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Title: Thousands Arrested in Michigan for Pot While the Governor Remains Free for Poisoning Entire City
Source:
Counter Current News/MLive
URL Source: http://countercurrentnews.com/2016/ ... ns-free-poisoning-entire-city/
Published: Apr 27, 2016
Author: Claire Bernish
Post Date: 2016-04-28 07:14:11 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 15280
Comments: 77
Michigan residents can rest assured because, despite the massive lead contamination of Flint’s entire public water supply, the State has its priorities on point as the government continues doggedly pursuing criminals of the highest order. No, not Governor Rick Snyder, of course — nor anyone else potentially responsible for poisoning an entire city’s population with lead — We’re talking about those awful medical cannabis users and pesky recreational pot smokers. In fact, while well over half of Michigan residents support ending cannabis prohibition, before public education campaigns about potential tax benefits have even kicked off, including 74% of those under 30 years of age and a surprising 51% of those over 60, according to the Detroit News. But arrests for its possession and use are skyrocketing — up 17% between 2008 and 2014, according to state police data, reported MLive. Even more astonishingly, this increase in pot arrests occurred at the same time total arrests for all crime fell 15%. Two-thirds of all drug arrests were related to weed in 2014 — of which 86%, or 20,483, were for use or simple possession of the plant. Such targeting of medical and recreational users by police — Michigan law strictly regulates weed for those with “debilitating medical conditions,” only — has led to a number of outrageous cases in recent times. A state appeals court recently upheld the conviction of 47-year-old medical cannabis caregiver, Alenna Marie Rocafort, in a stunning case about legal technicalities gone horribly awry. Police raided the caregiver’s home in September 2012, seizing 5.6 pounds of the plant she was using to treat seriously ill patients. The courts found this amount far exceeded the 2.5 ounces of “usable” marijuana per patient that caregivers are allotted by law to grow. However, Rocafort’s 5.6 pounds of plant had only been harvested four days prior to its seizure by police, which experts claim is far short of the 10 days it takes harvested pot to properly dry and become viable for use. Defense attorneys thus justifiably argued the caregiver’s weed wasn’t “usable,” so, not illegal — but the case has been lumbering on, wasting taxpayer money to quibble over a definition about a plant which most people don’t view as an illicit substance in the first place. According to MLive, 21 cities in Michigan have brought legalization or decriminalization measures to a vote; and 15 of those cities — including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing — have approved various decriminalization initiatives. In September, state Rep. Jeff Irwin introduced a bill — now backed by six additional representatives — to end cannabis prohibition (HB 4877), which would treat the plant as regulatory, akin to alcohol. Additional legalization measures may wind up on the November ballot if two groups are able to gather enough signatures in time, which now seems highly likely. In short, it seems almost the only people in the State of Michigan who want the prosecution, criminalization, and general prohibition of cannabis to continue are the police and the criminal justice system — the same police and system which have yet to bring charges against anyone for poisoning an entire city. As The Free Thought Project reported in December, Governor Rick Snyder has knowingly allowed children, the elderly and other vulnerable people to face potential lifelong effects of being poisoned by lead in his refusal to investigate contamination claims by Flint residents months ago. They will suffer for the rest of their lives due to his criminal neglect — but, at least, the State is keeping them safe from the numerous benefits of cannabis and the dangerous caregivers who ensure their patients aren’t suffering. It’s time to end the War on Drugs and start to pursue the criminals who deserve to be behind bars — and Michigan would do well to consider Gov. Snyder as a target. 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
#4. To: Deckard (#0)
"Book 'em, Danno!"
Yet the deliberate poisoning of Flint citizens resulting in several deaths is "no big deal"? What a Republican suck-up!
"Book 'em, Danno!" Kevin Arntz cooked his wife because he was hallucinating over marijuana, thought she was the she-devil, at least that's what he told people. So much for the argument that marijuana doesn't hurt anybody.
A Florida District Judge named Joseph Filip is leading the charge on this. In a court-to-school event at Western High School in Parma, FL, he regaled 200 high school students with the grisly story of how Arntz bludgeoned, dismembered and cooked his wife in the taco/pizza restaurant they owned. And why would Arntz commit such a heinous crime? According to Filip, it was weed. Definitely weed. Not the fist-sized brain tumor he'd had, or his history of mental illness. Just some stanky bud.
"Book 'em, Danno!"
#31. To: Gatlin (#11)
That's no more an argument for banning marijuana than for banning cars.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestThousands Arrested in Michigan for Pot ...
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (AP) - A 47-year-old man charged with murder in a 1988 southwestern Michigan slaying could be freed in about five years following a plea deal.
The Kalamazoo Gazette reports attorneys worked out an agreement that allowed Junior Fred Blackston of Bangor to plead guilty last week to second-degree murder. He had appealed two earlier convictions and already was behind bars more than 15 years.
Sentencing is July 11. Blackston's attorney and prosecutors announced the deal Tuesday that avoids a third trial. Authorities say Blackston was among three men who lured 22-year-old Charles Paul Miller of Bangor into a marijuana field in Allegan County's Lee Township, shot him in the back of the head because of a drug debt and buried his body. Arrests first were made in the case in 2000.
#6. To: Gatlin (#4)
#7. To: Deckard, GrandIsland (#6)
PARMA, MI -- A morbid murder involving a Jackson man, who bludgeoned, dismembered and cooked his wife in the taco and pizza joint they owned, was cited by a judge Thursday in his warning to teens about the dangers of marijuana.
#8. To: Gatlin (#7)
Kevin Arntz cooked his wife because he was hallucinating over marijuana
#11. To: Deckard (#8)
Just some stanky bud.
A Fort Gratiot teen who pleaded guilty in the death of Jason Schultz will return to court Monday for a bond revocation hearing.
So much for the argument that marijuana doesn't hurt anybody.
Trent Sheldon's sentencing has also been rescheduled from May 19 to Friday.
The 18-year-old pleaded guilty March 1 to operating while intoxicated (Just some stanky bud) causing death, a 15-year felony. Schultz, 28, was killed Jan. 15 while working to tow a vehicle out of a west ditch.
Officials said Sheldon had used marijuana before driving when he hit Schultz on North Road in Clyde Township.
Replies to Comment # 11. Officials said Sheldon had used marijuana before driving when he hit Schultz on North Road in Clyde Township.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
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