How Not To Get 35 Years For Pot Possession

I've long believed that the laws against pot possession are more of a stupidity fine than anything else. They certainly aren't working as a deterrent. If the guy wanted to get high, he could just as easily have done it in the privacy of his own living room, and kept himself out of jail for the rest of his life.

just be a judges son then u get off scott free in tyler

The Foghornleghorn da in tyler never convicts his son or friends

welcome to texas. What a joke.

East Texas is full of hick retard inbreds. I am glad I am not from there. If the majority of Blacks who live there would actually vote Democrat they could vote out these Conservative retards who give a grown man 35 years for Marijuana Possesion.

He had over four ounces broken into smaller bags...obviously dealing. Not saying the sentence was justified, just that he wasn't just a smoker. That and the two prior convictions show this guy wasn't too careful. Never get high on your own supply.

he probably wanted it tested so the quantity could be reduced ive heard of testing over and over again to reduce the quantity but probably isnt true seeing as they could probably test for miniscule ammounts.
meow

Good! Moron should be locked up. HE BROKE THE LAW! If you don't like the laws CHANGE THEM don't just sit on your computer and complain. And ProudTexan go back to wherever it is you came from you obviously aren't from around here.

People are working steadily to change marijuana laws, Anne, but unfortunately many people are plagued with fundamental misunderstandings over the nature of the substance.

Also, it's just not that easy to change possession laws in a county like Smith. Basic civics and all.

The real shame here is that he will now spend years in prison for committing a nonviolent crime, where he will likely be institutionalized, lose his right to vote and possibly -- if statistics released by the Justice Department during Alberto Gonzales are to be trusted -- raped. While in prison, he will still have access to drugs because of systemic corruption, and his chances of rehabilitation are fairly low.

Meanwhile, the Smith County DA's office will go on as normal, just devouring up lives.

The "War on Drugs" didn't start yesterday or even ten years ago. All the youth of America have been indoctrinated to believe that drugs are bad. He knew the consequences when he toked up; knew what would happen if he got caught. However the possibility of prison, rape, lose of voting rights, ruination of his life and happiness did not deter this man. He is a free thinking person who chose to do something he knew damn well would bring bad things. I have no pity and say Good for the Idiot!

loss*

Re: Anne
We also don't allow speeding, but we don't send people to jail for 35 years because they went 65 in a 30 zone. Typically we reserve such stringent punishments for circumstances where there was a distinct and actual harm. Drug prohibition stands out like a sore thumb in that well-established paradigm, much to taxpayer expense.

The real tragedy here, Anne, is that you seem to care more about a petty law being stretched to the maximum than the fact that a man could be raped for a nonviolent crime.

No one should ever be raped. What the hell is wrong with you?

Evan This man was convicted twice before for similar charges. The law is very clear, drugs= possibility of jail if not life; speeding not so much. Sure speeding is extremely dangerous and takes the life of innocents every day but that's also not the issue.
This story is about one man and his tangle with the law. Again Evan: drugs are illegal. Try to stay off them.

Anne, the point is that the law is senseless and the punishment does not fit the crime. Indeed, when you factor in that he could be raped or beaten in prison, I would wager that it's cruel and unusual. If this had happened in Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Oregon or Travis County the outcome would have been VERY different. That he is facing such time for such a crime reflects incredibly poorly on the voters of Smith County.

Have you ever been in jail John? Mr. Wooten has. He knows what happens there. He CHOSE to do it again. He knew that his actions left him there not once but twice before, and again CHOSE TO DO IT. If he ends up raped in prison, I hope the entire time he thinks about the actions that led him there, and I hope he comes to the conclusion toking up was worth it because HE BROUGHT IT ON HIMSELF. He knew the consequences of his actions and chose to do it anyway.
Prison rape is a horrible thing. As a society that runs to the aid of anyone in trouble around the world why can we not protect wards of the state from each other? And locking people up and ruining lives for nonviolent offences is not only wasteful but in most cases useless as they only repeat. However this man KNEW what he was doing, knew what would happen and again chose to do it anyway.

People like Anne are the root cause of these issues.

Good response Annon next time try something that adds to the conversation.

> All the youth of America have been
> indoctrinated to believe that drugs are
> bad.

Indeed. Indoctrinated to believe, not educated to understand.

Anne, what You need is a wider perspective. Get it.

My views on personal responsibility seem to be working out just fine thank you. I learned in school that drugs will lead to jail, and in my neighborhood that it tears families apart and ruins lives when people go to jail. Not to mention the detrimental effects on one's health that certain narcotics create.

If you know that drinking will ruin your liver and you continue to drink you did it to yourself. If you toke up in public you know there's a chance you will end up in jail. So when you go there, remember people like Sven are out there taking the same risks you are and might end up there with you.

Anne, maybe if you had Jesus in your life you would be more understanding and considerate of this man's life that was just ruined over harmless pot. No one is arguing that this guy is smart or shouldn't be punished, but what they are saying is that he didn't deserve 35 YEARS for something that other people don't get 35 days for. I don't care how many prior convictions he has, that sentence is an atrocity.

do repeat dui offenders that kill people even get 35 years? hell, just be a judges daugher and you can kill someone and get off clean.

what a waste of my tax money

> Anne says:

> My views on personal responsibility seem
> to be working out just fine thank you.

This is the main problem. Those views that You and U.S. government are representing are not working at all. And still You think they are. Or do You?

Quoting Wikipedia: "The United States has less than 5% of the world's population and 23.4% of the world's prison population."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States#Comparison_with_other_countries)

Are americans more criminal in nature than the rest of the people? No. Are Anne and U.S. legislation stressing "personal responsibility" too much? Yes.

He wouldn't have gotten nearly as much time if he'd molested one of those kids from that day care center...smh. Personal responsibility notwithstanding, there is a severe discrepancy in sentencing laws for non-violent offenders. But like another commenter mentioned, that's Texas for you.

Some of you whiners and wailers are obviously pot heads. This poor soul rotting away in prisonn was no mere pot head. He was a dealer. He had the bags, the scales and the pot. It looks like he pled to the four ounces rather than go down for manufacture and distribution.

He got what he deserved. You pot heads get this - every time you've go some pot on you and every time you toke up, you're breaking the law and you damn well know it.

Howie writes: "It looks like he pled to the four ounces rather than go down for manufacture and distribution"

Not true: This was a jury-issued sentence. He was convicted of dealing, there was no plea.

This absurd, pointless sentence demonstrates absolutely zero sense of proportion. Next time state prisons let out a violent offender who goes on a local killing spree, you can thank the Smith County DA that Mr. Wooten is taking up a prison cell needed for actually dangerous offenders.

Great job, Anne. I like that "I have no pity", remember to keep that statement firmly in mind when you meet your maker.

I think your write up was actually a solid kick off to a potential series of posts about this topic. A lot of people pretend to comprehend what they are preaching about when it comes to this stuff and in reality, hardly anyone actually get it. You seem to know about it though, so I think you need to take it and run. Thanks a lot!

I really enjoy what you write here, very fresh and intelligent. One issue though, I'm running Firefox on Debian and parts of your site structure are a little misaligned. I know it's not a popular setup, but it's still something to to keep in mind. Just giving you a heads up.

FYI, Craig, blogging your way.

Sven some countries kill their offenders on the first offense. No need to lock them up, they just shove them in a coffin and no more problem. Would you prefer to do that instead? And in other countries you get caned for graffiti or your hand cut off for theft.

So Sven if the American way is so much worse than the rest of the world, move away. Just make sure you follow the laws, they won't put you in prison.

Good god Anne, are you a sociopath?

I'm reading your responses and I'm think you are the one that should be locked up for 35 years. You're a terrible person for taking such a hardline stance on such a crazy punishment.

Get caught with 4 ounces of weed? Even if its a repeat offender. Sure, put him in jail, for 5-7 days, tops. Cigarettes, Caffiene, alcohol, all drugs more harmful than marijuana. Do you know how much DARE time could be bought for the cost of imprisoning a man for 35 years?

Shame on you, Anne.

> Anne says:
> Sven some countries kill their offenders
> on the first offense. No need to lock them > up, they just shove them in a coffin and
> no more problem. Would you prefer to do
> that instead?

And You think that this is any kind of excuse for your inhuman and ineffective drug laws? Particularly in this situation when the actions of U.S. have ruling influence on global narcotics policy.

> So Sven if the American way is so much
> worse than the rest of the world, move away.

I never moved in, so I don't have to move away. I'm just visiting this American part of Internet :)

It has been proven through study that DARE has no effect whatsoever on deterring drug use for people. Repeat studies have shown that Dare has shown no link to preventing drug use in younger adults and children. I earned a degree in criminal justice and this was one of the more interesting topics that were brought up. Dare is a waste of time and money.

Good morning all. I read some intelligent opinions here and some dumbass ones from two Prohibitionist lowlifes, "Anne" and "Howie". Obviously, these two animals have never smoked a joint in their entire life so their postings--did I say postings? No, I meant chickenscratch--cannot be taken seriosly. Like the ravings of a maniac.

You two jackasses disgust me!

Yeah, this guy was stupid for doing what he did. He was obviously asking for trouble, since it is common knowledge that smoking marijuana and possessing marijuana packaged for distribution are illegal in the state of Texas. That still doesn't make it just. For a 54 year old man, a 35 year sentence is very likely a life sentence. All for possessing a product most of us have sampled at one time or another. Cannabis is not a health tonic and does not meet the criteria our culture uses to assess pharmaceutical drugs, but the risk involved in its use is well within the range generally tolerated for legal behavior in American society (safer than riding dirt bikes, skiing, drinking liquor, etc.). We need to legalize this stuff ASAP not only to stop shameful and unjust behavior in our criminal justice system, but to greatly shrink the lucrative black market that is fueling so much crime here and in Mexico. Kids in The Netherlands smoke less pot than Texas kids do, and it is sold and used openly in shops there. The sky will not fall if sale and use are legalized and regulated Texas. Pot prohibition is a blatant example of a bloated government intruding in the lives of citizens, with tragic consequences for liberty and justice. Legalization will restore justice and consistency to our legal system and will deal a deadly blow to organized crime. That is all the justification that is needed.

Methinks Anne needs to spark up a fattie and chill the f*** out. Legalize it, tax it and you won't have people put in jail for 35 years for selling a weed.

"Sven some countries kill their offenders on the first offense. No need to lock them up, they just shove them in a coffin and no more problem. Would you prefer to do that instead? And in other countries you get caned for graffiti or your hand cut off for theft."

Jesus, are you kidding me? Please tell me you're a high schooler. That'd be the only excuse for employing that kind of logic.

You know, in some parts of the world slavery still exists. So blacks shouldn't have complained so damn much during that whole "civil rights" thing. Things being even more inhumane somewhere else renders legitimate concerns about our legal system moot, right?

Pot is harmless and there's nothing wrong with selling it. Good, just laws should be followed, but breaking the bad unjust laws is the moral thing to do. Civil disobedience is the duty of all citizens. Heck, most Americans commit three to five felonies a day without even realizing it. They have criminalized so many things that aren't ciminal. No victim, no crime. As Hunter S. Thompson wrote:

"In a closed society where everyone's guilty, the only crime is getting caught, and the only sin is stupidity."

If you truly own yourself, shouldn't you have the right to put whatever you want into your own body? Why would you let a group of strangers dictate what you can or cannot put in your body?

I'm glad he's willing to do the time for "breaking the bad unjust laws". I'm really impressed he was willing to do it over and over until the state got it right and hammered his ass. He's a dealer, screw him.

Yo Bubba, why are you such a knucklehead? You wrote--I mean scribbled--

"I'm glad he's willing to do the time for 'breaking the bad unjust laws'. I'm really impressed he was willing to do it over and over until the state got it right and hammered his ass. He's a dealer, screw him".

And you are a Prohibitionist...SCREW YOU! I am so glad I live in New York, and not in Redneckland, a/k/a Texas. Look at who comes from your state..."Dubya", Karl Rove, Tom Delay...need I go on? Lowlifes all. I only wish that your illustrious Governor was serious when he threatened to secede. Please do! But just East Texas--West Texas is all Latino, so they can stay. All Anglos out!

"Anne" is obviously not serious everyone and just trying to stir up stuff. I hope.

There's plenty of mellow people in Texas. Please don't indict the whole state for a few sticks in the mud.

I was going to address your points, but then I got high
I was going to refute them one by one, but then I got high
Now I'm jacking off and I know why

Because I got high. Because I got high. Because I got high.

KEEP MARIJUANA ILLEGAL = http://bit.ly/19M7uh
(crazy lady speaks out)

Going to the nearest liquor store will not only ensure you're outside of a drug free zone in Tyler. It will ensure that you're not even in Smith County anymore.

Wow, thats our kangaroo court system at its finest! No ownder why jails are over crowded and violent criminals (the ones who should be there) get out early.

Jess
www.total-anonymity.us.tc

Anne - the problem is children are indoctrinated to know drugs are bad for you. Then they smoke weed because it is easy to get and is "dangerous" because it is illegal, upon which action they find they have been lied to. You law and order at any cost regressives are far more dangerous than pot. It takes civil disobedience to change laws. You think they repealed prohibition because everyone in America quit drinking and asked the govment nicely to change the law?

Anne supports cruel punishments that don't fit the crime.

Anne justifies her arguments with the effects of cruel punishments.

Anne further supports her points with examples of even greater cruelty outside the U.S.

Anne should spend some time outside of a free country to appreciate what she has. Including her (flawed) speech.

Anne doesn't realize that marijuana prohibition caused many more harmful drugs to become popular in Nancy Reagan's wake.

Anne *thinks* she means well, but she is far more ignorant than she will know.

Seriously Anne, I hope you get gang raped in a back alley and die from aids you evil, evil woman. I mean this with all my heart.

The problem with the law is that it infringes upon my rights as an American.

A man like Jim Koch, who founded Samuel Adams beer, is revered as a great entrepreneur, but why?

Because he loves brewing beer and the business of beer.

However, alcohol is one of the leading causes of death in this country, all the while, the superbowl, America's most watched television show, is essentially one big commercial for beer.

My love and passion in life is cultivating marijuana. Nothing else makes me happier than tending to a marijuana plant.

This action produces a drug which is by every measurable standard SAFER than alcohol.

Despite this, while Jim Koch gets corporate tax breaks for creating jobs, patent protection of brands and innovations, and the adoring love of the public, I would get sent to prison for years if my actions become known by the police.

Marijuana is much much safer than alcohol and also tobacco. IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO DENY ME MY 14th AMENDMENT EQUAL PROTECTION RIGHTS BY MAKING ALCOHOL LEGAL AND MARIJUANA ILLEGAL.

Everyone should read what Matthew Garrison said.

Community service and a fine would make sense. It would actually do good for the community. 35 years in prison for a harmless plant is ridiculous.

It sucks that because of pod heads like that guy, thousands of man, women and children are been killed each year in drug related wars all over the world, next time you see on the news that 20 or 30 people are killed on México because you like to be high.
Every joint on your pockets it’s a joint with blood.

Dear writer,
I find your writing style childish. Your readers are (I think) adults. Just tell the story. The fact that he was given a "cruel and unusual punishment" is the story I don't want to read your silly comments. I'll have smoke for you. Peace be with you.

Marijuana is safer and less addictive than alcohol. It's been scientifically proven, but the fundamentalists are unable to listen and think for themselves.

Tyler TX: what is wrong with you? That sentence was un-American. You guys should annex yourselves and join Singapore.

Someone wrote that in places such as Singapore, the penalty for drug possession is execution. Now, a logical question if I may...assuming that this place is like Singapore ; if I get stopped by a pig--oops! I meant to say "cop"--and I know what the penalty would be if I get arrested, what incentive would I have to allow him to arrest me? (read : allow him to live)

If the Singaporean model were adopted here, there would be a lot of dead cops, feds, sherriffs, etc. Is it worth it? That's the question you have to ask yourself.

Do you really think these drug wars would be going on if it were legal? How many people are dying in the alcohol and tobacco wars?

Rellycrazydude brings up an interesting point: the blood spilled over this prohibition.

These drug laws cause the bloodshed. They drive the overseas markets and send money into Mexico.

Yet somehow the drugs get blamed for the effects of these ridiculous laws.

Let the U.S. grow its own. Stop the bloodshed.

The case AGAINST legalization = http://bit.ly/19M7uh

Anne wants to jail people for the rest of their lives based on unjust laws, and then blames them for being wards of the state. LOL!

And she goes on to talk about prison rape.

Frightening.

Anne should definitely not be allowed near schools.

He would have received less time for rape or murder. Amazing. Let's just say he was a dealer. Oh no! He maybe planned on selling a plant, that when eaten or smoked, makes people want to laugh, listen to music, watch movies, and just overall have a good time. What a despicable, low-life criminal he is, right? Now I see why violent offenders get less time...

Anne,
Im going to skip over all the obvious reasons for explaining why your arguments are idiotic and go straight to what gets people's attention the easiest, money. For the next 35 years your tax money will go to feeding and housing a non violent offender during a time of economic duress. Anne if I were to tell you that only your taxes were going to be used to house and feed this man for the next 35 years you wouldnt feel any different about his sentence? This is a waste of human resources, money, and facilities and if you cant see that then your no smarter than some guy getting caught with 4 ounces of weed next to a day care.

@ Anne,
A lot of points have been thrown around for the purpose of legalizing mj, but I think there is a point that has been looked over quite a few times, the money that it costs for the state or local government to prosecute this guy and then hold him in prison for years and years.I agree with most of the other users on here, the punishment does not fit the crime. I wont say its not this guys fault, he knew the laws and knew his record and that is his own fault. I will say that the revenue that could be acquired from legalization, even if its just medical, would be huge and you also have less drain on your economy due to the fact that many users of this plant would no longer be incarcerated. Anne, you should really think using logic and what is best for the people as a whole, legalization would lower the number of violent crimes as well as non-violent crimes due to marijuana use. Be willing and open to others opinion and learn when to think about adjusting your own thoughts. Dont be just another sheep in a heard, Think for yourself.

I think we should get someone to follow around Anne and report on any minor law she breaks. Jaywalking? Being drunk in public? Etc... And have her convicted with the maximum punishment of course.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Are you a Saint, Anne? No? Then shut up.

Anne should be required to sell her stuffed animal collection and work at WalMart to pay for this guy's incarceration.

Anne you are a retard who knows very little about the substance at hand. Considering it's less harmful than alcohol and tobacco and he was not dealing on the spot. People get less for MURDER. Get off your high chair and do some research. Thankfully old folks like you are dying off day by day and MJ will be legalized.

Anne, your a moron. Did you get the computer last week and now you feel the need to comment on a topic you clearing have no education in. Read a book, look up a few links. 1 Millions dollars is what it will take to feed and house this man, that is if prices don't rise. LOL. So you saying ANNE, you need to pay higher taxes to keep this pot head off the street. YOU should run for CONGRESS!

I am glad to see most of the comments here are intelligent but people like Anne.

1. This guy deserves time but not 35 years.

2. It costs money to keep people in jail and I would prefer murders, rapists and the like to be there, not some ahole dealing pot.

3. Also most pot heads I know are calm and not violent like drunks.

I am a stupid bitch who doesn't understand we should be free to do what we wish to our own bodies so long as it causes no harm to others. I think all laws are flawless and all crimes are deserving of their punishments regardless of how severe they may seem. I also think George W. Bush was one of the greatest American presidents; right in league with our greatest founding father, Ronald Reagan.

eh eh ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Sounds like this guy was so high he made some poor judgment and maybe once sober and aware of the laws he might not have done so. I would have to say this guy needs treatment, not a severe and lengthy punishment. I guess tax payers in that county really don't believe trying to help people out and would rather pay to see him locked up...

RE:Anne

if u lit up every once in awhile im sure ur views would be different:) i agree with the rest of people on here, that is cruel and unusual punishment, but i will say hes a dumbass for gettin caught.

The comments here really do prove to me that Texans are the bane of the United States and have the right and wrong morality of 13 year olds. Please kindly secede from the union already since you guys are convinced you have some sacred right to. Manslaughter cases don't even normally get 35 years. 35 years for something that in 15 states is no longer a crime, along with in most of the first world. But what does America know about being a first world country when it comes to law and order. We have a higher prison incarceration rate then Russia and China.

First off, I agree with most of you that 35 years in prison is a bit much for Marijuana Possession. But... in this case, based on the amount he had, having a scale, having it broken down into smaller baggies, etc, it was pretty clear he's a dealer.

Second off, I agree with most of you that 35 years in prison is a bit much for dealing marijuana, but this guy had 2 priors.

Third off, I agree with most of you that 35 years in prison is a bit much for dealing marijuana with 2 priors, but... if you look at his priors, at least one of them was for a Residential Burglary. (You can get this info by going to http://judicial.smith-county.com/CrimSearch/crimfrmd.asp and doing a search for Henry Wooten. That counts as a "Strike" in those states that have "3-Strikes" laws (Texas being one of them). I'd be willing to wager, based on his sentence on this case that his other prior was also a "Strike" from a different county.

Fourth off, to those people posting he would have gotten less time if he had molested one of the children at the day care, that's highly unlikely. He received his 35 year sentence based in part on his criminal history. That wouldn't have changed just because he had a more serious new case.

Last off, isn't it funny that the author of this article never mentioned the seriousness of the priors which is likely the real reason Mr Wooten was sentenced to 35 years. Maybe it's because writing an article about a guy with a history of violent crime being sentenced to 35 years isn't quite as sensational as writing about a guy being sentenced to 35 years because he had pot.

For those who didn't read what I wrote because it was too long, Mr Wooten got 35 years due in part to his "Strike" prior(s), not just because he had marijuana in the wrong county.

maybe he'll just get shanked and then he wont have to worry about the rest of his sentance

That's what I love about this country. I can fight all day for the rights that allow individuals in our country to be absolute idiots. Anne is not an idiot or a sociopath, she is absolutely correct. This individual broke the law. The issue isn’t individual freedom. It's the good of the commonwealth, that’s what our law makers have sworn an oath to protect. Drugs including your "harmless" marijuana whether you BELIEVE they are harmless or not are smuggled illegally. The support systems needed and the amount of illegal activity needed for you to have your one little joint are staggering. For those that think they are just innocent users. Your money is funding a global trade in a range from human trafficking down to petty drug trade. If you got yourself out of the blinded little box you lived in took a look around the world and actually did some reading instead of watching American Idol and Lost you might know this. The money you fork over for that dime bag directly contributes to the systematic killing of entire villages in some countries. Illegal drugs are illegal for more reasons than you simpletons want to believe because it doesn't suit your precious self serving agenda. If you think legalizing it would stop that you are naïve, “just tax it” being the most common response to this. Do you honestly think that some South American drug lord is going to agree to a tax that would cut into his ludicrous profit margins simply because the United States of America is telling him its okay now? This is one of the greatest problems with our country today, we have created a system wherein non contributing individuals are allowed to exist and buy marijuana with their welfare because they think it's harmless. When, truly they are just ignorant to the fact that they are funding a drug war that leaves families without fathers and is sending border towns to the brink of anarchy. The fact that this guy, who was obviously a dealer, got 35 years for breaking the law is a good thing. Maybe the drug dealers in that county will think twice before dealing to 12 yr olds with a sentence like this being a possible outcome. Maybe they will stop dealing entirely and be one less contributor to the atrocities that occur every minute of every day thanks to the drug trade. But that doesn’t matter because it’s about your personal freedom right? F*ck the personal freedoms of the twelve year old kids being traded as slaves and losing their parents. Your right, Anne must be the sociopath.

something interesting here :)

What's funny is J B Smith, the sheriff for Smith county, has been begging for years for a new jail. He honestly thinks he isn't getting it because the wealthy people don't want to pay the cost. The truth is ALL of us are sick of ridiculous sentences and fines for bullshit and pretty much EVERYONE except the ones that have family members that are in law enforcement or happen to be a judges or DA or ADA's kid either have been to jail or have a good chance of going to jail for more or less stepping outside his/her front door. Seriously the attitude of law enforcement here if you are walking down the street is "OMG he/she's walking down the street ..OUTSIDE... they must be doing SOMETHING wrong ". Then you see 5 police cars swarm around one unarmed "suspect". No I do not smoke mj NO I have not been to jail YET ...but they have stopped and harassed me plenty for NOTHING and most people I know that live here have been on the Give To Smith County Fund aka Smith County probation (and I do not hang out with violent scary people ). Keep holding your breath for that new jail J B, I'm sure if you hold it til you pass out there will be a shiny new jail waiting for you when you wake up.

Sorry i forgot to add something..true story..my aunt was pulled over in Tyler (Smith County) a headlight was out (she didn't realize it was out). Anyways when she opens her purse to get her license the officer freaks out because she has a big stack of small bills..he calls for back up and my aunt has to stand outside her car for over an hour and a half trying to explain to them she won at bingo and that was how she got the money. They even searched her car !!! Scared her to death. This is a lady that seriously wouldn't know what a joint was if you dropped it in her lap. Smith County is ridiculous.

Michael Kyle, You are the one funding a drug war, or The War on Drugs. You do this by stubbornly believing, that prohibition works. If it works, where are the results? Constantly growing number of drug users, constantly increasing number of convicts, billions and billions of dollars wasted on all kind of military operations, legal bureaucracy etc.

Here is an article concerning Wootens case. It says: "Wooten (...) had been found guilty of two felonies in Smith County, one in 1987 and one in 1989."

(http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20100305/NEWS08/3050307/0/FRONTPAGE)

If you think Smith County is bad head on over to Williamson County.

And as for the pot prohibition, when booze was made illegal it caused a huge soar in organized crime and violent crimes, why would anyone think that the pot prohibition is any different? Making it legal would cut quite a bit of funding away from the dangerous drug peddlers in mexico, while growing it and taxing it here, would create jobs, and increase revenue to close our huge budget gap that we have.

Michael Kyle is Anne after she puts her penis on.

Is this Michael Kyle guy serious? Dude all of the pot in the US comes from either Canada or Mexico...There's no GLOBAL drug smuggling with Human Trafficking. You are a fuckin' douchebag dude. Trust me, I know far more about this business then anyone that could possibly be commenting on here. Entire villages getting killed? Are you fuckin' kidding me? This isn't cocaine we're talking about..and on that note, even the mexican drug cartels don't eradicate whole cities, at worst they pressure them with organized crime. Dude you're facts are nonexistant, you just mutter nonsense and try to support it with some bullshit. Good for you for "fighting for this country" But in my opinion...They shoulda sent your ass by your damn self right into a field of landmines, the world could be a better place without your idiocy.

Yea, just to reiterate, jump in front of a subway train; or come to Jersey so we can beat some sense into you

this post is directed at Anne, and anyone else who thinks that this man got what he deserved.

I don't feel that the punishment is even close to the crime. I was one of those kids who was constantly told that drugs are bad and nothing but trouble.

After trying basically everything that doesn't involve needles, I feel that some drug laws are justified. Some drugs like meth and coke are illegal for good reason. But can you honestly say that you feel someone laughing and eating doritos is a threat?

I understand he was dealing. As long as he wasn't selling to kids, I fail to see the problem.

This may be hard to swallow for staunch defenders of the law, but the best way to keep marijuana out of the hands of kids is to legalize it.

When I was going to school, if I wanted some weed, I went to see any one of 5 people and I could have as much as i could afford. If I wanted alcohol, It was MUCH MUCH harder to procure.

Even many of those who were against it in their younger years, may have smoked a joint with a trusted friend. All of a sudden they aren't against it anymore.

legalize it, grow it, tax it, and sell it to me. The effects of legalizing weed would be far-reaching. Jail populations would be significantly reduced, drug related crime would be down, and this would be a massive savings for the government.

Now add in the extra revenue that the taxation would provide, and it would be a huge step towards becoming an better country.

Wow... move to Canada, that charge would have been a slap on the wrist and some free coffee while you were processed at the cop shop.

What is really funny if that happens in California he just gets it confiscated and a fine

Those of you supporting tyrannical laws created and imposed by misinformed and corrupt individuals in government really need to examine your thinking and reasons for your beliefs. A day will come when you will be on the receiving end of the tyranny. Maybe then you will open your mind!

Legalize it already.

Enough of this utter nonsense over an herb which hasn't caused one documented death in thousands of years of use.

Here we are, wasting valuable police and court resources going after people for having or using cannabis, when killers roam free and rape/kill little girls. Something isn't right here.

This ruling is sick!

ABSOLUTELY INSANE!
The jury, judge, and the prosecutor should all be fired. If I were a tax paying citizen in this town I would be absolutely outraged.
First off this guy does not deserve to go to prison. I could see a 90 day or 6 month max.

Second and most important to these stupid people... Do you realize how much it costs to incarcerate someone per year. Minimum and absolute minimum is $35,000 per year x 35 years is 1.2 Million dollars. Seriously people that is what you want your tax dollars to go to... Open your eyes

Anne makes a good point about it being against the law.
However, I would like to point out to Anne that many things are and have been against the law. Such as marrying someone of a different race.
And in many countries it was (and may still be) against the law to pray, or to attend church. Do you think that Christians in 20th century China should have just shut up and gone about their business.

But completely aside from the fact that a 35 year sentence for a victimless crime seems unjust to many - think about this;
Taxes. Taxes. Taxes, and more taxes.
Do you think the cops are free? Does the judge take a salary? Does 35 years of incarceration cost money? Where does that money come from? Taxes, taxes, taxes, and more taxes.

Yes, the guy was an idiot.
An idiot who broke an idiotic law.
And now because of the idiotic law, our taxes go up.

I'm siting here with a half dozen friends and a bong right now look at this. Ya know something? Anne makes very good points.

Guess what? Anne is right. We know what we are doing and realize the full extent of the consequences we could face, including prison rape and other violence behind bars.

That Wooten guy was a dumbass and the Judge was well within the boundaries of the law to lock him away for 35 years. Wooten made a choice. He'd been there and done that before.

If we don't like it, we can move or work to change the law. Only two of us are even registered to vote. Only Four of us are employed right now. Pot does make you not care really about anything. This is why the laws will always be strict for drugs. They aren't good. I lost my college financial aid because of a drug possession conviction. I knew exactly what I was doing. I was stupid, just like the Wooten guy. He and I don't need NORML or pot smokers like the one's writing above to defend us. We screwed up and make poor choices in our lives. I'm responsible for my actions.

Maybe if you stopped making excuses for people in possession of pot or smoking it or whatever and just take 100% responsibility for your decisions in life, you might lead a more healthy life. I can't speak for you, but all six of us have been in drug court, so we know firsthand and talked about this. I'm posting this because stoners need to just take more responsibility for their actions. Period. Our door could be kicked down any moment because someone smells us smoking pot. We know it, accept it, and that's just the way it is.

New term for the day:

KyleAnne: To speak authoritatively on a subject of which one has no direct knowledge.

As he stepped to the podium at the yearly summit for the Wisconsin dairy farmer association, George (lactose intolerant from birth) was shaky. He steadied his nerves and thought to himself "I'm going to have to pull a real KyleAnne on this one."

if you live in texas you should try and break this guy outta jail, this is cruel and unusual punishment

This is a crime against humantiy. There is no logical reason to put anyone in jail for weed let alone for 35 years. The judges should be in jail.

Gotta say...as an individual who has tried pot my fair share of times, this is absurd, but the problem isn't the sentencing. Dealers should be locked up, albeit for 3-6 months and not 35 years, and maybe a fine. Dealers are involved with people with connections, who are involved with at least some level of organized crime that could potentially cause a few deaths and certainly a lot of societal discomfort.

The real problem here is the fact that pot is still illegal. I'm not going to try to push medical BS on everyone, but I will say that if pot were made legal, there would be no pot dealers, or organized crime, and the U.S. would profit from the taxes from selling it, while cutting the costs of a "war on drugs." It's less intoxicating than alcohol (say, 4+ shots), and I've never encountered an angry or violent high person (unlike alcohol). Not to mention, although smoking anything is going to be bad for you, you don't smoke "a pack of weed-erettes" a day, and the overall effects of cigarettes vs. pot are much worse in the long run because of this.

Here's the thing, I will smoke if pot is around, and I won't when its not, which amounts to once or twice a month maybe, and always in my own home. By the DEA's description though, I'm a nuisance to society and should get community service/fined/small jail time, which would really put a damper on my career. I'm in my last semester of college in molecular biology, and I'm en route to my PhD (been accepted to two schools already). Am I really the type of person you'd want to throw in jail and ruin a career of for smoking pot? Christ, I do cancer research!

Finally, I just want to say that this guy deserved a sentencing of some sort, probably a month in jail, community service, and a hefty fine (maybe the street value of 4 ounces?). Drugs of any kind, including alcohol and cigarettes, are for personal use or small gatherings...not public settings. Thanks for reading.

I hafta agree with Mike on the responsibility. I smoke only at home and never ever sell it or take foolish risks like Wooten did. Yeah just like speeding, I know I'm breaking the laws and will be held accountable for my choices, behavior, and actions. Life is all about choices. I smoke too sometimes but never around people. Sure, my apartment door could be busted in because my next door neighbor smells it. I accept that because i'm responsible for my own actions. Why are all you people defending Wooten? I mean, the law is the law. If I get caught, if you get caught, if anyone gets caught - that's it. What is that thing? Cops are just doing their job. So is that Judge. Wooten would be free and you wouldn't be reading this right now if he had simply followed the law. Why does everyone look for a reason to blame everyone else for their own problems? That dude Mike is right. As a free person, I choose to do what I choose to do. I am free to make choices. If I make poor choices, it is on me 100%. I am responsible for my own actions. Nobody is to blame - noooobdy ---- but that Wooten guy.

I do gotta say, carrying a QP of pot around is pretty insane of yourself. I've seen people get about 3-5 years for that, in some instances less. 35 years is ridiculous. They make this guy spend the rest of his life in jail over pot, while rapists and murderers don't get more then 10-15 years. Even pedophiles get a lesser sentence. The corruption within our government is asinine and this is just another tally added to the cases that prove it. I have a question for you Anne; would you rather see a rapist/murderer/pedophile get out of jail in 5 years, or a harmless pot dealer?

Just go to the nearest liquor store, and you can bet you'll be outside a drug-free zone. Enjoy!

^^^
Smith County is a DRY County. For all you sinners that don't know what this is google it (get it?).

Anne, when I spent a summer in Texas in 1969 it was legal to drink beer while you were driving and also legal for a man to beat his wife.

At ten years old I got to watch a man beat his wife in front of all the neighbors after he cam home drunk and still drinking. Most the men there said she had in coming because she complained about his being drunk again.

Sheriffs did come, slowly, after being called several times. They told this beaten woman she needed to start behaving and then left.

So, Anne, what advice would you have given this woman? Would have told her to "Behave" too?

Anne, right now you are a wicked nasty witch and a house is bound to fall on your head someday.

I hope you change your ways but if you can't, may your toes curl up and your shoes be put on kinder feet when that house smacks you in the head.

Good monrning, ladies and gentlemen. Today we have some knucklehead talking garbage about a subject that he knows NOTHING about. His (hers? its?) name is Michael Kyle, an "expert" on law. "It" says :

"That's what I love about this country. I can fight all day for the rights that allow individuals in our country to be absolute idiots. Anne is not an idiot or a sociopath, she is absolutely correct. This individual broke the law. The issue isn’t individual freedom. It's the good of the commonwealth, that’s what our law makers have sworn an oath to protect".

Right away I could tell that "It" is a brainwashed ass. "It" actually questions whether one of God's greatest gifts is harmless! Now the only people that think herb isn't harmless are Pat "impose morality" Robertson and William "I never smoked a joint in my life" Bennett. And then, "IT' suggests that people who buy herb, as is their right, are fueling "global trade in a range from human trafficking down to petty drug trade" and that we should get "out of the blinded little box you lived in". Yuk Yuk Yuk! As if "It" lived in the real world. If that weren't enough to prove to most intelligent folks that this numbskull isn't only a Prohibitionist lowlife but, "It's" obviously a Republican in every sense of the word. Not convinced? Then listen to this:

"This is one of the greatest problems with our country today, we have created a system wherein non contributing individuals are allowed to exist and buy marijuana with their welfare because they think it's harmless".

"Non-contributing individuals"? "Welfare checks"? "Allowed to exist"? Right away this scumbag assumes that WE are not contributing to society. And what are you gonna do, punk, huh? As Jackie Gleason would say, "You got me mighty scared, I'm shaking to death". I only wish that this was 1973, and I saw a punk like you walking through the Bronx River Projects, where I grew up, in the Soundview section of the Bronx. "It" would.ve learned what "gun country" really means.

Ugh, people who don't smoke weed are thee worst.

Does anybody care about how much the taxpayers are going to be out for providing lifetime care for this guy? Free the weed. Stop the hate. Legislate.
Enjoy.

@ Anne

Change the laws?

Really?

Like anyone on this board can just up and change the law.

The government makes too much money to ever consider changing the law.

Screw CHANGING the law, we need mass civil disobedience, everyone IGNORING laws like this, juries doing THEIR JOB and NULLIFYING these sort of idiotic charges.

Your logic would have been to tell the slaves to "QUIT COMPLAINING AND CHANGE THE LAW" if they didn't enjoy being slaves.

Yea, right.

The American public is SLAVE to the bazillion dollar scam that is the war on drugs and it's time for us to rise up and give the government a kick right to the groin.

Hey Anne after reading the complete lack of intelligence in all of your posts I thought I would throw in my two cents. THIS MAN GOT 35 YEARS FOR SMOKING WEED. To put this in perspective...........Dante Stallworth of the Cleveland Browns killed a man while he was driving drunk.......and got like 30 days in jail? Sometimes being an American isn't about BLINDLY following. The legal system we have in this country is still great, but there's a lot of tidying up to do. Once you get your head from your buttocks you might realize corporations buy all these politicians anyway. But really 35 years? Let's save that for rapists, murderers, child predators.....
No one said this guy isn't stupid.
But I'm pretty sure no one has said that about anne either. Go get an education Anne

Excuse my ignorance, guys. I just happen to be a sheltered idiot. Please, don't try to reason with me. I am completely immune to that kind of stuff.

I am a successful East Texas business owner and don't mind at all if my taxes go up to lock away this Wooten guy or any criminal.

I don't think taxes should increase on the lower or middle class for this, though. I'm happy to help solve this problem. Seriously, I always hear the argument that locking up criminals is expensive or too expensive. That's bull. There are plenty of wealthy, letter of the law abiding American Citizens prepared to pay extremely higher taxes to build new prisons, elect tougher Judges, and pay better salaries for more law enforcement officers. I assure you, we can sell a few commercial properties, liquidate a few holdings, and not buy a new yacht every year. I assure you, it is far more likely this American socio-political landscape will CHANGE into something more like I want, rather than what a bunch of lazy, criminal, pot smokers. And to Mr. potential Ph.D. pot smoker... What are you going to do if/when your reckless use of an illegal substance ruins your opportunity to continue Cancer research? So much for trying to do the smart thing, there. I assure you, smart, viable, business leaders like myself will take this country back from the lazy, welfare plantation factory is has become. Our elected President is unraveling the very fabric of your societal norms as you read this. Worldly economists have seen this throughout history and across the globe. It doesn't end well for the ignorant few that, "tune in, drop out, and turn on." You don't get your Utopian wet dream, kids. You get imprisoned like Mr. Wooten, for 35 years.

I also hear the argument that it is more expensive to execute a death penalty convict than to keep him or her behind bars for life. Really? If so, send me the bill, please. I'll solve that financial problem right now. If you work for one of my companies, you are drug tested regularly. Guess why my employees are compensated twice as well as my competition? Because they earn it. They are personally responsible or their successes AND failures. In my circle of life, hard work and achievement is rewarded and lazy slackers combined with failure to follow guidelines, policies, procedures, and yes, laws are met with employment terminations. It is not a right to work for my companies, it is an earned privilege and those that strive for success are rewarded well. Furthermore, I've never laid off an employee ever. We have dismissed one person for failing a drug test. They admitted it and asked for counseling and we paid 100% of their rehabilitation costs - even offering them the opportunity to return.

The wealthy producers and business owners in this country are the one's who offer you a job, so you can peruse that which is set forth in the United States Constitution & The Bill of Rights. If capable people want to join the welfare plantation and suck off the teeth of free government give-aways and programs, go ahead. When the milk runs out, who will feed you then? When the businesses decide the criminals and taxes are too high to pay for the fully capable, but lazy plantation dwellers... What is the end result? Is it your blessed Socialism? No. Because our businesses, our factories, our wealth will exit this country and go elsewhere. Those who CHOSE not to pay attention in their free educational system (and are now ignorant), are essentially non-contributors to society. We will leave, taking with us the good, well intentioned, law abiding, Citizens to another country's frontier where these values are honored and respected.

Somehow, I just don't see the pot smoker affecting the kind of transforming CHANGE this nation requires. Certainly, Mr. Wooten is removed from the process. To the criminal or those who seek to subvert the law... Will you be next? I certainly hope so. The wealthy and indirectly powerful businesses that provide you the means of food, shelter, and the vague possibility of a future free of more crime are not on your side, Mr. Pot Smoker.

I don't use recreational drugs. Regardless of what anyone wants to say, marijuana causes damage to the brain and shouldn't be used unless it is being used for medical purposes.

That said, I believe that drugs should be legalized. It doesn't matter if the guy was smoking it, dealing it, using it as a form of currancy...drug abuse hurts the abuser. Why throw people in jail for hurting themselves?

Drug abuse is a medical problem...not a criminal problem. If we are going to outlaw drug abuse, why don't we outlaw overeating? Let's have the cops throw anyone in jail who eats too many hamburgers. "You bought TWO hamburgers, tubby? I hope you rot in prison!"

I wonder how many people would feel more comfortable going to a doctor to help with their addiction if the addiction were legal? With the laws the way they are, the only way to get help is to admit to breaking the law.

This is stupid and no ethical person should stand for this.

An interesting ruling to be sure. But just so you know author, that county is a dry county so traveling to the nearest liquor store to light up would be rather difficult.

Proud Texan:

You have no idea what you are talking about. Shut your mouth and go to hell.

One other point...just because someone broke a law, doesn't mean that the jury HAS to find that person guilty. Ever heard of jury nullification?

http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1257038802740692

That thing about losing your college federal financial aid for a single pot possession is totally true. That happened to my roommate. Everyone in our dorm quit smoking pot after that. I saw my old roomie working at a Subway sandwich shop after I graduated. All he could keep telling me was to stop smoking pot and don't hang around people that still smoke. He's right. Smoking pot now just seems like a huge selfish act. Nothing good every comes from it. Nothing. It isn't worth the risks of losing your whole future. If I were that dedicated to smoking pot, I'd just move to Amsterdam or something. Why break the law? There just is no point. It's stupid and will end badly.

Tell us what the name of your business is if you don't mind the threat of it being boycotted over a non-issue like this then? If you are brave enough to defend sending a mail to jail for the rest of his life for a non-violent crime you will be brave enough to lose money for your business

Look at all of this pseudo dialog dedicated to a stupid criminal dealing weed. What a complete waste. How many of you really give a damn? Pot smokers don't DO anything. They just talk. Blah, blah, blah. If you really cared, you'd put your money where your mouth is. You call yourself grassroots, politically active, a progressive reformer? You care? Really? You care about this Wooten dude? Go visit that Wooten guy in prison? Write him letters of support. Call his mother? Call the Governor? Send money to his prison commissary account online? No. No, you won't do that. Because you only wish to satisfy your ego here and read your own words in this comment thread. You argue for no affect and no reason. Enjoy your little drug induced fantasy world. "Oh reality is so hard, I need to get high to feel good" Waaaaaah!

Jury nullification. Blah, blah... You're not going to do ANYTHING at all. You're going to throw out a web URL or Tweet some other loser about it. Ultimately, none of you slackers have what it takes to CHANGE anything. You're all bark.

LOLZ! That dude Roger thinks he's gonna call out the business man. I think he just proved his point.

What is missing here? No pertinent information about his background. Did he have a criminal history? Yes. Where are the details on his two prior convictions? This blog lacks details you would expect from a responsible reporter.

All that stuff about FAFSA college financial aide is right on. I had a possession charge from when I was 19. I decided I wanted to go to college last year (i'm 24 now) and it ain't gonna happen now. I have never done anything illegal since then and never smoked pot again after that. I can't afford to go to college now all because I was a dipschit and had one joint on me when I got pulled over with my expired tags. If that experience taught me anything it is personal responsibility. Take it from me- if you're smoking now, put it up. Stop before something exactly like this guy happens to you. Seriously.

First, I'm not sure why people even respond to Anne. Hers is a dying breed and deserve no more attention. They are the EVER INCREASING MINORITY! I'm a proud Texan but eventually moved to greener pastures because one you can't snowboard in TX, and two because of the backward ass laws there and the people that follow them.

Texans wonder why they are the butt of many jokes across the US and world. Well its situations like the one in Tyler and the ignorant people who support them, who give the state a bad rap.

I have my medical card in the state I live in so I can smoke legally, run two businesses, make six figures, degree in finance, volunteer at my local church, and run an annual fundraiser for the SafeHouse in our town. I also know many CEOs and doctors who use MMJ regularly and they all seem to be doing just fine in their lives. For every "Pot head stoner" who still lives with his parents you can show me, I can show you a successful CEO, School Teacher, and Medical Doctor who are also "Pot heads"

May God Help Texas

@Melissa Tobin

Rather than waging an ad hominem attack against commenters, why not present an argument that pertains to the point at hand?

I can't tell from your comments if you are for or against putting this man in prison for 35 years. Which is it?

BTW, I'm not a pot smoker and if I were called to a jury for a crime like this, I'd be quite happy to invoke jury nullification.

I'm not sure if you'll be back to read this or not, Daniel, but you're a bit out of touch on this thread.

People will always abuse substances, and there will always be lowlifes, scum, and moochers of society. Some of them are most definitely on this thread, and its unfortunate that successful people like yourself (and myself hopefully) are paying for them.

I don't disagree entirely with everything you say here, but the question isn't about change or socialism or jail costs, it's about reform.

Look, this guy is a low life. He was stupid on multiple occasions, and he deserves punishment. I sure as hell don't defend him. But 35 years of prison IS costly both to him and us, and I'd rather he be a pothead working at McDonalds or Walmart than in jail. At least then he'll have to pay taxes, rather than use your tax money to live.

As for me, I would hardly consider my use of substances reckless. Pot is my only offense as far as substance abuse goes. As far as stupid and illegal, however, yes I'll admit to that under status-quo laws, and it would be wise for me to stop. IF there was some reform, however, the people like myself could continue a happy and productive lifestyle, people like yourself could continue their lifestyles, and people like Mr. Wooten will still be scum of the earth, all regardless of the law.

You can't eradicate these people from society, Daniel, but you can reform laws to help curb the collateral damage caused by total intolerance. The legalization of pot, after a brief initial uproar, would change very little in the long run.

Maybe it's only a difference of opinion, but I would rather see this guy pay a big fine, spend a short time in jail, and then get released. If pot were legal when he got out, he'd have one of two options.

1) get a job, or work harder at the one he may already have. It would probably be a crap job, but someone has to be a janitor or a fry cooker, right?
2) sell harder drugs. If he does this, then by all means lock him up for 10 or 15 years. There are much worse things than pot out there, and some of them do need to be heavily controlled.

Overall, I think the costs of pot regulation far outweigh the benefits, and I think the legalization of it would save a lot of tax money in the long run. If you want to turn around and spend that money imprisoning lowlifes for 35 years, by all means push for it, but please don't try to categorize and treat pot smokers as a uniform group of lowlifes that need to be removed from society, because many of us are not logical targets for prosecution. Pot is not the problem, the people you're generalizing as lowlifes are.
Thanks for reading

What does that guys convict background have to do with anything? Are you his momma? Are you gonna fix his childhood? What are you a lawyer now? ever if you are, you ain't gonna do nothing. Like the chick said, nobody is gonna do nothing about this. Yer not gonna help him. He brought it on himself and now hes literally screwed. All you can do is take the knowledge and learn from it. What she said was right on. Nobodys gonna do nothing and everybody has to be responsible for their actions. Everbody nowadays blames other people for what they do. grow a pair and admit that this dude f'd his life over someting so stupid as weed.

I like the rich business guy's post. Freaking awesome. Hells yeah. That's Wooten dude is a sorry ass selfish loser that's gonna get banged in prison because he just couldn't stop smoking pot and dealing drugs near a daycare. I guess smoking pot does make you thirsty, huh?

All pot smokers suck... the milk from the tit of the welfare cow. Moooooooooooooo!!!!

Steve J,

While I don't condone "dealing" in front of a daycare, I am sure glad you don't live in my state. We've moved on in the new Millennium, you're still stuck in the 70's Reefer Madness era. Have fun staying in the EVER INCREASING MINORITY =)

Look at all the talker-bloggers.

@Melissa Tobin: You got it dead on. They are all just gonna run their mouths and click on keyboards. They will do absolutely nothing.

@PHD Dude: Typical analytical douche (that's a metaphor, genius). Nobody cares. You're obviously stroking your own ego herein with your rhetorical diatribe. You must be so lonely to reach out to people on anonymous comment threads about pot when, according to your own words, you do cancer research. "Time well spent", I imagine you're about to internally self justify. Newsflash dude: Nobody cares about you, me, or Wooten. So far all you have done is over mention your station in life, highlighting what you see as your personal achievements. Apparently trying awfully hard to hide that little dark secret you harbor, huh? I'm thinking nobody probably listens to you at work, so you go here to pull rank and assert yourself, since it is less threatening than your peers. Go back to your joint, loser. Oh my God, you are so transparent, it's so sad, man. Thanks for entertaining me. What do I know, huh? I'm just the random anonymous dude that looked right through you. If lame azz me can see how obvious you are, everyone else around you sees through your flimsy charade, too.

I wonder if this man would have gotten as much time if he'd been sitting in front of the school to stalk the children.

As guess as long as they aren't high while watching the kids, it's all OK.

Am I the only one, who feels like going all out, to punish the fuckheads, who sentenced this man to jail?

Deliver true justice or die trying!

THIS BULLSHIT HAS GOT TO STOP!

This isn't the Onion is it?

Please stop reducing these arguments to ad hominem attacks.

Let's hear a logical argument for why this man should go to jail for 35 years. I haven't heard one yet.

Hey flash...

So you like that milk, eh? Suck, suck, suck on that free government cream cheese. I'm proud to be in the minority if it means not being on a collective. If the minority means black faithful christian honest hard working father and trustworthy ok i'll take it as a compliment. ive been a minority since birth. And this century is mine, not yours. I'm no 1970s old man. I don't think there is a race changing machine yet. Again!!! freaking hilarious!!!!!! You can work on my farm, cause the milk isn't free.

"I am a successful East Texas business owner and don't mind at all if my taxes go up to lock away this Wooten guy or any criminal".
East Texas. Wealthy. White. Republican, Christian. Do me a favor East Texan, take your White, Conservative Eastern part of the state and do what your "illustrious" Governor Perry threatened to do. SECEDE! Or, as Henny Youngman would say, "Take East Texas...PLEASE". West Texas is mostly Latin, MY people, and they will not join you Eastern WASPS.

" And to Mr. potential Ph.D. pot smoker... What are you going to do if/when your reckless use of an illegal substance ruins your opportunity to continue Cancer research? So much for trying to do the smart thing",

"Illegal Substance" because of numbskulls like you.

"I assure you, it is far more likely this American socio-political landscape will CHANGE into something more like I want, rather than what a bunch of lazy, criminal, pot smokers".
Oh, there's a revolution coming alright, but it's not coming from you Conservative, TEA Party types ; it's coming from US--we poor of the ghetto are gonna take over this country. Watch your back!

"If you work for one of my companies, you are drug tested regularly"

And you're actually PROUD of something that you should be ashamed of.

"Somehow, I just don't see the pot smoker affecting the kind of transforming CHANGE this nation requires".

Because you are an ignorant ASS.

"We will leave, taking with us the good, well intentioned, law abiding, Citizens to another country's frontier where these values are honored and respected".

I've got bad news for you, Bubba. After WE rebel, and take over this country, we will turn it Socialist. Do you know what that means? It means that if you leave, you leave with the clothes on your back. ALL your property, holdings, stocks, bonds, will be confiscated and redistributed to the Potsmokers that you hate so much. Oh, the sweet irony of it all!

Perhaps I am wrong. Logic has no place here. This forum seems to be even handed and representing diverse opinions.

Ad hominem attacks are well suited for this forum, afterall.

Just incase you were not sure yet.

I'm awesome.

Hey Steve J,

First, I never mentioned anything about race. You're a black Christan, great, you want a cookie now?

I run two businesses and make six figures, contribute positively to society, run an annual fundraiser, volunteer at my local church. Not sure what you meant about your collective comment, you must know more about that than I. Race changing machine? what does that even mean? In no way did I ever bring up race, sounds like you have some personal issues to get over. In fact, a little MMJ might help you but your probably too ignorant to even try it. Have fun in "your" century, LOL. I'm in my 20's and have probably made more $ than you will ever make.

I just wanted to point out that 4 ounces is more than what the article implies. Its a quarter of a pound. Im not saying 35 years is right or wrong, i just want to point out for people that don't know, if someone has a quarter pound of weed, thats alot. Most recreational users and teenagers etc that smoke buy marijuana in approximatly 7gram bags. So this wasn't the recreational smoker just getting busted with weed. He had scales and baggies, he was definatly selling or planning on selling.

If you want to get off in Tyler Texas you just need a relative who's a judge or a friend of a judge or get one of the lawyers that plays golf every weekend with them.

Melissa Tobin,

You are wrong, people are doing something to reform these unfair laws. Check this gallup poll. The truth about this plant is making its rounds and America is waking up.

www.gallup.com/poll/123728/u.s.-support-legalizing-marijuana-reaches-new-high.aspx

I would say many people commenting here are outraged by what happened to this guy. In a way this man is a martyr. This is now a national news story. Melissa this will not be overlooked. It is stories like these that become key examples for reform.

14 states have decriminalized cannabis (Maybe more). How could this happen without public action?

Please continue to challenge the motivation of the "pot head" And you soon will see the total legalization of this little plant. The time of cannabis prohibition is over Lissa.
So for now Texas will still be the butt of every joke when it comes to reform. Or any other topic for that matter.

as long as drugs are illegal they are on the BLACK MARKET, which means that someone can make a hell of a lot of money off them, why do you think the government wont give that up? Everything's about money ,,,people, WAKE UP!!!!!!!!

Reply to Melissa - - Well said!

Who really cares what these people think in the long run, they are the EVER INCREASING MINORITY!!

I have faith Texas will one day come around, but not anytime soon. And sadly, yes Texas will continue to be the butt of many jokes for years to come.

Btw, Colorado has a great MMJ program =)

700,000 of taxpayers money down the drain if this guy lives long enough to serve all 35 years. This should make the citizens of Taxes p.o'd when that money could be going to pay for some druggies that is on SSI or to feed some homless peoples or keep a few families on welfare.

I want you to note my web moniker, please.

BronxRiver73

I'm not anonymous. This ID is utilized on several other places online. It is also used as login to some accounts. Google Analyticals and cached searches show this, too, if you aren't an idiot and understand what you're doing.

In fact, HIS home address and mobile telephone number are there, too. It's all right there. Other searches show he owns a number of firearms and they are kept at his residence. Remember that form you signed? What form, you say?

Here is the one that is about to bite you:

You will note that he overtly encouraged overthrow of the government. Freedom of speech, right? Yup. Unfortunately, he specifically signed a Federal Form 4473. It's all indexed. Now, at the whim of a BATFE Agent, you could have a dia muy mal.

You're probably going to lose your firearms, genius. If you don't understand how Internet communications work and how it is cookied, collected, and indexed; you might want to put your little revolution on hold while you change your undies. Think I'm bullshitting you? You're not that stupid, are you? You were saying something about irony...?

Dom Ter: That rich guy is gonna pay the bills, remember?

I would just like to point out that you only get 25 years for murder. Seems like this poor guy was in the wrong business.

the 3 strike law is so stupid.

this is why we have more people in prison than any civilization in history. No country has ever locked up more of its citizens than the USA. then we wonder why we have a gigantic deficit, and no money for schools? Why because we have free day care for 3 million people in this country.

America spends approximately 100 billion dollars a year on
the criminal justice system, up from 12 billion in 1972

one in every 20 black men over the age of 18 is in a state or federal prison

Cold hearted Anne should be locked up an the key thrown away. What a monster of a facist.

Anonymous, Its cool, she's in the EVER INCREASING MINORITY!!

As ignorant as she is, she is probably old and won't be with us too much longer anyways. Let's just hope she didn't have any kids.

Wait, Wait, Wait.

35 Years for two weeks worth of weed?

Funny thing is this guy could of walked over there and shot up the entire day care, and his sentence still would of been basically a life sentence anyway.

Good job, America. Keep on the Marijuana war while the coke dealers and meth heads make a mockery of society and the legal system.

Steve J,

Wow, way to play the race card. I never even brought up race... typical.

You are in the EVER INCREASING MINORITY, I have no need to argue with you, look at the latest polls.

Your "Century"? Really?? I'm in my 20's and have probably made more $ than your entire life, because I WORK HARD!

AND I use MMJ about every day. For every "pot head who lives with his parents" I can show you a CEO, School Teacher, and Medical Doctor that are all regular users of MMJ or "Pot heads". Also, I have a good friend in Tyler right now teaching your kids who lights up every day =)

Joke's on the ignorant people who still believe the Reefer Madness propaganda that was fed to them. Too bad you don't know what you're missing

Jesus Christ. Can't Texas just fucking quit already. The values down there are un-american, why we ever forced them into joining our union is beyond me. How can we just give that sweaty trucker hat of a state the final kick to the curb?

Oral sex is illegal in Tennessee....laws are awesome

People like Anne don't understand that the problems they attribute to cannabis are really the problems created by PROHIBITION of cannabis.

That this man would be facing more time than murderers, rapists and thieves is an abomination and a stain upon the principles of this great nation.

People have been trying to re-legalize cannabis for decades now, and have been continually thwarted by all the people who make HUGE sums of money keeping it illegal.

My solution is to legalize, tax, and regulate it. This will neutralize the greed-induced crime, and keep pot out of the hands of children (to a much greater extent than it currently is).

I'm from Texas. FAR from Texas. I'm ashamed to say I was born there, given the amount of backwards thinking that prevails from that state.

Now I'm not going to paint everyone in Texas with the same brush - there are a lot of wonderful people there too, but I'll tell you, I'm SO much happier with my own life NOT living in Texas anymore.

In any case, Anne or others, can you point out any person(s) this man has actually HARMED? And can you, in elaborate detail, please EXPLAIN the harm?

You could easily be in a drug free zone and not see any sign of parents or children. 1,000 ft is a radius. He could have been behind a building or a parking lot and not even realized that children were near by.

A scale and 4 ounces of bud is pretty incriminating however. In California though, 4 ounces broken into smaller bags would just mean he picked up many different strains at the local dispensary.

And obviously the writer of this blog doesn't realize that their are many synthetic cannabinoid herbal mixes that are legal in this country currently. K2 and Spice are legal herb mixtures that will get you high.

The point is, this guy is an idiot. But does he deserve to be in jail for 35 years?

I just read a news article last night of a lady who set up a hit on her ex-husband for $20,000 and she is facing up to 25 years (she likely won't get the maximum). I also read an article about a man who murdered his girlfriend and is facing up to 20 years. These people intended to do harm.

How is that man who's only act was stupidity is facing 35 years and even had a possibility to face a longer sentence? This man had no intention to harm anyone.

A "proud, black, faithful Christian". The problem with that statement is that Black Christians are about as brainwashed as White Christians. Or Biracial Christians, Or Oriental Christians.

The key word here is "Christian". Or Jew. Or Muslim. Or Hindu. You see, religion stinks. As Karl Marx would say, "Organized Religion is the opiate of the people". A thousand times more harmful than Marijuana could ever be, because it leads to softening of the brain.

Mr, Steve J, you mentioned something about a "1970s old man". You must mean me. I remember the Seventies very well. It was the most progressive, liberated period in history. Everything was better. Race relations were better. Wages were better. Attitudes about herb were better. Marijuana was EVERYWHERE! Everybody laughed at cops. And Bible-banging Christians like you were nice and--what is the word I'm looking for here?--oh yeah, DOCILE. That's just the way we like them!

Y'know, I attended two of those so-called "Fellowship" meetings after my born-again friend kept needling me to check it out. When I walked through the door, I couldn't believe what I saw...the biggest collection of ROBOTS that I've ever seen! When I left, I was convinced that my original opinion was correct. Christians are machines! You can keep your religion, I want no part of it!

Mr. Anonymous, or whatever you call yourself these days, all I did was to tell you about yourself.

"In fact, HIS home address and mobile telephone number are there, too. It's all right there. Other searches show he owns a number of firearms and they are kept at his residence"?

Nice try, but I don't even own a cell phone. I own one gun that never leaves the house. It is there only to protect my family.

" Unfortunately, he specifically signed a Federal Form 4473. It's all indexed".

I don't even know what a Fed Form 4473 is.

"You will note that he overtly encouraged overthrow of the government".

No, I didn't encourage an overthrow. I like PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA (sounds good, eh?). As Mr. Spock once said, "I do not threaten, Captain. I merely state facts". And the fact is that poor people are getting TIRED of your people's shit.

Now, I may not know much about computers or how posts are "cookied, collected or indexed", but I do know that, even without a revolution, the tide is turning on folks like you. Obviously, you're not stupid either. Look around you...14 states have legalized Medical Marijuana, other states have decriminalized its possession. This November, Voters will go to the polls in California to legalize it outright! And I'll bet you it passes.

I can't believe I didn't notice this before. Did anyone catch when this article was written?

By Craig Malisow, Friday, Mar. 5 2010 @ 4:20PM

That's the sweetest bit of irony I have seen in a long time. LMFAO

@Anne: go to sleep.. 35 years is WAY too long for marijuana.. thank God I live in CA

The guy was sittin on 4 O's of, thats 112 grams WTF that wont even fly here in california, what a dumb ass....he knew the risks. I mean I smoke everyday but you would never catch me DRIVING around with 112 grams of bud are you kidding me?!?!

The guy was sittin on 4 O's of, thats 112 grams WTF that wont even fly here in california, what a dumb ass....he knew the risks. I mean I smoke everyday but you would never catch me DRIVING around with 112 grams of bud are you kidding me?!?!

420
That's how many months in 35 years.
Maybe the judge had a sense of humor.

this is insane 35 years I cant wait to get out of this Damn country What has the usa become its sickening

The minor drug offenses are not "insane" they are based upon a corrupt system.
1st rule of thumb: don't smoke dope, don't hang out with dopers and don't live in East Texas. South Texas has a police corruption epidemic, similar to the one in the Piney Woods.
However, a dichotomy exists in East Texas that the author points out. The severe drug sentences occur when the defendants throw themselves at the mercy of the court. And are too indigent to hire a non-court appointed attorney. Judges and prosecutors need to achieve a drug sentencing quota up there in BFE. It covers up the fact that the majority are incompetent or on the take. Check out some postings closer to home.

http://cherokeecountytexas.blogspot.com/2007/02/illegal-searches-are-all-too-common-in.html

If Weed = Plant

and Plant = God's Creation

then Anti Weed Law = Anti God's creation law.

Seems simple enough.

You are kidding, right?! 35 YEARS? This is a perfect example of how local law enforcement departments justify hiring entire freemason lodges full of Fraternal Order of Police members, just to keep up with all the ridiculous arrests for nonsense.

Anne:

Tobacco and alcohol are both more harmful on all dimensions than marijuana. You've been brainwashed by the media. Don't listen to the talking heads on your television -- read the scientific research. It's all out there and it's all free. People like you are disgusting.

Let's do the math here, prison for the man a year $55,000 x 35 years = taxpayers cost of $1,875,000 dollars (of course there is inflation), guess they can just raise taxes \

LOL Texas must be the most retarded state east of Iran

let's remember it wasn't far from here that a drunk Laura Bush at 17 ran a stop sign and killed someone,

jail time=0=fine=0 not even a traffic ticket for running the stop sign

Does anyone else find it that people on the 'right' are all about unrestricted gun laws, and claim to believe in 'personal freedom' yet they are the ones promoting insane, harsh and if nothing else immensely wasteful drug laws and other issues of 'personal freedom'.

Let's look at the costs and see how many alleged fiscal conservatives still agree with the drug war..

First, we'll not factor in the annual cost of fighting the drug war.. and just go to the costs of what is 'lost' when someone is thrown in prison..

35 years x $40k per year = 1.4 MILLION dollars

Let's assume 2 things, that this sentence is 'fair' as many who posted already seem to think, and that this guy (legitimately or otherwise) is capable of contributing $20k per year in the economy, that's another 0.7 million dollars lost - though he's older, so let's call the grand total $2 million.

Now, lets multiply that by the number of people arrested EVERY HOUR - nearly 100 (99.6 per hour) people - for marijuana possession and we get a total cost to the economy of 199.2 BILLION (with a B) dollars.. which comes to over 4.7 TRILLION dollars A DAY.. and $1,744,992,000,000 or 36.35 times the entire annual world economy per year..

Oh, and if we actually locked up every drug user for 35 years, we would OVER half of our population..

If the 'right' wants to reclaim their (erroneous) status as 'fiscally conservative' then the policies of the drug war need to be revisited on every level. Ever heard of:
Drug Treatment
None of your business
Live and let live

Let's try one or two of the above, we'd all be happier, richer, taxed less, freer, and better for it.

OK, I think the man acted like a total imbecile. Like it or not, agree or not, whether you think pot is harmful or not...he acted like an imbecile. Doing what he was doing, where he was doing it, having been through the consequences before, and again, agree or not, he was breaking the law. Period. I am 52 years old-I don't smoke pot, but I do think it should be legalized, taxed, and treated in much the same way we treat alcohol. That being said, the man broke the law, AGAIN, and was sentenced to prison. According to our current laws, justice was served. HOWEVER---the punishment is so incredibly out of proportion to the crime, considering what is meted out to a lot of criminals who cause much more harm. And I, personally, resent the fact that my taxes are going to help support this man until close to/the end of MY life.

It lowers Blood Pressure
Early harvest weed replaces stimulants
Late harvest weed replaces depressants
It makes the digestion system work better
It stimulates brain activity
It inhibits the growth of cancer cells
THEREFORE IT IS ILLEGAL

Go pop a pill bonehead, they outlawed weed to make way for the pharmaceutical drug gangs who sell such crap that we now have a bunch of Ritalin idiots wandering around in a stupor. Oxycotin and all their other crap is legal, but weed must be stamped out. How stuoid are people in Texas. I could sell umbrellas in the desert in Tyler County. A county full of people with IQ's below 100 who support the New World Order's drug war. Do us a favor, Go die in one of their wars, so the people who understand what's-up, can get rid of your pinhead laws. Anne, stay away from heavy machinery. Maybe if you smoked weed you would make sense. I hope you get raped by a oxycotin user. You deserve it for supporting big pharm's rape of America. Google Anslinger and you might start to understand how you have been brainwashed. You need to be deprogrammed; because apparently, the NWO propoganda has had all 12 of your brain cells locked up for at least 35 years or more.

Weed isn't a drug. alcohol is. usa is a failed state, things will get a lot worse in usa. it's a sick place where no has modern rights. it's a medieval state, texas and iran share many values.

Let's hope a civilized effort will be started to gain this man's freedom.

The pot laws were enacted at the behest of politically connected special interest and the fact that these laws are still with us is proof that special business interest run the country. As if they don't have enough power, the Republican SCOTUS just handed more influence to them by removing limits to their spending on political issues come election time. Democracy in America is an illusion.

Greeting from California. I'm enjoying my high grade medical marijuana legally. California will be legalizing marijuana soon, and so will the rest of the U.S. If Anne can't handle that he/she should move to Saudi Arabia.

"Law" and Justice are often two different things. After the Highlanders lost at Culloden, the English king made playing of the pipes and the kilt against the "Law": Hitler forbase the Jews from owning any sort of weapons and made even a sharp kitchen knife against the "Law": So I guess by the moron standard the holocaust was "Justice" against the Polish jews that fought back. The criminal standards applied against marijuana in the US are moronishly backwards, and persons that muddle "Law" with "Justice" are the ones like Anne with the hang 'em high cause they broke the Law standard. It is not Justice to ruin someone's life over a weed that could be potentially taxed to ease the present economic disaster here in the US.

Look, I support drug laws in general. I think people can endanger themselves and others under the influence of drugs and increase alienation in society. But this is absolutely ridiculous. Not only are you stripping the man of practically all remaining freedom in the rest of his life, but you're asserting that what he has done is so egregious - such a violation of the social contract - that he most useful to society behind bars, being supported by taxpayers very likely until he dies.

Did the judge think about how much it would cost to support someone for 35 years, even if they're healthy? How about when he reaches the age for a stroke or heart attack? Did he think about how overcrowded the prisons are, or about the destructive effects a jail term can have on a person's family?

I'm not saying that drug users should be free to abuse themselves without any consequences, but I think it's high time that those consequences didn't come in the form of tax-supported jail sentences. What ever happened to using social influence to deter behavior? What about not inviting your pothead neighbors over for dinner or embarrassing johns in the local newspaper? I think it is a measure of how disintegrated we have become as a society that these tactics are no longer as successful. We need to strengthen our connections to one another before we can once again use society itself, and not the government, as a reward or punishment for behavior.

This is the most ridiculous thing i have heard in a while, we are supposed to lock this guy up ruin his life and cost taxpayers about $2,000,000 to house him in prison for 35 years all for a couple hundred dollars worth of marijuana.

I don't care if he was selling it or not it is not right to do this. Marijuana is not any worse than alcohol, infact i would say it is better than alcohol. I rather have my kid smoke pot any day than drink.

correction:
Does anyone else find it **ironic** that people on the 'right' are all about unrestricted gun laws...

Why not just give him the electric chair?
This kind of sentence is criminal in itself.
Did he kill somebody? Murderers get out in under 10 years. These Texan rednecks are out of their minds.
Sorry, but that is not equal justice.
It's the hatred Conservatives have for liberals. The judge deserves to be removed from the bench, and jailed himself. You can be sure he's doled out vicious sentences like this before. A serious investigation should be administered on this judge immediately.....

Did someone say something about a WAR on DRUGS?

Does that mean, with all that good WAR we are
making in Afghanistan (where 90+% of the heroin
comes from) we are going to bomb the poppy fields?

Just wondering.

@ Michael Kyle - "The money you fork over for that dime bag directly contributes to the systematic killing of entire villages in some countries."

LOL, are you kidding me dude? That is without a doubt the most ludicrous thing I have ever read about marijuana on the Internet. I buy weed from my friend who grows it in his back yard. I don't recall him firebombing a village to produce the crop. You are an indoctrinated, paranoid, mindless freak for believing that kind of crap. While you pass judgment on the HUGE PERCENTAGE of RESPONSIBLE ADULTS who CHOOSE to smoke a plan that grows in the ground, you are missing the ENTIRE point of WHY people LIKE to smoke weed. Has it ever occurred to you that it is an enjoyable experience? And that, given the chance to be legalized and sold in government-mandated outlets, the economic implications for our country would be MASSIVE? You are one of the people who thinks weed turns you into zombies and everyone is going to get fired from their jobs and foreclose their homes. Meanwhile, your boss in his mansion is probably smoking a doobie right now. Get some sense into that thick skull of yours.

In reality, Texas really sucks.

Anne, please leave the United States.
Thanks.

Cell phones are more dangerous than pot - until cops get involved.

Wake up folks - the ones who enforce lame laws don't want to change them. Easy job security! Tough crimes? Naw, they got safe, easy stuff like Mr Wooten to show the public how they earn their vast amounts of money.

It cost about $65,000 to keep someone in prison. Why would Texas want to spend their money this way? This could easily cost Texas taxpayers over a million dollars.

They could have sent a sample to me. I would have tested it for them.

It's unequivocally official. Anne is a raving moron.

Dumbass for doing what he did.
But waaaay too severe a punishment for the actual crime.

What amused me was he had "digital" scales.

Damn. hope his ipad wasnt used for a mixing bowl or his iphone as a cutting sleeve. LOL

Why is Pot illegal? While I have never smoked I know plenty who have. What makes this worth the work and hassle of putting these smokers in Prison, on my Dollar, for years?
The real crime is housing people who simply smoke Pot. Several former Presidents of the U.S. have smoked Pot and have even written about it as pleasurable. What's up? Is this for Presidents and people in high (no pun intended)
places?
There is supposed to be a war on drugs. Why are we fighting weeds? I attack Dandelions with Scott's Weed 'N Feed. I don't need a SWAT team and an armored truck.
Get Real YOU STUPID Ned-Necked Texans.

Shame. Dang shame.

Pot is probably cheaper than cigarettes these days.

Being convicted of a crime because you broke the law, does not prove that the law you broke is just.

Anne: It's people like you that are causing this nation to go to shit. People like you that are so brainwashed and ignorant that they'll go on with their day to day lives, while allowing innocent people to spend YEARS behind bars.

As a medical research scientist, I would like to state the following:

(1) I do not recommend the casual use of marijuana or any other mood/mind altering substances for recreational purposes. That having been said, cannabis is one of the most useful, non-toxic, low-cost treatments available for a very wide variety of medical conditions.

(2) The cost of dangerous chemical and widely used medications is staggering - $ billions in the U.S. alone. Cannabis can effectively treat a considerable number of problems for a minuscule fraction of the amount spent on such as Valium, Oxycontin and a great many other potentially lethal and highly addictive pharmaceuticals.

(3) While marijuana is habit-forming, much as ice-cream may be, it is absolutely non-addictive in the sense that its absence causes withdrawal symptoms - or a need to rob and steal in order to satisfy an addiction.

(4) The abuse of prescription drugs, in addition to illegal substances, runs into millions of deaths annually on a global basis.

(5) I have yet to see any record whatever of deaths resulting from consumption of cannabis. Contrast that with the 5,000,000+
- annually - due to the use of tobacco.

(6) The manufacturers and vendors of tobacco products are not subject to any criminal sanctions despite the countless deaths that they continue to cause. More in the world die from tobacco use than from any other single cause.

(7) The incredible sentence of 35 years for possession of a relatively harmless substance not only makes a mockery of the judicial system, but is a grave abuse of the basic human rights that we in America attempt to preach.

(8) The damage done by this miscarriage of "justice" is little short of treason in the effect it will have on respect for America in the eyes of the world.

Committing a crime, and being convicted of breaking a law, does not in and of itself mean that the law is just.

As a country, we have struggled to maintain a balance and achieve fairness. We've still got a long way to go.

Personally I think they should have given him a long bout of community service, instead of having him live on the state's money, if anything. That is to say, I think that anyone getting stoned in a school zone, where you're going to be driving through and being under the influence of something, and putting kids at risk, may warrent a sentence with prison time. But there are people who are just being busted for possession...just for having weed, and because of sentencing guidelines (federal ones, not just from Texas) they are doing hard time. It's disgusting, that a sex offender can do less jail time than a pothead. How is that helping our society? What kind of example does that set?

Howie must be one of the redneck inbreds from the area.

Hell just don't live in Texass. Noone bothers you here, and I sure as hell don't spend any time in Texass.

Our corrupt legal systems want all the pot smokers they can get put in prison. They are non-violent and pose no threat to the prison employees. But, they fill up the beds and give the prisons cause to demand more money every year. In some places they are claiming it costs them up to $65,000 per year per prisoner. We are being ripped off by our so called legal system and prisons.

Bravo, Anne.

I have heard the same tired arguments about pot being "my right", that "pot doesn't hurt anybody", that the punishments are ridiculous, that its opponents are "misinformed" and "ignorant."

Will you all please just cut the crap?
Since I went to high school in the 70s, I have personally seen and known plenty of stoners. Pot turned them into worthless human beings - they came to school high, went home high. They got in car wrecks, they hurt people, they dropped out of school.

Did we have kids who drank too much? Yup. The destruction wasn't even in the same league as it was from pot. Spare me trying to compare alcohol to pot.

Ahhh... and then there's the "You never smoked pot so you have no right to comment"... yes, the battle cry of the truly desperate.
No, I never smoked pot. And I never put a revolver to anyone's head and pulled the trigger either, yet I know that's a bad thing.

Pot hurts people. It kills people. It's illegal, and it should stay that way.

Just a few more years of pretending the Justice Empire can keep on locking these people up. All levels of government are bankrupt, financially and ethically. It's all going to come crashing down and they will need drug taxes to support their bloated pensions and benefits. All you anti-drug hard-asses brought us to ruin with your arrogance. They build their filthy careers by destroying other peoples lives, mostly kids. Their not the good guys! Just power freaks, gun freaks, bully boys. The you fools have wasted on prisons, DA's, judges, propoganda, etc.

Yan wrote:
"(3) While marijuana is habit-forming, much as ice-cream may be, it is absolutely non-addictive in the sense that its absence causes withdrawal symptoms - or a need to rob and steal in order to satisfy an addiction."

This is another one of those silly myths that stoners throw up all the time.
Can we prove that it's physically addicting? No. I supposed not. And here we have a doctor telling us that is so.

And yet.... I have known SO many people who lie, cheat and steal to get it. People who would not do this for anything else, but they'll do it for pot, including a 20 year-old who lives in a house right across the street from me, who steals cash and credit card numbers from his grandmother (who supports him!) and from his sisters, every bloody week, to buy pot.
He doesn't steal for gas money, or for CDs, or for beer. He only steals to buy pot.
Still think it's "not addictive"?

FUCK YOU ANNE...GO TO HELL

@MMan

Yeah, but people steal for a lot of things other than pot. That's a bad argument to use.

Years ago - In Southern States rapists were put to death. The punishment was so severe that Rapists had no incentive NOT to murder their victims. Logic dictated that the punishment needed to be reduced in order to save lives. In California, drug diversion programs allow an offender to plead guilty and undergo treatment, like traffic school allows offenders a chance to avoid a criminal conviction - and learn how to modify their behavior at the same time.

Harsh prison sentences do not serve society's needs, particularly where non violent crime is concerned. Often times it is counterproductive (as in the case of rapists murdering their victims - years ago - when they had nothing to lose by doing so). In California, if a policeman finds you in posession of less than an ounce of marijuana (and you don't have a doctor's
prescription to purchase it - it's decriminalized here) you cannot be arrested - you receive a citation to appear in court,
much like a traffic ticket and the maximum fine is $100. I merely point this out to contrast the differences in laws in different state jurisdictions. Judges in Texas giving out life sentences (35 years to a man in his 50's) for 4 ounces of marijuana which you can legally purchase here in California with a doctor's permission highlights judicial irresponsiblity - on a Federal level - for allowing such disparate laws from one State jurisdiction to another. Anne spoke of personal responsibility and came off sounding like an ignorant, goody two-shoes - and ticked alot of people off, me included. I'm sure there are alot of people with extremist views (let's put all the gay people to death - or arrest every illegal alien in America and force them into slavery) - people who have their own agenda - usually at the expense of others. Her attitude could be encapsulated as "Lock them all up and throw away the key, damn potheads" - and this may be the support base of citizens the hanging judges are trying to appease by the ridiculous punishments that exceed the (non-violent)crime.

Just my opinion. I LOVE this forum, it gets people talking about the issues. Oh by the way, I am NOT a violent person - and I'll kill the first person who says I AM. (smile)

I am somewhat amused by MMan's very revealing comments about himself and the people he chooses to associate with (and I quote): "so MANY people who lie, cheat and steal (to buy pot)" ( ! ) That convey's all that we need to know about "Mman" and his friends.

Are we to assume that this is the only commodity that his friends buy? No food, clothes or whatever else? Or perhaps their other purchases are made with monies earned by means of honest labor?

"Mman" offers no facts for his statement that "pot kills" since there are no such facts. A last word - ignorance and false notions as well as false teeth, are only made apparent when the mouth is open.

Once again - I do not advise the use of cannabis other than for medical purposes, but it has been scientifically proven to be non-addictive.

I am somewhat amused by MMan's very revealing comments about himself and the people he chooses to associate with (and I quote): "so MANY people who lie, cheat and steal (to buy pot)" ( ! ) That convey's all that we need to know about "Mman" and his friends.

Are we to assume that this is the only commodity that his friends buy? No food, clothes or whatever else? Or perhaps their other purchases are made with monies earned by means of honest labor?

"Mman" offers no facts for his statement that "pot kills" since there are no such facts. A last word - ignorance and false notions as well as false teeth, are only made apparent when the mouth is open.

Once again - I do not advise the use of cannabis other than for medical purposes, but it has been scientifically proven to be non-addictive.

Texas. LOL, I thought Republicanism would make me free?

35 years at $40K/yr?

The state of Texas will spend $1.4 million in today's dollars to keep this guy locked up.

Meanwhile, schools are shutting down, roads are going in disrepair, and debts are mounting.

35 years at $40K/yr?

The state of Texas will spend $1.4 million in today's dollars to keep this guy locked up.

Meanwhile, schools are shutting down, roads are going in disrepair, and debts are mounting.

A profiler would conclude this about Mman . .

(a) High-school dropout - if he did reach high-school.

(b) Works at manual labor - that is, if or when he has a job.

(c) Possibly cooks, sells and most likely uses meth.

(d) Without a doubt smokes tobacco -(as addictive as heroin, but kills many more people)- and is a dedicated beer drinker.

(e) He admits to having MANY thievish friends and acquaintances. I believe he is no doubt telling the truth - and - that he is no more law-abiding than they are.

Natural Selection

Wow....disagree with these bunch of idiots and they're ready to lynch you. Must be a bunch of white pot smokers.

Ya'll are just a wee bit retarded, but hey! Keep smoking that pot. Natural selection and all. You and any potential progeny will soon be "weeded" out. Get it? Weeded out, because....oh, never mind...go back to whining and moaning and huffing and puffing on your pipes, bongs, and "blunts".

This is why the smart electorate ensures laws are enforced for the idiot portion of our electorate. It's for your own good.

Bwaaaa, haaa haaa hhaaaaaa!!!

Hey Daniel,

I'd like to work for your company. I just retired (and still have a clearance) but need to work with a team like yours.

Anne, you're a fucking stupid bitch and I wish you'd get raped by a police officer after you get pulled over for a speeding ticket.

get money, smoke trees, fuck bitches!

I think there should be a "Flat sentencing Code", you know like a flat tax.You get the same sentence no matter what Law you break,regardless of your stature!
This would alevieate the sentencing process,save tax payers dollars, and save time.See ya in the Time Out Pin.

Dear ANNE please ignore all these negative comments about you, I think we should get together and crack a bottle of whiskey,candle light dinner soft music, thoughts of a proposal,of an intimate nature. Your warm heart just overcomes me!!!!! XOXOXOXO

NOT The only thought I could have of seeing you would be to vomit!!!

Good morning everybody. Today we have two ASSES that opened their traps and spewed out a lot of garbage. The first one is called "mman". (Actually, not a man at all). He (She? It?) knows nothing, just like a typical Texan. "It" says :

"Did we have kids who drank too much? Yup. The destruction wasn't even in the same league as it was from pot. Spare me trying to compare alcohol to pot".

Tell me, what planet does this nincompoop come from? With all the staggering evidence regarding alcohol vs. herb, how does this ass say that with a straight face?

And then, this other "gem of wisdom" :

"No, I never smoked pot".

I could tell, believe me. Then this "gentleman" tries to ridicule what a doctor, A PROFESSIONAL, says by throwing up a buch of idiotic anecdotes of his, about people "lying, cheating and stealing to buy pot".

Now, ASS No. 2 goes by the name of "Mike", He says something stupid like :

" Must be a bunch of white pot smokers".

Now, since I live in the Bronx, I can tell you that this knucklehead sounds like the biggest "White Boy" (emphasis on "BOY") I've ever heard. No "brother" that I know would ever talk that way. Now, the "idiot portion of our electorate" is getting TIRED of your bullshit. Remember the New York Blackout of 1977? They swept over guys like you just like the Roman army swept over Europe.

This is a shame. 4 ounces, or a quarter pound is legal in Alaska. This guy should have moved!

We smoke freely in our homes up here.

Take care,

Yet in several states and countries, marijuana is legal/decriminalized. Thirty-five years is cruel and unusual punishment.

I wonder how much his incarceration is going to cost tax payers.

I love all you people out there who have decided that all Conservatives are against pot....haha... I'm conservative and 100% behind it being legalized!!

;-)-~

I think this guy is stupid for getting high. It is bad for your body and causes cancer. It also seriously turns people into lazy stoners... I have been around a lot of them so trust me a know! That may not always be the case but it is quite often.

Having said that, no I don't think he should go to jail for being an idiot. If he wasn't endangering the lives of others or interfering with the civil liberties of others, what he did wasn't so bad for society as a whole.

The underlying issue here is respect for law. Even devoted potheads will agree that we need respect for law. When sentences like Henry Wooten's occur, most people's respect for law is diminished. The exceptions are folks who lack common sense, and they aren't good role models for the rest of us.

We all know drugs, illegal or not, and many other things, are dangerous. The law should address the type and degree of danger. Pot isn't as harmful as alcohol or tobacco or many prescriptions drugs. The real danger is in the trafficking. Pot dealers usually deal in other drugs too, and they're part of an underground economy and way of life. As Hobbes might have said, life in those circles is nasty, brutish, and short. Until pot is legalized, the emphasis has to be on stopping the killing, robbing, cheating on taxes, criminal gangs, and driving under the influence associated with the illegal drug trade. Wooten obviously was an almost negligible part of the problem. His sentence should have been accordingly much shorter. On the other hand, people with illegal guns, and people who kill or assault to gain advantage in the illegal trade, should be punished, not so much for the pot but for the weapon violations, killing, and assaulting.

One of the problems is that the NRA has brainwashed law enforcement to the point that law officers, prosecutors, and even juries are afraid to aggressively go after people who possess guns, such as illegal drug smugglers and distributors and gang members. Legislators are afraid to pass stricter gun control laws. So in response to the obvious danger that results from refusing to attack the real problem, the brainwashed are too aggressive in going after people who possess or use drugs recreationally. We need a better balance, not only to effectively address the real problems, but to increase respect for law generally.

Mr. Jonathan, you said,

"I think this guy is stupid for getting high. It is bad for your body and causes cancer. It also seriously turns people into lazy stoners... I have been around a lot of them so trust me a know! That may not always be the case but it is quite often".

I'm sorry buddy but, I DON'T TRUST YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW. Why do you gotta go around calling people stupid because they wish to control their own bodies. I think that the "guy was stupid" not for getting high, but for driving around with 1/4 lb. of herb. (probably driving lousy, too).

I've been smoking herb since 1969 and it never turned me, or a great many others, into lazy stoners. That's just "Christian" propaganda.

@BronxRiver73,

Listen up, BOY. Your azz would get "smoked" if I saw you in my city. Don't go spoutin' off things you have no clue about. You ASSume I'm white, but you don't know nuthin', Bruthah.

Now, go crawl up yo momma's azz and ask her to shield you from the world.

Bitch.

@BronxRiver73

For the stupid comment, I would say the same thing about a person who smokes cigarettes. I would also say the same thing about a person who eats until they weigh 350 pounds. These are actions that in all likelihood will decrease a persons lifespan. I consider this to be stupid, foolish.. you can use whatever word you want.

If you carefully monitored what kind of activities most pot-smokers do after getting high, I would be very surprised if many of them were studying, or exercising, or doing things that actually enhance your mind or body. I have observed this in many of my friends although I specifically said that it doesn't apply to everybody. Not Christian propaganda as I am an athiest, just first hand experience.

FYI, I am for pot legalization, but I would never advocate for anybody to actually do it. I do think that it should be an individual's right if they so chose.

Yo white boy--oops! I mean Mike--what, you think that you're scaring me, talking all that shit like..."bruthuh" and "azz" and "smoked"...trying to sound Black. So, you gonna "smoke my azz" if I go in yo' city, huh? As Jackie Gleason would say, "You got me mighty scared, I'm shaking to death". No, little Texas boy, you better go crawl back in your little hole, punk, you dealing with grown-ups.

And what "city" you runnin' yo' mouth about, hmm? Rough, tough Dallas? Please Bubba, why don't you take a stroll around the Soundview projects sometime, so you could learn what "Gun Coutry" really means. Unlike you Texans, we don't shoot at cans.

Good evening, Mr. Jonathon. Y'know, I'm sorry that your expeeiences with herb smokers were so negative. Mine wer so different. That's probably why I really don't understand why anybody my age would be against it.

And I definitely don't agree with the thing about "not enhancing your body or mind" either. I've had many cerebral experiences with it. And physical, as well. Did you ever play handball while high? Try it sometime. How about dancing? Herb makes my dance all night. Or sometimes yard work gets done.
Or cleaning the floor.

Not a waste of time at all.

If people would just mind their own biz and let people like me grow our own, the world would be a much better place for all of us.
maybe even that anne character would learn to think for herself and not just go for what daddy says for her to think.

@BronxRiver73

I am glad your experiences have been nice with it, but you also can't deny that it is carcinogenic. That itself would be enough for me to abstain... to each their own I say!

That is all

I think what needs to be understood about "Anne" and her ilk is that these are authoritarian personalities. They are frightened merely by others' questioning - much less protesting - the decrees handed down by their authority figures. The more cruel the punishment, the more arbitrary, the more loudly people like Anne feel the need to shout in defense of their beloved dominators. We're dealing with people stuck in unconscious patterns of dominance and submission. For people who understand a free and open society, with government that is responsive and accountable to the people, Anne's "shut up and obey, or you're un-american" stance is absurd - and perverse. But to her, any other option - such as questioning "authority" and taking up the burden of an informed citizen in a democracy - would be absolutely terrifying. These traumatized, authoritarian people are the bricks with which totalitarian governments build their sacrificial altars to power.

If the government wants to stop the 'drug problem', they have to eliminate the demand, not the supply. They're never going to do anything about the supply. Locking people up is stupid -- we all end up paying for it, and it doesn't fix anything other than lining somebody else's pockets. Instead of charging all the tax payers billions of dollars to incarcerate for drug offenses, drug users should be shot on sight. Teens at a jr. high / high-school football game looking to light up, a mom or dad looking for pain relief from cancer or some other illness / disease, a young professional looking to unwind from a hard day at work...

If the police start shooting people in the street for petty drug offenses, not only will it save us billions of dollars, drug usage will likely go way down.

East Texas is on the right path, but what might have been better was to see the jury dancing in a pool of the guy's blood in the middle of the street. Then, take that image and show it in middle schools, high schools, on network and cable news, and run it in the papers.

Short of something as outrageously-sickening as this, the government is wasting our money prosecuting and incarcerating people for these drug offenses.

Mr. Jason Hidges, were you using satire or reality in your uh, "column". Because if you are using your true, gut feelings, then I must inform you of what it's like in the real world. Singapore that has laws like that. Now, tell me, do you REALLY believe that would work here? Do you have ANY idea how many dead feds there would be? The more killing you do, the more killing that would come back to you.

There is a better way...Legalization. Try it, it works! Better than doing it your way, like we've been doing for years. Prohibition never works.

This is like running a red light and being fined 5 million USD. Or littering and being thrown into jail for 15 years. What is wrong with some of these stubborn rightwing people like Anne? Have they ever been harrasssed by a pothead? Violently assaulted? No ,because potheads don't do that. But why the hate then, why take the halve of someone's life for smoking pot in his car? And a murderer, rapist or arsonist get out in much less time? So you rather have rapists on the street than potheads? This is absolutely ridiculous, this judge should be removed from office, prevented from ever sentencing again, thrown into jail for a year to show what he did to so many people who were sentenced for nonviolent crimes, and be gangraped by a bunch of bubba's just to bring the point across. IDIOT JUDGE!

BronxRiver73:

Sarcasm doesn't often transfer well through writing, though there's more seriousness to my statement than sarcasm. I'm for the legalization of all drugs, not just marijuana. Though, I'm exceptionally serious about the government needing to do something about wasting our money on this garbage. Either deal with the problem in a way that works (they can't, hence my suggestion), or fix things so that the problem no longer exists (legalization). If the government thinks that the War on Drugs is working, or will ever work based on history alone -- they're beyond idiotic.

People here are lazy and they take what the government dishes out to them, at least generally speaking. Until more people start to feel some effects from the government's intrusion into our personal lives, things will only get worse. I don't want people to die -- kids, cops, feds, nobody. However, sometimes it takes a messed-up situation to put the wheels of change into place.

As far as Singapore doing what I'm talking about -- I don't mean the government should use a somewhat civilized capital punishment system, albeit based on ridiculously-strict rules. Killing somebody through the legal system isn't, in my opinion, a big enough deterrent. Killing people in the street, by the thousands or tens-of-thousands daily, will affect people. They won't put up with it, and finally something will be done about these drug laws and criminally-criminal prison sentences. Blood will be shed, but changes will be made -- one way or another.

It's part sarcasm, but part seriousness -- if people don't care enough to do something about it, the government is just going to continue to take things away from us. I have no problem with paying taxes, I like living in the United States, and I have no problem with the idea of government or even government-supported programs. What I have a problem with is situations like this where money I contribute to this country supports, in a large way, garbage like this.

For the record -- I quit using drugs in 1997. I'm not a 'druggie' on a tirade, I'm just sick of reading about taxpayer dollars going to support this war against personal freedom.

"just b.c. an idiot over eats on hamburgers does not mean that the rest of society need to be protected from mcdonalds. Just b.c. a fork could be used to stab another or yourself, does not give the dumb a$$3$ the right to protect me from using a fork to eat. Bridges are dangerous and someone could use it to throw someone off or throw themselfs off, so lets out law bridges now... and while we are at it, lets NERF the world"

It use to be a free country untill all these dumb laws started passing b.c. all the people afraid of change are actually making it a police state (world) and b.c. they only wanted people to see what the world could be like if everyone would make the right decisions like they did in the 50's... but guess what, there were not all these laws back then. All these people that have taken alittle fear of what COULD happen and turned it into all out panic... it just keeps spreading too, all the hype about muslims and terror, America just jumped right on that and now have created fear for yet another not so immenent problem... im sorry for all you die hard believers, but im not going to stop traveling, im not running scared of someone in a cave smoking opium.

but everyone go freak out now bc this guy sold a small amount of pot. "OH, BUT ITS SO MUCH STRONGER NOW" lol, even back in the 70's everyone wanted the panama red that was way better quality then the crap brick weed from mexico. everyone needs to lighten up, the only reason weed was illegal was b.c. "the black man was looking at and raping the white women" and it made the white women get crazy and enjoy the company of the black man" lol.

Anne, youre an idiot and a self-righteous bitch that deserves to be locked in a caged and raped like they are going to do this to this old man just for a little bit of pot? ANNE you truly are crazy and need to be spanked. Bahahaha

Anne you don't spend your life in jail you spend it in prison for non violent crimes and the good thing is, is that they're kicking rapists and murderers out of prison to make room for someone smoking a bowl sounds like such a crime compared to rape and murder yes?

Anne says:
I am a stupid bitch who doesn't understand we should be free to do what we wish to our own bodies so long as it causes no harm to others. I think all laws are flawless and all crimes are deserving of their punishments regardless of how severe they may seem. I also think George W. Bush was one of the greatest American presidents; right in league with our greatest founding father, Ronald Reagan
HAhaHaHaHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA

The meth/tobacco/booze-heads who make these hypocritical, self-righteous and totally ignorant comments are nothing but STUPID.

I wouldn't say that weed is particularly good for you, but compared with the damage caused by the above substances its about as dangerous as mother's milk.

If the holier-than-thou amongst us were to be deprived of their lethal habit-forming prescription drugs, their 2-3 pack-a-day addictions and their booze - they would turn the country upside-down.

Try and talk sense to a smoker (no NOT a weed-smoker) and see how far you get. They proclaim a sacred right to self-destruct and
- that is what they do. Half-a-million deaths annually in the U.S alone - DIRECTLY AS A RESULT OF TOBACCO.

Deaths from weed? ZERO. When they abolish tobacco and alcohol - then abolish weed and not before. For my part, 35 years for tobacco use would be just about right.

Moreover, don't ever rely on a jury trial if you are hoping for any kind of understanding and mercy in your sentencing, especially in East Texas.

This whole argument goes nowhere with people like ANNE, DANIEL, etc....

I can agree that this Wooten must have had severe mental issues or possibly, just possibly, has a subconscious desire to go to prison (you would think that being in your car with a 1/4 pound, and also having previous convictions for more severe crimes, would make most self-aware people not even consider lighting up.)

Never the less, it never ceases to amaze me how narrow minded and harsh bigots can be, living in their little bubbles of over confident self-righteous indignation.

People are under the misguided impression that pot makes you not care about life, that somehow, you become a loser. NOT TRUE. Are you still watching "refer madness" and taking it seriously?

TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BECOME LOOSERS AND BLAME WEED : IT WAS YOUR OWN FAULT.

I, just like some of the idiotic prohibitionists up above, TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for my life, and despite what the idiot bigots think, I do so even while i am HIGH!!!!!

FOR DANIEL : you think potheads are liabilities that cost vital businesses money : WRONG. Losers will be losers - the fat they smoke weed might not help them, but they would be losers with or without weed.

Here's my resume, by a capitalist definition, I am no loser :

I work for JCPENNEY's corporate office, I am an administrator, system specialist, and project manager. During my 3 years there I have innovated processes to an extent that have saved over 2 million dollars on equipment, and over 400,000 dollars on paper. My boss was able to get a wooden desk instead of a cube because of our cost cutting and efficiency contributions.

The systems I manage are large, complex, server asset management systems, and these systems maintain an average use of over 600 user connections per hour. I have not fucked up even once on the job, which is more than I can say for some the good-ol-boy alcoholic idiots which I SUPERVISE.

10 managers report to me, and there are over 200 people that report them.

I have been promoted 3 times, and my boss, the DIRECTOR also smokes weed - a lot of weed.

I almost forgot to mention : I also own my own business, an bookstore that makes enough so that I could quit JCPENNEY if I wanted to and be VERY comfortable. But I have not quit JCPENNEY........why?

BECAUSE I AM A MOTIVATED AND SUCCESS ORIENTED ADMINISTRATOR AND PROJECT MANAGER WHO LOVES HIS JOB.

Also : I have well over 1 million invested in stock, more than that in my savings account, and my yearly donations to charity place me in almost a tax free zone. I AM ONLY 27 YEARS OLD.

Also : I am a spiritual teacher, a mentor to several sunday schools, and I baby-sit my friends kids sometimes - and when I babysit them - I DONT SMOKE AROUND THEM.

Willpower goes along way - fuck all of you who think that marijuana destroys your willpower. I am sick and tired of being stereotyped by a bunch of idiots who probably are not half as successful as I AM.

Any questions?

This is to Anne, who thinks that people get what they deserve for being at odds with very ruthless and unjust laws.

What are you? Seriously. Do you have an off switch? Surely you are not flesh and bone. You have de-humanized yourself completely and need re-education or disassembly and reprogramming, which ever the case may be.

According to Anne's reasoning, anyone who has ever done something foolish and gotten physically hurt, should be delayed for medical attention. No one who has wronged should be forgiven. No rule made should ever be repealed. No laws ever examined under careful scrutiny. No amount of circumstantial evidence should be allowed, all law executed to the letter.

Never mind the fact that PRESCHOOLERS are not going to be the target of a pot dealer - EVER. It's utterly ridiculous to even imagine it. The courts gave this guy a bogus charge and ran with it to the extent they could because they had it out for him. Perhaps his previous felonies were what caused that......

Both previous charges were non-violent crimes that were committed 20 years ago.

I can't believe this is happening in 2010. There are 12 states who have decriminalized to one degree of another, there are 14 states with medical bills in house. After Mass decriminalized, the sky has not fallen, crime has not risen, cops are less hated....... Things are turning around. In California, the medical marijuana has proven the whole sham of criminalization to be totally bogus. Look at the quantity of prescriptions given this year alone, the numbers are staggering. What it shows us is just how high of a percent of our population enjoys or has a valid use for marijuana and that all laws to the contrary should back off.

I love Texas. I no longer live there, but I am coming to realize that some of the things that make Texans great are also their greatest downfall. I wish the passions and efforts of Texas law enforcement, which has become infamous worldwide in their diligence and dedication, would be channeled where it needs to be instead of wasted on policing laws that are more harmful to the people than good.

THIS IS STUPID

He got caught using an illegal drug and dealing it in front of a place where children might see him

Period

Anne, Howie, Reaper, (ect) -- YOU plain STUPID. I am an alcoholic in recovery and wish this upon NOBODY! I smoked weed (marijuana) if you wish to call it that as politically correct, and have never got myself into a mess as such alcohol. You are dumb to think that this God grown herb is going to affect anybody as long as it is regulated as cigarettes, beer, or wine. You know you have a vise as well as most of America and other countries, but weed should be legal as long as it as the alcohol commercials say "Drink in moderation" -- Be open minded and consider "Smoke in Moderation" which is still foolish giving the death toll amongst alcohol and Marijuana. Get a clue guys and realize from somebody who WISHED they only smoked weed compared to being an alcoholic can say I will DIE from alcohol -- never had any physical symptoms from weed, actually told by a doctor to think about picking this back up instead of drinking. Can you name anybody as old as Willie Nelson that is a stoner, compared to an alcoholic??? You people are plain stupid and caught up in societies standards!! Marijuana should be legal WAAAYYYY before alcohol -- coming from an alcoholic!!!

Maybe you should smoke one and get your head out of your ass. Anne (Especially), Howie, and Reaper -- Take a break and check yourself. I bet you are very unhappy with your life, or otherwise depend on other drugs or maybe alcohol more than the average smoker smokes to cause impairment. Get your S**t right before preaching about something you counter with another substance!!!

35 years for smoking a plant?? This country is seriously fucked up.

An arch support is an appliance designed to provide underside support for the foot. an arch support is fitted in the inner part of the shoe in order that it's molded form fits the arch area of the feet and lessens stress on the muscles of the foot when walking, running or standing.

Good post, thanks

Van Der Sloot will get 35 years- so will this man. wow

Doesnt look like its hard to mistake anything for Cannabis in Texas

http://www.kristv.com/news/marijuana-seizure-turns-out-to-be-horse-mint/

Here's the truth. Read. Then make an informed decision based on facts, not emotion.

Fact: THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, settles in fatty tissue.

Fact: Your brain cells are connected by fatty tissue.

Fact: That 'high' is caused by THC frying the connections between brain cells.

Fact: THC has the same effect as battery acid...that is why you get 'high' smoking pot.

Fact: Those fried neural pathways *will not* regenerate.

Fact: Bees will not pollinate it; birds will not nest with it. The 'nature' argument does not stand on logic.

Now, you decide.