Tommy Chong (of Cheech and Chong)was convicted for possessing and selling drug paraphenalia. He faces up to a $250,000.00 fine and up to five years in prison. He had in his possession/selling bongs with his name and picture on them.

What bothers me about the "drug paraphenalia law" is that to me you are being convicted on the basis that you "may" do something. To me, the law presupposses that if you possess "drug paraphenalia" you will, (the law assumes) as a matter of course use illegal drugs. The law does not take into account the fact people use things for many different things rather than their intended purpose.

Does this law bother anybody else? Does anybody else think this is unfair?

Just for the record, I do not use drugs, so I don't have an agenda here.

[ 05-14-2003, 07:15 PM: Message edited by: Reeka ]

I think it's wrong, totally wrong. And the amount of money he has to pay doesn't make any sense at all.

I don't smoke dope or anything else, but I feel like this is way too much. It's a celeb item, for crying out loud. I really wish they would legalize marijuana, and stick to watching heroin and cocaine.

Agreed, Attalus. Heck, the only reason I don't do it still is (a) it is illegal + (b) my profession sorta assumes, well, that I won't. It is less harmful than alcohol or cigs. As a friend once eloquently put it, the worst thing about a nation full of stoners is no one would be able to find their car keys.

*Best Geraldo impersonation* When asked whether they had probable cause to search Mr. Chong, police officers replied, "Well, he's Tommy Chong." :D :D :D

It kinda beats me why they don't legalise it. I mean, it's an untapped source of taxable income. EDIT : What crap wording. What I meant was : It's an untapped source of government revenue. If it pulled in the same amount of tax over here as cigarettes did, we wouldn't have to integrate into Europe - we could buy it! ;)

I guess it's the fact that there is a strong conservative element in America, just as over here, that is haunted by the fact that someone, somewhere, may be having fun. ;)

[ 05-14-2003, 07:36 PM: Message edited by: Bardan the Slayer ]

One day they will smarten up. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

No offence, guys, but I wanted to address the drug paraphenalia thing--not the legalizing marijuan---that is another topic. Attalus, exactly, a celeb item. Ridiculous.

Since when has it been illegal to buy or sell a bong?

Ever since Mr. John Ashcroft and the other ultra-conservative Bush people took power they have taken enourmous steps to entrench us further into the drug war. They have targeted marijuana more maliciously than Clinton did, and he set new records of arrests.

[ 05-14-2003, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

Ever since Mr. John ashcroft and the other ultra-conservative Bush people took power they have taken enourmous steps to entrench us further into the drug war. They have targeted marijuana more maliciously than Clinton did, and he set new records off arrests. </font>[/QUOTE]Woa thats crazy man i never knew that.