Dayton Cops Concoct Weed Murder Mystery
July 1st, 2009 by Russ
Either the Dayton police have been up late staring at too many drug files, or they’re about to pitch a pilot of Unsolved Mysteries: Dayton Edition to their local network executives. It seems that the brass there would like to blame several recent area shootings on the assailant’s or victim’s possession of small amounts of weed.
According to baffled Lieutenant, Patrick Welsh:
The trend in several of the homicides and even non-fatal shootings is that they’re related to marijuana use and sales.
And the evidence for this? Apparently Dayton police found a man shot at a residence in which they had made a weed-related arrest three-months earlier. Let’s forget, for a moment, that the same residence was cited as an after hours alcohol distributor. This, combined with a few scattered cases of Dayton weed dealers being hit for either money or baggies prompted the Dayton Daily News columnist (of the story in question) to conclude:
Now, marijuana seems to be the dangerous drug.
Sherlock Holmes, this guy isn’t. Any Drug War newbie could tell you that the presence of the drugs in these cases are completely irrelevant, save for the fact that they’re worth money. And they’re worth so much money because of their illegality. Do you really think people would be shooting each other over this easily cultivated plant if anyone could grow it without fear of arrest or reprisal? Do people shoot each other over basil or tarragon? How many rosemary-related murders have we tallied this year?
Criminalization of plants is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you increase the value of an object and prohibit legal businesses from selling it, then you are literally handing a valuable monopoly over to the black market. That’s the market where business is settled with the business-end of a sawed-off shotgun. So, logically speaking, it was the police who were the cause of the very crimes that they were investigating. Elementary, my dear Watson.
Ohio Poll Ponders Medical Marijuana
May 13th, 2009 by Rick
A telephone poll taken from April 17 to April 27, out of the University of Cincinnati, revealed that an impressive 73% of the people favor a medical marijuana law. Ed Orlett, a former state legislator and current lobbier for medical marijuana, was surprised by that many people, in every age, race, religion and political affiliation showing a strong support of allowing doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients.
Orlett said:
It adds legitimacy to it here in Ohio. [...] Politicians usually tell us, ’If I do this, I’m going to get killed politically.’ Well, apparently not, if you look at this.
Last session, a medical marijuana bill was sponsored by Democrat Tom Roberts out of Dayton, but the legislation died in a committee after a weak debate and Roberts left the Senate. Orlett plans on speaking with some other Senators about sponsoring a new, similar bill.
Back on the Bench After Weed Charge
February 16th, 2009 by Perry
An Ohio judge who was placed on administrative leave after a three-month investigation yielded burnt marijuana cigarettes (aka el roachos,) rolling papers and other paraphernalia, is now back on the gavel.
You really have to hand it to the police department in Wilmington, Ohio. They had probable cause for a search, launched a three-month investigation, and didn’t find anything you couldn’t in my apartment.
Was it worth it? How much does a three-month investigation by the Keystone Cops actually solve?
And the best part is the judge is going back on the bench after a month off with paid administrative leave, ostensibly while he sought treatment for his addiction — so what was the point of this whole charade, Wilmington PD?
Ohio Places Ban on Salvia
January 8th, 2009 by Perry
The mildly psychedelic plant, salvia divinorum, was recently classified as a Class A drug by Ohio’s governor, who signed into law a bill which makes the drug illegal to possess on the streets. The law will take effect in 90 days.
The ban comes amid a flurry of negative PR for the ancient Native American substance which produces a mild trip and has been linked to several incidents where teenagers have been seriously hurt due to abuse of the drug.
The herb, which is native to Mexico, induces a trip where users experience an altered depth perception and has led to blackouts on rare occasion. As with anything, if it can be used responsibly there shouldn’t be a reason to ban Salvia. too bad.
Debating the Legality of Salvia
November 5th, 2008 by Perry
They’re already getting ready to ban Salvia in Ohio. The Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill in April to make the herb and its active ingredient controlled substances; the bill is stalled in committee in the Ohio Senate.
Several other states (including Missouri, North Dakota, Illinois, Delaware, Kansas and Florida,) already have laws on the books considering the hallucinogenic herb a controlled substance.
From dozens of first-hand reports, I’ve heard it lasts anywhere from two minutes to a half hour and the effects range from hallucination to temporary paralysis while “peaking” under this drug’s effect.
According to opponents, “the plant’s effects range from mild relaxation and visual hallucinations to a state where users can’t move or feel pain,” said Monica Mertens, program director for the Pathway Family Center in Milford. But even though it’s been used for centuries in Native American ritual, it’s not necessarily safe for recreational use and might need further study before making heads or tails of this one.
