusiastic about it for cancer pain, and then only for those who are no longer working (or driving).

Although I haven't touched the stuff since the early 1980's, I'm a big proponent of exploring marijuana's potential, but keep in mind that as a licensed pharmaceutical, it might have some side effect problems. I can just see the FDA list of side effects - yikes! Although many drugs cause anorexia and that certainly wouldn't be a problem here...

[lib2DaBone]

6. It's all about Warrantless Searches

The War on Marijuana has allowed the police unlimited access to millions of homes and cars without a warrant. This in turn has provided $Millions of dollars in legal fees for judges and attorneys. (Not to dismiss the homes and autos that have been confiscated in the commission of a "Felony".) In short, it's about the MONEY and filling our prisons with cheap labor. I could be wrong.. but I believe the main point against MJ is that it is a "Gateway" drug. I am not a Health Care Professional, so I can not comment on this issue...maybe someone on this board can?

[dsotm-wywh]

8. Well...it is still illegal

So if it's illegal and you do it...then you're the stupid one.

Here's the deal, if you don't want to get mixed up in this kind of thing don't carry around a "baggie" of pot.

[tridim]

11. .

:rofl:

[Zuiderelle]

14. Nice... it's also illegal for me to get married and then claim "married" on my tax return

I suppose I deserve to die if I do that too.

[readmoreoften]

18. Yes. We should be forced to inform on other couples who engage in "dark marriage"

I hope no one finds out about my secret, illegal marriage.

[cbc5g]

16. You're joking right? cause if not, you're full of shit

[readmoreoften]

17. Maybe you'll get shot by a cop for "failure to yield" or "passing on the right"

Also illegal and more dangerous than carrying around or even using a "baggie" of pot

[alphafemale]

27. enjoy your stay

[Canuckistanian]

12. NOBODY should be dying for a pot conviction

If it weren't for insane persecutions of simple pot possession, countless lives wouldn't have been ruined and police manpower wasted instead of pursuing REAL criminals.

How many more senseless atrocities like this is it going to take?

POT IS NOT HARMFUL. STOP TREATING IT AS A DANGEROUS SCOURGE TO SOCIETY.

:rant:

[Hippo_Tron]

15. I am very glad this is getting press, but I have to be cynical for a moment...

And point out that the media only gives a damn because she's white.

[Blue_Tires]

24. very true

[barbtries]

19. four years for pot?

that is cruel and inhuman punishment. i wonder if they weren't lying to her, the bastards. poor girl, oh man.

[XOKCowboy]

23. A couple of ecstasy pills also...

[Uncle Joe]

20. "The War on Drugs" is a waste of a policy with no redeeming value

for the society it claims to protect.

It corrupts the powerful and the police, it enriches organized crime, the prison industry and big pharma, it destroys the American People's lives, their freedom, and privacy and in the long run it does nothing but erode the foundation of the Constitution; meaning the Fourth, the Ninth and the Tenth Amendments.

Meanwhile the people; medical and educational, best equipped to actually help those who are addicted, are dis-empowered from serving for the public good.

"The War Against Drugs" in reality is nothing but an Orwellian term for "The War Against the American People."

[Blue_Tires]

25. sad that we are at least another generation away before politicians

can have a real discussion about legalization

[FiveGoodMen]

29. A thousand generations away from it unless someone shuts the preachers up

[mdmc]

28. Democrats love the drug war

:shrug:

[alphafemale]

30. Oh man. Look at this picture. Heartbreaking.

[bunnies]

31. They tried that shit when Mr. Bunnies got busted back in college.

He agreed to help them (the DEA) just to get out of jail. Then the minute he was out he got a good lawyer. End of story. He never cooperated with them.

This is exactly what they do to people who get busted with drugs. If she'd had a lawyer worth his salt... she'd never have been in that situation.