It's OK to Smoke Marijuana - So Long As You're Not Black or Latino

[Mississippi Steve]

I am not gonna say that race doesn't have anything to do with it, because that would be wrong.

My own personal observations are these... 90% of the people(regardless of color) who get busted for weed, are busted because they did something stoopid. Standing on a street corner, toking up or selling, toking while driving, just blatent open use, or runnin your mouth. The other 10% are busted for weed as an "incedental" offense.

If you keep it private, don't draw attention to yourself, and stay away from vehicles, that will seriously reduce the chances of getting busted.

[MRB041]

to think that cops dont arrest white people for smoking weed is very ignorant and completely false.....

[Bongoman]

My god, it seems as though about a quarter of the people on this thread have actually read the article, black people are not "whining" about being arrested more often, it was written by a public lawyer saying that according to Gvt statistics, 8 times more black than white people are arrested for marijuana use, even though on average, white people smoke it more. How can you possible say that isn't a problem? How can you say that racism is not completely ingrained in the US legal system when black people and Hispanics receive sentences far, far greater than a white person convicted for the same offense or not convicted at all?

Oh, and to the poster above, "to think that cops dont arrest white people for smoking weed is very ignorant and completely false....." is not what he was saying, he is saying that 125 out of 100 000 whites are arrested for mj use, whereas 970 out of a 100 000 blacks are.

Anyway, it seems that most of the people on this thread have their head in the sand, get off your asses and have a god damned revolution already!

[Mississippi Steve]

My god, it seems as though about a quarter of the people on this thread have actually read the article, black people are not "whining" about being arrested more often, it was written by a public lawyer saying that according to Gvt statistics, 8 times more black than white people are arrested for marijuana use, even though on average, white people smoke it more. How can you possible say that isn't a problem? How can you say that racism is not completely ingrained in the US legal system when black people and Hispanics receive sentences far, far greater than a white person convicted for the same offense or not convicted at all?

Oh, and to the poster above, "to think that cops dont arrest white people for smoking weed is very ignorant and completely false....." is not what he was saying, he is saying that 125 out of 100 000 whites are arrested for mj use, whereas 970 out of a 100 000 blacks are.

Anyway, it seems that most of the people on this thread have their head in the sand, get off your asses and have a god damned revolution already!

I don't know why your trying to stir the "racial" pot, but thats just plain wrong.

People of color get busted more often strictly because of lack of common sense.

Circumstance doesn't fly either... Nobody *HAS* to live in the projects. With the training, education, and the drive to excel, you can do or be anything you want to be.

Cops have to have probable cause before they can search, bust somebody. You gotta ask *WHY* they are getting busted. Who is gonna be more likely to be watched by the cops... the average, middle class "John Q Public", that drives an unobtrusive vehicle and minimal jewelry?? or somebody that lives in the projects that drives a 15 year old car with rims and tires worth more than the car, wears LOTS of bling, and high dollar threads, has the 60" plasma TV.

It makes a person wonder how somebody living in section 8 housing, getting welfare and food stamps can afford all of that bling. What are they doing to subsidize their income to be able to afford all that??

Like I said earlier.... who is more likley to be busted... the middle class stoner that flies under the radar, or somebody that appears to be living WAYYYYY beyond their legitimate means.

Its got nothing to do with race, its all about common sense.

As a side note, IMHO, Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton are both the worst two-faced bigots/racists in the country. Their entire purpose in life is to stir up racial hatred.

[Bongoman]

Your point would be valid, if all the people being arrested were dealers. Most of the arrests were for possession according the original article, not dealing, and it would be safe to assume that the majority of people in possession of MJ are not dealers.

Regarding the drive, education thing, don't you think that your level of education, training etc is a damned sight worse in the "projects" or whatever they are than in burbland? In fact, almost all of the people living in the projects do "have" to, due to previous arrests for things like possession, lack of a decent education, poor family environment etc, resulting in their children having to live in the same circumstances. Its a vicious cycle. And by the way, the argument about the gangsta and the middle class stoner is a classic strawman, your going to have to provide evidence for it before I can take it seriously.

[Mississippi Steve]

Your point would be valid, if all the people being arrested were dealers. Most of the arrests were for possession according the original article, not dealing, and it would be safe to assume that the majority of people in possession of MJ are not dealers.

Regarding the drive, education thing, don't you think that your level of education, training etc is a damned sight worse in the "projects" or whatever they are than in burbland? In fact, almost all of the people living in the projects do "have" to, due to previous arrests for things like possession, lack of a decent education, poor family environment etc, resulting in their children having to live in the same circumstances. Its a vicious cycle. And by the way, the argument about the gangsta and the middle class stoner is a classic strawman, your going to have to provide evidence for it before I can take it seriously.

If you don't like your environment, then change it. You present so many excuses....you keep telling me what folks *can't* do, tell me what they *CAN* do.

The only thing that stands in the way of doing or being what they want is themselves. With all of the various free or low cost educational and training programs in place, there is no reason that somebody can't improve themselves, to find a better job, and improve their circumstances.

I have had to work my way up from absolutely nothing to having a decent home to live in, and food on the table, no less than 4 times. I am constantly getting more training and education to improve my skills and increase my personal marketability.

I didn't start out as a business owner with a masters degree in mechanical engineerin, with a nice home on a full acre, inside the city limits. I started out sweeping floors, cleaning commodes, and taking out trash, and worked my way up through job experience, training and education to earn my Journeyman Machinist papers. Then I enlisted in the military and again started out sweeping floors, cleaning commodes, and taking out trash, and worked my way up to having a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Science. When I retired from the military, I was the head of Public Works and Facilities Engineering for a 2200 acre military installation in South Lousianna.
A year before I retired, I ended up getting divorced, and lost everything, plus had over $19,000 in consumer debt from my ex, and had to deal with some serious legal issues that she created to keep me from seeing my kids.
I had to start all over again... when I retired after 22 years in the military, I started my business, and not being from here, it took many years and side jobs to build my company, make it profitable. I have now been in business for 11 years and make a comfortable living, and am able to put both of my daughters through college.

I know what trials I have endured, I know what can be done. I am not big on excuses, only actions..... make them positive.

FWIW, I am second generation in this country, my Father couldn't speak a word of english until he was in grade school. I don't *EVER* remember him speaking with an accent. I do remember him working as many as 3 jobs at the same time just to make ends meet. The one thing he instilled on me was "All good things come to those who work like hell, while they wait"

[Bongoman]

If you don't like your environment, then change it. You present so many excuses....you keep telling me what folks *can't* do, tell me what they *CAN* do.

The only thing that stands in the way of doing or being what they want is themselves. With all of the various free or low cost educational and training programs in place, there is no reason that somebody can't improve themselves, to find a better job, and improve their circumstances.

I have had to work my way up from absolutely nothing to having a decent home to live in, and food on the table, no less than 4 times. I am constantly getting more training and education to improve my skills and increase my personal marketability.

I didn't start out as a business owner with a masters degree in mechanical engineerin, with a nice home on a full acre, inside the city limits. I started out sweeping floors, cleaning commodes, and taking out trash, and worked my way up through job experience, training and education to earn my Journeyman Machinist papers. Then I enlisted in the military and again started out sweeping floors, cleaning commodes, and taking out trash, and worked my way up to having a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Science. When I retired from the military, I was the head of Public Works and Facilities Engineering for a 2200 acre military installation in South Lousianna.
A year before I retired, I ended up getting divorced, and lost everything, plus had over $19,000 in consumer debt from my ex, and had to deal with some serious legal issues that she created to keep me from seeing my kids.
I had to start all over again... when I retired after 22 years in the military, I started my business, and not being from here, it took many years and side jobs to build my company, make it profitable. I have now been in business for 11 years and make a comfortable living, and am able to put both of my daughters through college.

I know what trials I have endured, I know what can be done. I am not big on excuses, only actions..... make them positive.

FWIW, I am second generation in this country, my Father couldn't speak a word of english until he was in grade school. I don't *EVER* remember him speaking with an accent. I do remember him working as many as 3 jobs at the same time just to make ends meet. The one thing he instilled on me was "All good things come to those who work like hell, while they wait"

Thats impressive, and kudos to you sir, but your personal situation is not necessarily representative of all people living in these "projects" or who are poor. Anyway, the point of the article is not about social mobility or whatnot, its about the ridiculous fact that black people are 8 times more likely to be arrested for MJ possession than white people, even though white people are more likely to smoke it. I can see no justification for this, and even if poor and/or black people have the capability to move out of poverty, it still does not justify the grossly disproportionate number of arrests of poor and/or black people. The law is meant to be just; how can those statistics possibly be interpreted as just?

[Mississippi Steve]

Thats impressive, and kudos to you sir, but your personal situation is not necessarily representative of all people living in these "projects" or who are poor. Anyway, the point of the article is not about social mobility or whatnot, its about the ridiculous fact that black people are 8 times more likely to be arrested for MJ possession than white people, even though white people are more likely to smoke it. I can see no justification for this, and even if poor and/or black people have the capability to move out of poverty, it still does not justify the grossly disproportionate number of arrests of poor and/or black people. The law is meant to be just; how can those statistics possibly be interpreted as just?

They put themselves in a position where somebody has to *DO* something about it. They flaunt it, and flash their bling. They sell openly on the street, they toke up on the front porch in front of GOD and everybody. Its almost like they are daring the cops to bust them. I don't know of anybody else thats out on the streets at all hours. Maybe its a cultural thing, I can't say. What I can say is that a lot of the black populace like to play the race card, because they can. They raise all kinds of "red flags", then piss and moan because they get busted. If they were to fly under the radar, instead of being so blatent about it, they wouldn't have the problems.

I can only tell you what I *SEE* first hand... I go in and out of all of the different neighborhoods and homes in 9 counties at all hours of the day and night, as I drive a heating and a/c service truck.

[yungjay]

you cant say that...because 'they' dont all flash and put on a show, saying they want the cops to do something, I dont care how many neighborhoods you been through...if 'they' flaunt and flash with their bling, isnt that their right what crime is being committed? what about white people who buy brand new cars, or dress in expensive brands such as ed hardy and christian audigier... and what not is that flaunting and flashing, if you have it you should be able to reward yourself so wearing a diamond chain should not send a red flag as bother me officer...but it possibly does just depends on the cop...white people smoke in parks and on the streets just like black people I've seen both races do that, you say it like its a problem to toke up on your own porch, if you own the property you should do as you please...as long as you dont affect the safety of others around you...and im sure they dont split a blunt down, break green up and smoke right in front of cops i mean whoever does that..does want trouble, but you make it seem as if blacks bring all the statistics on themselves by putting on a show and its not like that, just maybe how you interpret what you have seen...your generalizations are just that they are stereotypes...not true for every individual...I have a perfect example of how you are wrong or how you havnt seen what the white guys do, I've seen them hotbox and smoke on college campuses in patrolled parking lots on a weekly basis, that sounds like putting on a show to me...while the black guys walk down the street to a park...at night and smoke...I mean different people do different things and whatever their vice is, but I think you do have things a bit twisted...

[beachguy in thongs]

What about second offenses? Is it okay to be charged with a second pot-possession, as long as you're not black or latino?