Police hit the home by helicopter to take a plant used for an elderly womans arthritis.
If you were trying to come up with a headline that perfectly demonstrated why so many people have turned against keeping marijuana illegal, you probably couldnt do better than this real headline from the Daily Hampshire Gazette in Massachusetts: Raid! National Guard, State Police descend on 81-year-olds property to seize single pot plant.
The story is just as absurd as it sounds. On September 21, the Massachusetts National Guard and State Police descended on 81-year-old Margaret Holcomb's home in Amherst using a military-style helicopter to chop down a single marijuana plant that they claim was in plain view. The raid was part of a broader operation in which police seized 44 plants in Massachusetts homes, with none of the property owners charged with anything just their plants taken and destroyed.
Holcomb said she was growing the plant for medical purposes to ease her arthritis and glaucoma and help her sleep at night. She does not, however, have a medical marijuana card authorizing her to grow pot, because she reportedly worries about the hurdles involved in getting a doctor to sign off on it.
Given those facts, its safe to say the raid did absolutely nothing for public safety. Stopping an elderly woman from taking a relatively harmless drug for medical purposes does no one any good whatsoever. As Holcomb put it, the raid wont even stop her from getting marijuana; she said shell likely just grow another plant.
Yet police wasted time and money deploying a helicopter likely paid for in part through federal funds, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette to seize not just Holcombs sole marijuana plant but dozens of others across the state on that one day. They argue the actions were necessary because the plants were in plain view and therefore illegal, even though Holcombs pot plant was hidden away in her fenced-off backyard behind a raspberry patch. (It was likely detected with a thermal imager.)
Theres a good chance that after November, this wouldnt be something police would do Massachusetts is among five states that will vote on whether to fully legalize marijuana later this year.
The raid exemplifies why these votes are happening. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, 53 percent of Americans support legalization, citing its medicinal benefits, its relatively low risk compared with other drugs, the benefits of regulation and tax revenue, and the current financial costs of prohibition. The raid touched on all of these issues, from seizing a relatively harmless drug used as medicine to deploying an expensive helicopter to raid an 81-year-old womans home.
#21: nolu chan To: A K A Stone, ConservingFreedom, Deckard, Gatlin (#16)
Stone, while you are at it, perhaps you can address ConservingFreedom's Deckard's supposed right to false speech issue. It seems the drug idiots here post several articles a day trying to sell the crap that this or that state has, or will, legalize marijuana.
For example, the thread article here has the knowingly false claim:
Is there any limits on challenging knowing and deliberate false claims?
The druggies seem to get very irritated when I respond with one of the numerous Federal court opinions documenting that a State cannot legalize anything, specifically including either medical or recreational marijuana, in direct violation of Federal law. They call me names, a micro-aggression, and hurt my feelings.
The bogus claims are made several times daily, polluting the site. When faced with proof that their claim is legal nonsense, they just go start another thread and repeat it. When faced with legal proof, now ConservingFreedom seems to complain that the Court explained it all too well and the poor child thinks you are his mommie and is crying for help because he has no valid argument.
See, for example, the Federal courts expressly stating that the druggie's claims are legal bullshit.
United States v. McIntosh, 15-10117 (9th Cir. 16 Aug 2016)
At 26:
Footnote 5 at 32-33:
Or, for another example,
Wilson v. Lynch, No. 14-15700 (9th Cir. 31 Aug 2016) At 4:
And, of course, there is the U.S. Supreme Court in Raich setting the precedent:
Gonzales v. Raich 545 U.S. 1 (2005) at 14:
At 27:
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 00:53:43 Reply Private Reply
#22: nolu chan To: Gatlin, ConservingFreedom, A K A Stone (#20)
I have never had anything rejected for being too long. For exceedingly long documents, I use scribd. Then they complain that it chokes their computer or memory or some such. In reality, they just don't like being reminded of the fact that per Federal law and the U.S. Supreme Court, any amount of marijuana, medical or otherwise, is contraband and any possession is a Federal crime.
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 01:12:43 Reply Private Reply
#23: Roscoe To: Deckard (#12)
Roscoe posted on 2016-10-07 03:21:36 Reply Private Reply
#24: GrandIsland To: Roscoe (#23)
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-07 06:48:27 Reply Private Reply
#25: GrandIsland To: ConservingFreedom (#16)
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-07 06:51:39 Reply Private Reply
#26: Deckard To: Gatlin, Operation 40, nolu chan (#18)
Obamas Drug Czar Admits Govt Suppressed Research Showing the Benifits of Cannabis
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 07:54:07 Reply Private Reply
#27: Deckard To: nolu chan, ConservingFreedom, Operation 40 (#21)
The fact is - Massachusetts as well as several other states are considering legalizing cannabis, your incessant whining to the contrary.
You can keep posting your long-winded screeds about how fed.gov can overstep the decisions of the individual states until you're blue in the face, but at the end of the day, it doesn't mean squat.
The more states that legalize, the sooner the the feds will realize that they are fighting a losing battle and will concede the rights of the states to make their own decisions concerning legalization.
The days of the feds running roughshod over the rights of individuals are coming to a close.
They call me names, a micro-aggression, and hurt my feelings.
Poor widdle baby...maybe you can fill out one of these.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 08:04:33 Reply Private Reply
#28: Deckard To: Roscoe (#23)
So what? Her property was still raided.
Geesh, what a whining little twerp!
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 08:05:53 Reply Private Reply
#29: Gatlin To: nolu chan (#21)
I will recap:
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 08:11:08 Reply Private Reply
#30: Gatlin To: A K A Stone, nolu chan, Deckard, Fred Mertz, GrandIsland, ConservingFreedom (#29)
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 08:15:57 Reply Private Reply
#31: Deckard To: Gatlin (#29)
I think this quote from the movie "Shooter" sums up what I would personally do if a crazed cop ever shot my dog.
Shoot a dog in this county on a man's land,
I'd bury you in the hill, and tell the sheriff a month or two later.
He understands.
The problem with ass-kissers like you is that you see cops as gods who can do no wrong and are exempt from criticism.
That's sickening.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 08:19:48 Reply Private Reply
#32: Gatlin To: Deckard, GrandIsland, A K A Stone (#31)
Nah.
The problem is you, Deckard, in that your dogmatic anti-cop hatred has taken full control of your rational senses and developed into a wildly uncontrollable craze. So much so that you have become exceedingly imperious to the reasoning of civility in your arrogance and that has resulted to the point where you assertively hope for the death of an Oklahoma police officer.
I enjoy our back and forth banter and I especially delight in getting your riled up. But you really need to stop and think about how your cop-hating obsession is causing you to think in a way that is not normal. You need to realize that hoping for the death of an Oklahoma police officer because he shot a dog is not normal.
That is wrong, Deckard, flat out damned wrong .in any way a person with a rational mind can look at it.
And that is what is truly sickening
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 09:14:48 Reply Private Reply
#33: Deckard To: Gatlin (#32)
You need to realize that a cop shooting a dog that was not a threat to him (behind a fence) and then lying about the encounter is something that only a psychopath would do.
I've posted plenty of good cop articles here queerbait.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 09:16:58 Reply Private Reply
#34: Gatlin To: Deckard (#33)
But that is absolutely no reason a rationally sane person should hope someone would carry out a death threat on the officer that is exactly what you did, Deckard
You speak of what a psychopath would do. Isnt the desire and hope for the death of another person when you have developed a conscious hateful hostility something only a psychopath would do?
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 09:22:36 Reply Private Reply
#35: Gatlin To: Deckard, Operation 40, nolu chan (#26)
The Free Thought Project is a highly biased source toward liberal causes. They utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes) , publish misleading reports and omit reporting of information that may damage liberal causes.
Your source is completely untrustworthy and therefore there is no benefit for me to take my time to read the article.
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 10:44:46 Reply Private Reply
#36: Roscoe To: Deckard (#28)
So? All that was taken was one illegal plant. And she wasn't there.
Roscoe posted on 2016-10-07 11:00:40 Reply Private Reply
#37: nolu chan To: Deckard (#27)
See the U.S. Constitution, Article 6, Clause 2 to document that your nonsense is directly contrary to the Constitution.
There is no such thing as a Federally Controlled Substance being "legalized" by a State law.
Nothing in law recognizes your right to unchallengeable false speech.
You obviously have no viable argument.
Federal law trumps State law.
As the Federal court stated in McIntosh,
See the Federal courts expressly stating that your druggie claims are legal bullshit.
United States v. McIntosh, 15-10117 (9th Cir. 16 Aug 2016)
At 26:
Footnote 5 at 32-33:
Or, for another example,
Wilson v. Lynch, No. 14-15700 (9th Cir. 31 Aug 2016) At 4:
And, of course, there is the U.S. Supreme Court in Raich setting the precedent:
Gonzales v. Raich 545 U.S. 1 (2005) at 14:
At 27:
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 13:22:19 Reply Private Reply
#38: Deckard To: nolu chan (#37)
Your incessant, long-winded screeds shows me that you are not able to think for yourself and instead rely on the thoughts and ideas of others on which to base your very narrow-minded world view.
Whether you like it or not, the time is coming when fed.gov will be forced to back off and allow the individual states to make their own decisions on cannabis legalization.
What a sad day that will be for you.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 13:32:10 Reply Private Reply
#39: ConservingFreedom To: GrandIsland (#25)
Free speech doesn't mean a "right" to spam A K A Stone's server - and a shortened post length limit wouldn't be any kind of "ban" but only a motive to make a point instead of blindly copying and pasting.
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-10-07 13:44:08 Reply Private Reply
#40: nolu chan To: Deckard (#38)
I am, not engaged in creative fiction as you are. A court opinion documenting that your claims are bullshit suffices for my non-fiction purposes.
Have you ever considered posting truthful things?
GET MARIJUANA LICENSE LOSE FIREARMS
Wilson v. Lynch, No. 14-15700 (9th Cir. 31 Aug 2016) At 4:
[...]
At 5:
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 13:44:24 Reply Private Reply
#41: Deckard To: Gatlin (#35)
Liar.
Selected not Elected Rothschilds Hold $100,000 a Plate Dinner Fundraiser for Guess Who
Clinton Campaign Busted Using Child Actor at Town Hall Event Corporate Media Spreads the Lie Anyway
BREAKING: Docs Expose Obama Administration for Concealing Email Scandal to Protect Clinton Campaign
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 14:03:31 Reply Private Reply
#42: Gatlin To: nolu chan, DeckardI (#40)
I truly believe that his pot-scorched brain is so mentally impaired that he is totally incapable of doing that.
His libertarian anti-government and cop-hating obsession has warped his thinking to the point that he really does not know what truth is .seriously!
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 14:14:02 Reply Private Reply
#43: Deckard To: Gatlin (#42)
I haven't used any illegal drugs for decades, you pontificating poltroon.
I notice you conveniently ignored my previous post that put the kibosh on your claim that Free Thought Project is a liberal site.
The problem with you is that you still desperately cling to the false left-right paradigm.
His libertarian anti-government and cop-hating obsession...
I HATE corrupt, tyrannical government, which begs the question - why don't you.
And I HATE crooked, murderous fascist cops, the ones who are never held accountable for their actions - not the good ones.
Why are you always kneeling down to lick the boots of these thugs?
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 14:24:31 Reply Private Reply
#44: Gatlin To: Deckard (#43)
You have decided that you can solely decide when the government is tyrannical and when the action by a cop is crooked and murderous fascist.
You think you are attempting to act like you are GOD with the judgment power to destroy the things you do not approve of.
But all you are doing in RANTING
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 14:37:23 Reply Private Reply
#45: Deckard To: Gatlin (#44)
Good grief man - wake the fuck up! Read something other than the MSM rags you parrot.
I'm not the only one who sees it.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 14:39:17 Reply Private Reply
#46: nolu chan To: Deckard, Gatlin (#43)
Of course not. In your mind they are all legal.
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 15:42:35 Reply Private Reply
#47: nolu chan To: Deckard (#0)
The helicopter did a fly by and detected the pot in plain sight. The raid was carried out by people who arrived in cars or trucks. They came for the illegal contraband.
And the two middle age kids were just having a late lunch.
http://www.gazettenet.com/MarijuanaRaid-HG-100116-5074664
Raid! National Guard, State Police descend on 81-year-olds property to seize single pot plant
By Scott Merzbach
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Staff Writer
Friday, September 30, 2016
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 15:52:54 Reply Private Reply
#48: Deckard To: nolu chan (#46)
I'll rephrase that for the terminally ignorant - I have not used any form of cannabis or any other mind-altering drug.
Of course you and the other nanny-staters here will soon call for call Red Bull to be banned as well as caffeine since they have been shown to be mood altering, which just shows the depths of your "Reefer Madness" insanity.
In other words, go fuck yourself, I stand by my statement.
One does not need to be a "druggie" to oppose your holy jihad on marijuana and laugh at your worship of fed.gov.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 16:04:03 Reply Private Reply
#49: Roscoe To: Deckard (#48)
Memory loss. Bad sign.
Roscoe posted on 2016-10-07 16:20:03 Reply Private Reply
#50: Deckard To: Roscoe (#49)
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 16:23:45 Reply Private Reply
#51: Roscoe To: Deckard (#50)
State Police
Moron
Roscoe posted on 2016-10-07 16:26:17 Reply Private Reply
#52: nolu chan To: Gatlin, Deckard, Operation40 (#35)
Gatlin #35
Deckard's bullshit sources are outrageous. The article is of some use, if only to demonstrate that the source is bullshit and outrageous.
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/obamas-drug-czar-govt-suppress-marijuana/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Botticelli_(civil_servant)
Michael Botticelli (civil servant)
Of course, The Free Thought Project gives yet another bullshit title, and fails to deliver. The actual status of marijuana research, as given by those tasked and qualified to give it, is that it is not scientifically possible to perform an acceptable test of inhaled marijuana.
81 FR 53700 (12 Aug 2016)
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 16:28:04 Reply Private Reply
#53: Gatlin To: Roscoe, Deckard (#49)
Long term memory hit. Bad sign also.
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 16:38:42 Reply Private Reply
#54: Deckard To: Gatlin (#53)
So have another shot of Sterno you drunken sot.
One does not need to be a "druggie" to oppose your holy jihad on marijuana and laugh at your worship of fed.gov.
Here's a story about some of your "hero" drug warrior cops in Chicago.
Code Of Silence Took Ugly Turn In Chicago Police Corruption Case
Guess what - it's not from the Free Thought Project either.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 16:45:29 Reply Private Reply
#55: Gatlin To: Deckard (#54)
Your link is to a post by ConservingFreedom ConservingFreedom posted on 2016- 10-07 16:30:53 ET
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 17:11:08 Reply Private Reply
#56: Roscoe To: Gatlin (#53)
Roscoe posted on 2016-10-07 17:14:02 Reply Private Reply
#57: GrandIsland To: nolu chan (#40)
lol
Decktard is a criminal cock sucker.
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-07 20:48:56 Reply Private Reply
#58: Gatlin To: GrandIsland, nolu chan (#57)
LOL ...
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 21:02:06 Reply Private Reply
#59: nolu chan To: Deckard (#48)
Of course you do. You stand with your head up your ass.
http://libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=48095&Disp=41#C41
You do have to be quite a drugged out idiot to think that accepting a pregnant woman into a state-sponsored shooting gallery to shoot up with heroin could ever be better for the child than taking her into custody.
You would really facilitate a pregnant woman using heroin rather than do something about the child/fetus endangerment?
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 22:02:43 Reply Private Reply
#60: nolu chan To: GrandIsland (#57)
I thought he only sucked legal medical dick.
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-07 22:08:28 Reply Private Reply
#61: Deckard To: Gatlin (#55)
Good grief, aren't you the petty and shrill little prick this evening.
The link goes to the story.
Sorry you're too fucking stupid to scroll up the page and be able to figure that out.
You know what? I was all set to put aside my animosity towards you for one night and attempt to have a civil discussion with you but I see now that will never be possible because you are too much of a self-aggrandizing, holier-than-thou perfectionist who has a pathologically inflated sense of self worth.
You call yourself a "truthseeker"?
What a fucking joke. You dismiss an exhaustive four part expose on police corruption in Chicago, why - because you have already decided it's bullshit due to your long-standing belief that cops are gods and would never be involved in any corruption.
You, nolu spam, misterwhite, the infant Roscoe - all the same repulsive little badge kissers and boot lickers.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 22:10:45 Reply Private Reply
#62: Deckard To: nolu chan (#59)
WTF is wrong with you?
I never made that claim and furthermore I never made any comment on that thread.
And you claim I'm the one who's stoned?
Keep guzzling that Sterno you drooling sot.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 22:13:43 Reply Private Reply
#63: Gatlin To: Deckard (#61)
Nope! It did NOT!!!
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 22:14:41 Reply Private Reply
#64: Deckard To: Gatlin (#63)
geesh you fucking idiot, scroll up the page.
Oh - so fucking sorry the link went to the comment instead of to the top of the page.
I'll take your room temperature IQ into consideration with future posts.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 22:20:15 Reply Private Reply
#65: Gatlin To: Deckard (#64)
That;s right....you made a stupid mistake and now you are trying spin your way out of it.
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 22:23:43 Reply Private Reply
#66: Deckard To: Gatlin (#65)
Oh - I almost forgot who I am dealing with here - the almighty (in his own mind) Gatlin who never has made a mistake in his life.
What a pompous, arrogant blowhard.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 22:32:00 Reply Private Reply
#67: Gatlin To: Deckard (#66)
Pot use definitely causes poor memory, so I will cut you some slack this time
But, dont you ever forget it again .EVER, you hear?
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 22:37:22 Reply Private Reply
#68: Deckard To: Gatlin (#67)
My memory is fine queerbait.
Guzzle down another quart of Sterno.
Deckard posted on 2016-10-07 22:43:47 Reply Private Reply
#69: Gatlin To: Deckard (#68)
Then why did you post: "Oh - I almost forgot who I am dealing with here - "
Gatlin posted on 2016-10-07 22:47:04 Reply Private Reply
#70: GrandIsland To: Gatlin (#65)
What's new.
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-07 23:05:40 Reply Private Reply