Unfortunately, what happened to medical marijuana patient Edward Boyke, Jr last month in Michigan is hardly an aberration as NORML still receives calls and emails nearly every day from lawful medical marijuana patients being terrorized by local and federal drug agents, often destroying their legal supply of medical cannabis and cultivation equipment–effectively making the arresting cops prosecutor, judge and jury.
Thankfully, in Saginaw Michigan, post this embarrassing incident with Mr. Boyke, police seem to now ‘get it’.
Only patients and advocacy groups (like the nearly 30 NORML chapters in Michigan and other pro-reform organizations in the state, such as Americans for Safe Access) are working to keep law enforcement honest and respectful of the needs of medical cannabis patients.
Question:Is the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department and DEA going to compensate Mr. Boyke to the tune of $7,000 after they illegally destroyed his private property?
Medical marijuana grower releases photos of basement after police visit; Saginaw County sheriff’s officials say destruction policy will change
Photo taken by Edwyn W. Boyke Jr., 64, of Saginaw Township, after police raided his home and destroyed his grow setup.
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SAGINAW — In response to the new medical marijuana laws, Saginaw County sheriff’s deputies will discontinue their policy of destroying grow equipment when they serve search warrants at the homes of medical marijuana patients or caretakers, Saginaw County Sheriff’s Detective Randy P. Pfau said.
“Instead of destroying property, we’ll take everything in a forfeiture and let a judge make a decision on whether they’re allowed to have that property back or not,” Pfau said.
The second look at the policy is a response by the department to the public concern regarding action taken by deputies and federal Drug Enforcement Agency agents in the basement of the home owned by Edwyn W. Boyke Jr., 64, of Saginaw Township, Pfau said.
Police raided Boyke’s home on April 15, because they say he violated drug laws, and destroyed his grow operations, which Boyke said cost him $7,000.
“It’s so new to us, this new law, so we’re acting on protocol that’s been in place… forever with manufacture of marijuana,” Pfau said.
Pfau said the old norm was to take a portion of the grow equipment to present as evidence and document with rest with photographs and inventory sheets, so they didn’t need to confiscate sometimes large setups.
Because the possession and farming of marijuana is no longer inherently illegal, due to the new state medicinal laws, Pfau said deputies will adjust their procedures.
True JUSTICE would dictate that Mr. Boyke should now be allowed to incur $7,000 of damage to the homes of each of the officers involved, perhaps the judge’s, too…
America is not what it was intended to be. We are now living in a communist country. THEY decide what we can and can’t do. THEY decide who’s a criminal, THEY decide what our children will learn in text books. THIS LAND IS NOT FREE! And anyone who decides to stand up and fight for our rights as Americans and Humans is now called “terrorists”. Sure, there are the real ones out there, but be careful what you say and do….Big Brother is watching.
Are you kidding? Coming to a point? They have been doing this for YEARS! The problem is no one cares until it’s THEM or someone very close to them. People need to stop being lazy and get involved before it’s too late.
Just because someone has a gun and a badge, does not mean they are not a criminal. All this could be avoided if people would simply re-read the Constitution of the United States and comply with God’s will for people to live in freedom with liberty as acknowledged and cited in that founding document. Freedom and liberty must extend to the point where free exercise thereof violates like freedom and liberties of others. Otherwise, we are at best marginally willing slaves in a police state. Don’t those police have any crimes to solve where there are actual victims?
He should call the police an report that someone broke into his house and vandalized it. Then sue the mo-fos for illegal search and seizure. I’d like to know how these people with grow operations are getting caught? Seriously.
I’ts a shame when even citizens who abide by the “laws” given to medical marijuana patients , are forced to be bullied by our Government. In California back in 2009 there was a “drug bust” 3 doors down from where a known pedophile had a child duct taped to a lawn chair in his basement ..while SWAT teams were busy destroying growing equipment and searching for more than the resin in a pipe they found ..this young boy was raped…3 houses down..put that in your pipe and smoke it.
No it’s coming to the point where we utilize our 2nd amendment rights and protect ourselves from the corruption of this out of control government. Let us stand up against our oppressors and fight for freedom once again. We fought and won a war “over a tea tax” among many other violations of our freedoms, yet we stand by now and watch the government take all our freedoms from us. The next to go and already has begun is our 1st amendment and once that is gone the rest will fall like dominos. Come on people open your eyes, get out of your comfort zones, we can live without cell phones, big screens, xbox’s. All these devices make us slaves. And the government knows this. They want us to be obedient little slaves for their master plan of world domination. Don’t stand idle while they strip us of our freedoms! We have a God given right to be free, not a man made right A divine right to freedom. Do you really feel you need to be told what to think, how to dress, what food to buy, where you will live, what to say, what you learn. For now we still have decisions we can make on our own but lately I see those opportunities fleeting very fast. Sure marijuana should be legal but that’s just a small piece to the real battle we face. Once we lose our freedoms we will never see them again. The American Revolution started because someone took the first shot, and if you look at all this government has done I would say they have taken many first shots! How many more will they take before WE THE PEOPLE stand up for what is right?
The evidence destroyed by police? Has the law enforcement change policies and no longer collect evidence, but to search and destroy and then press charges?
Police need to fear the consequences of overstepping their bounds. Just like the people fear them. The good people of this country do not deserve to be terrorized. People who act in this matter whether they are law enforcement or not, need to know that they are not safe. No one is untouchable so long as they are human. The police act this way because WE let them. We give them too much power. We can take it away in a heartbeat. If we want.
For 32 years I was in the “protect and serve” mode, adjusting procedures as laws and policies changed.
I will not believe that Saginaw PD did not know about the passing of medical marijuana laws in Michigan, I am ABSOLUTELY positive DEA knew about it.
What is sad is that they see their ‘old’ methods as justified, and would continue to do so if not for a change in legislation.
I always think to myself, “sure, laws can be immoral and wrong but why do people enforce them? People should be able to transcend laws. Officers should see that it is wrong that they are ordered to destroy lives, and as a result stop.”
Nope, Drug Wars require a stupid and immoral police force willing to arrest their neighbors and destroy their property. Police states and martial law require a stupid and immoral police force willing to shoot their neighbors.
Officers enforced slavery laws back in the day. They are shooting people in Bangkok. Our military listen to ‘higher-ups’ without thinking, and as a consequence they drone strike areas packed with civilians in Pakistan.
From our foreign troops in Afghanistan, to our ‘domestic troops’ at home, this complex of legal evil and following orders needs to STOP!
Government is our greatest threat! Not Cannabis or terrorism! Police that enforce dangerous government are our most physical and direct threat!!!!
I can’t believe what detective pfau said! It’s a new law and these cops were acting on the old law. what??????
That is such BS. How stupid do these cops think we are?
Utterly unbelievable what excuses these cops come up with. LEGALIZE NOW!!!!
its funny if the law makers change a law or make a new one i just say maybe you dont understand it or maybe didnt know about it do you think any of the police,judges,or any others of them would give you a break ??? ok then insted of asking for his 7000 dollars maybe he should be asking same jail time PROBATION and record ,jobloss any of us would get if we broke in say a cops house and done same to his home.im just saying maybe we not asking for enuff in return
$7000.00 HA!!! Get a lawyer and sue the city for all you can get. They have no right to terrorize the law abiding citizens. Contact the ACLU and call the lawyers in the HIGH TIMES LEGAL GUIDE. The cops will try to intimidate you and will bluff you if given the slightest opportunity. Most people don’t realize how accountable cops are when they violate an Americans civil liberties. You need a lawyer to push this case all the way to the Supreme Court.
I am sick and tired of the DEA! I am a chronic pain patient and I am sick of the power they have over us.
They have gotten into the doctors business. THIS HAS TO BE STOPPED!
I am just waiting for people to become so outraged that we will finally exercise our rights.
Absolutely OUTRAGEOUS!
Hey here’s an idea, why don’t these cops go over to their grandmothers house and raid her medicine cabinet. After they find all the NARCOTICS they can begin destroying her stuff too. Oh wait, those NARCOTICS are legal, but so was the use of medical marijuana in this situation.
These cops are clowns. They knew what they were doing. Taking a mans medicine?? What were they thinking???
I hope the authorities and law enforcement keep making mistakes like this. All it might take is a few more innocent children and family pets shot up in botched swat and police raids for people will become so fed up that they will rise up against this tyrannical corporate motivated insult of government we are currently living under.
The proper form of politeness when faced with injustice is to ATTACK! Use your Second Amendment rights if ANYONE, be it cop or criminal, enters your home unannounced! Don’t be ashamed to defend your Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness. God gave us these rights for a good reason.
I agree with nic, we are supposed to be a government for the people by the people, yet washington seems to be comprised, these days, of people who view and establish themselves as something altogether seperate from the rest of america, especially “middle class” americans. It seems like our voice is silenced amidst false allegations from the government based on years of propaganda and research that has since been disproven or discredited. It feels like when we were kids and our parents told us not to do something, and then told us that it was because they said so, with no logical argument to base their decision on. But we are not kids any longer, the government is taking away our freedom bit by bit, and we just continue to sit back, put our noses in the corner, and buy all the crap they serve us. It is time for something, shooting at the government might not be the best idea haha, but we need to unite. It’s not only about marijuana anymore, its about our rights, our rights as individuals and states, and as citizens of what was once a great nation.
many people have taken the first shot and have died defending thier homes the problem is its to many home owners who die and to few crimnals .who get shot and thier buddys try to make them out as heros .this will not end till there are 100 new hereos a day givin the honor of dieing to enforce failed drug policy .history says many true patriots will die flushing the big toilet called ,marijuana prohabition
If the growers in question had LEAGAL pappers to have a growop. Then why did the law go throught the expese of tax money to destroy it. And GOD knows so many of us would die sooner without it. Please share love and the CURE.Sicerly, just want to live alilbit longer.
holy fuck, i thought they stopped all this, EDITOR, please put up a counter like the cost of our wars counter about the shit med users are getting, an email count etc
Isn’t it interesting that so many right-wing ‘law and order’ types think it’s just fine for folks to be allowed to carry guns, with which they can shoot their fellow citizens, but that the possession of a medicinal herb that can alleviate their most debilitating symptoms is seen as being such a danger to society? How is medicinal cannabis a threat to anyone unless it’s big enough to club ’em over the head with? I mean, seriously, why is it that the dumbest faction always seems to wind up with the weapons of both the literal and figurative variety?
I would consider going the initial extra costs of LED +
CFL’s. The low electrical use stays under the radar and has no heat signature,I heard that,,,,,somewhere over the rainbow,,,,,,,
Wow, this was absolutely unnecessary! Hopefully in the future they WILL change their policies and stick to their word and ONLY “raid” homes of those who are actually BREAKING THE LAW! I don’t even take most police “raids” seriously anymore, given all the recent mishaps with these so-called military-style “raids” on non-violent offenders.
Although their statement of the law “being so new to them” might carry SOME merit, I bet you if it was a new drug law/sanction they wouldn’t have any problem understanding it, nor implementing it.
Since when do cops think they’re above the law? Wouldn’t they arrest or give someone a ticket for not following a new law? Him saying that “It’s so new to us, this new law, so we’re acting on protocol that’s been in place… forever with manufacture of marijuana,” is unbelievably hypocritical.
“It’s so new to us, this new law, so we’re acting on protocol that’s been in place…” Apparently a medical marijuana license saying they could keep it is so terribly difficult to reason legality. I’m sure a 30 minute class is overkill on how to discern a real medical marijuana license from a fake.
In fact, as a waiter, there is a book which tells you of the out of state licenses that you are not familiar with. It takes 5 minutes to check. And nothing is lost, damaged or stolen, in the process.
I hope Mr.Boyke sues the P*SS out of the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Dpt. President Obama pledged to stop raids on patients with a medical marijuana prescription. Michigan obviously does not respect the law because it doesn’t suit them anymore. Get ’em Mr.Boyke. Medical marijuana users AND every user of this ancient healing herb back you 100%!
Oh, so, now they won’t destroy your stuff, but they’ll still steal it from you, even if you’re a registered patient who is legally allowed to have the equipment and plants? They will “take everything in a forfeiture and let a judge make a decision on whether [you’re] allowed to have that property back or not”? Civil or asset forfeitures rarely get ‘returned” – Google “Policing for Profit” if you ain’t already hip. They’ll take this property from people still and they’ll never get it back. The only difference is now, instead of it being trash, it will be sold to create revenue for MI. Isn’t that great, everybody?
They do it – We do it
forfeiture – theft
taxation – embezzlement
execution – murder
Almost anything we’re not allowed to do, the government is. They don’t even get in trouble when caught, they just get demoted, or have to resign and go work for one of the many giant government companies. You know, when my mom pulled this “do as I say, not as I do” bullshit with me as a kid, I called her out on her hypocrisy. If she was as stern as our government, I’da probably had to kill her.
cops are above the law. they make up the law, there above the law there is no justice unless your rich. that is b.s. as far as what Obama said a politician
will say anything you won’t to hear until they get in office and then they don’t know you or what they said before. it’s all in all B.S. vote the bums out off office.
Have we not learnt anything from the days of prohibition? By legalizing marijuana not only would it solve the problem of making criminals out of ordinary citizens but it would save the country billions of dollars used to pay the local police and the DEA to say nothing of the cost associated with prosecuting people and incarcerating many of those same people in local and federal prisons. Instead of closing programs in schools and even laying off school teachers states would have enough cash left over to not only fund these programs but have some left to build better schools and pay teacher more money. Save the jails and police to put away real criminals.
Someone invades your home, then shoot to kill. Don’t waste time. Get a gun and protect yourself.
this is exactly what I shall be doing. If a God Damn cop walks in to my home without me or anyone saying anything I will I promise to blow his or her fucking head off. If they want a war I just got back from Afghanistan I can most definately provide one. I Promise I will take heads if they walk into my home and even think of destroying what I worked my ass off for.Those cops are criminals and will be dealt with appropriately.
Hey foolish Feds, just for the record: Michigan has gone through an economical structural change and the result is permanent Depression for this state until a new business boom comes along.
You are killing the only way out for Michigan, and you are doomed to failure.
And if anyone is wondering why our officers are continuing to illegally search and seize, watch this video, All episodes of Reason. tv are extremely pertinent to our plight as a society. http://reason.tv/picks/show/policing-for-profit
Nice work destroying all that LEGAL medical cannabis equipment. That’s some great police-work there, busting up LEGAL Saginaw operations so violently and pointlessly. Why let a judge decide when your boys can just throw a temper tantrum and destroy it all immediately?
“waaaah waaaaah but we don’t like the law so we’re going to break things! We smash property!”
Keep up the good work killing new LEGAL business opportunity, that way you can finally choke your useless, dying city to death once and for all.
The entire world knows cannabis isn’t an issue, you cops are just addicted to it because it offers limitless opportunity to be completely corrupt.
My wife fell ill about six years ago with ovarian cancer. Being self-employed at the time and not very wealthy, we simply could not afford insurance. We looked on the internet to see what we could find – anything to help my wife. We were desperate. We found cannabis.
Eventually, I started growing the plant and extracting the necessary oils from the flowers and applying them to my wife’s abdomen. I am no doctor nor am I a surgeon; I simply did what I thought was best. As for the results of our efforts, all I can do is tell you what her surgeon said to me in post-op: “I have been a surgeon for over sixteen years. When I went in to remove your wife’s ovary, I found that the tumor had ruptured. It was gone. I have never seen anything like this in my entire career.”
Being in a state that frowns very heavily upon cannabis, I felt compelled to keep my mouth shut regarding the oils we had been applying. I know that we shouldn’t have but we were scared of the potential fallout. As it turns out, what I should have told the doctor ought to have been the least of my fears.
A short time later I happened across a long-time family friend and he related to me that his uncle had lung cancer. I told him of our “discovery.” He said he would like to know more information so I invited him out to my home. To make a long story somewhat shorter, he became “Unidentified Informant Number One.”
When the “Peace Officers” arrived to serve the search warrant they came in with bullet proof vests, helmets, and guns drawn. Five “Peace Officers” threw my wife to the ground and pointed their guns at her head – she had had her surgery about two weeks prior. When I pointed that fact out to the “Peace Officers,” three members of the “Force” removed themselves from the scene, with one commenting, “I can’t do this anymore.” Unmoved by their colleagues’ bravery, the remaining “Peace Officers” absolutely trashed our home: overturning bookcases; ransacking our filing cabinets; overturning the cat’s litterbox and food dish; kicking and threatening to “kill [my] worthless mutts”; dumping my dogs’ water and food dishes; rifling through our dressers and closets; tearing down ceiling tiles; smashing holes in my walls; rifling through our video collection; confiscating High Times and Cannabis Culture magazines; even reaching in and searching through the rocks in my aquarium; “disabling” any grow equipment that was deemed supplemental to the arrest; “confiscating” some of our product for later “analysis;” and, actually resorting to graffiti on one of my walls. The whole time the “Peace Officers” related to my wife and I what “scumbags” we were.
After they had their fun, they hauled my wife and I to the local county jail. We stayed there for three days; our animals stayed in the disaster area that was once our home for the entire time as the police refused us to allow anyone to enter our home to remove our animals or even provide for their basic needs. They claimed it was a crime scene.
I completely understand that American citizens are required to understand the law and what we did was in violation of said laws. We get no free pass if we are unfamiliar with the laws: “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” I did eighteen months of a four year sentence, my wife served four years probation.
However, how can it possibly be that the “Force” whose duty it is to uphold the laws do not have to keep abreast of the current legal atmosphere? It is simply unconscionable that a representative of law enforcement can use the excuse that the “law is too new” to have in place updated protocol.
Holy Smokes. Next time you get pulled over for a tail light or brake light not working will they photograph the tail or brake light and then destroy your car. Is that what we are coming to?
Regarding Mr. Edwyn W. Boyke Jr., 64, of Saginaw Township Michigan
The man is 64 years OLD, may I suggest; at that age, he is probably not able to launch such a major “Law/Legal Action”, given his age, his medical considerations, and the cost$.
I suggest; ‘WE organize and form The Boyke Rescue Fund.
Maybe NORML can find a good lawyer to take this case.
@ Mark – The worst thing about these corrupt, thieving, prejudiced cops is that there will be no need for most of them soon. Like you said, if they keep killin’ the economy that’s tryin’ to grow out of the ashes, the welfare system won’t be able to support their asses, too. States aren’t able to keep up with the unemployment payouts any more. They keep puttin’ us in prison, that just secures a few more jobs for their private sector security guards, who’s jobs they’ll want next when they’re given a pink slip from the Chief. I often wonder if the shit hits the fan how many police, sheriff’s, state troopers, and military personnel will stand against what is wrong. We won’t be able to do it without a lot of them – if the shit hits the fan, that is… ¦·þ
this goes to show that law enforcements are just wasting more time and money going after medical marijuana users as well as those who choose to use marijuana when those law enforcers can be better put to use to help our nation with more serious problems in stead of wasting taxpayers money and their valuable time. IT IS far over due that marijuana prohibition must end and be taxed and regulated where it will free up the money being wasted as well as allowing the law enforcements to do their job to get worse people off the streets such as drunk drivers and killers to name but a few….. The time for taxation and regulation is far over due and needs to start today . Remember together we can and shall make a difference…
I just read this article, and I gotta laugh at the bull that these law enforcement spoksemen try to throw at the public. The police chief says that his men aren’t used to the new law, so they make mistakes. Unbelievable garbage! I’ll tell you why these disgusting raids continue–it’s not that these “gendarmes” aren’t used to the new law; it’s just that they don’t accept the new law and they despise people that smoke herb. And the feeling is mutual, believe me. WE can’t stomach the William Bennetts of the world, and we’re getting really tired of them.
A new Law my ass, I am from this area and let me tell you medical MJ has been here in the state for over 2 and a half years and this is a constant thing with the saginaw PD and the DEA – This is such bull – saginaw county is known for this and all police in this state are trained about medical marijuana. What a bullshit exscuse…
Obomber lied. As us skeptics said… his non-binding suggestive letter that federal raids stop on medical marijuana related business was a whole load of BS.
Do you reaaaaaaaaally still think Obomber is going to legalize it in his second term?
Vote for liberty candidates, the ones who believe in REAL change, and believe in REALLY dismantling the drug war.
[Editor’s note: Really? Why do you obsessively try to spread your political delusions on NORML’s webpage? Too bad there are no such thing as ‘liberty candidates’ or a ‘liberty party’. There are four basic organized political parties in America in the order of registered voters: democrats, republicans, libertarians and greens. Almost 50% of Americans do not associate with political parties and are often labeled ‘independent’. Rarely, a political candidate who shuns political parties (or, more likely were shunned by democratic or republican primary voters) chooses to run, and win, as an ‘independent’. The current group of people self-identifying themselves as “tea baggers” are not an organized political party.
Again, there are no ‘liberty’ candidates for voters to select in either primaries or the general elections.
And there is zero reason to spread the lie that Obama (or NORML, or any drug policy reform group, or the average commentator on NORML’s webpage) claimed that when elected he’d legalize cannabis. About the only thing Obama and company claimed is that federal law enforcement would abate from being involved in aggressive enforcement of federal anti-cannabis laws in states with medical cannabis laws. That has largely happened with decidedly fewer federal raids and prosecutions, and states like CA, CO, MT have seen HUGE increases in retail access to medical cannabis. More states (like NJ, ME, RI, NM and DC) will have retail access very soon with legislators providing approval citing the federal government’s allowing states greater autonomy to create and implement cannabis policies that run total afoul of existing federal laws and supreme court decisions.
You can be a partisan hack all you want…but there is no reason to spread falsehoods on NORML’s webpage in support of fictional ‘liberty’ candidates or claiming policy statements never made.]
Wow, police love to tear up anything they get a chance to. Can the medical marijuana user sue the police dept of Saginaw? How is this not illegal? Vandalism at least..the police department should have to get money to this man. Emotional trauma, personal property destroyed….this is against the law and the police have no consequence. BS man
Martin luther king said never be violant but when the goverment comes and destroys stuff you can buy leagaly that’s when the buck stops here. let destroy their stuff and maybe they’ll understand thats thier new name is now Goons
How stupid is this chief? How about the fact that he not only admitted failing to provide his police force with adequate training on laws which have been enacted for plenty of time before the incident, he basically tells the press that afterward they will simply “change their policy” regarding the matter. In a nut shell he said, “I am an incredibly irresponsible dumb ass”. The really dumb part of this whole thing is that he actually believed this is better than just admitting that his beliefs that his personal resentment for marijuana justifies their relentless persecution of law-abiding citizens. Malarkey I say!
I never claimed Liberty Candidates are an organized party, just a collective of candidates who believe in a limited federal government and ending the drug war.
If I am breaking your comment policy, please point it out to me and I will stop doing so. Otherwise I am just offering a solution that I feel, in my humble opinion, is a good one. People can make their own decisions. I am sorry if I am breaking commenting rules.
[Editor’s note: Thanks for the webpage of Ron Paul wannabees…so-called liberty candidates are using the same populist language that then so-called ‘freedom’ candidates (i.e., Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey and Tom Delay, etc…) tried using to convince voters in 1994 that they actually supported ‘liberty’, ‘freedom’, ‘apple pie’, kissing babies, etc…). How did those bomb-throwing back benchers come out for the course of freedom and liberty?]
Ok, so my solution of voting for candidates who proudly proclaim that they are A) for marijuana legalization and B) for ending the drug war makes me a partisan hack and somehow I am being deceived. Furthermore, these are candidates that believe the federal government should be limited, leaving the power to the states to decide what is best.
I am very sorry that I have apparently been deceived, and that I am apparently some naive simpleton and my suggestions are crap.
So anonymous NORML editor, what DO we do then? Apparently I can not trust candidates who do say they are pro-legalization, pro-states rights (thus for states like Cali who have legalization ballot initiatives). What is your plan?
Obviously voting for main stream establishment republicans is not the way to go. Are you saying that voting for democrats is the way to go?
Or are you saying voting isn’t even the way to reform Marijuana?
I am being singled out from you for telling people about a group of politicians who say they are pro-legalization. So apparently that is bad, and it deserves harsh anonymous commentary from NORML.
How about you offer me any alternative solution then? Maybe point me in a new direction?
[Editor’s note: Don’t fall for goofy political stunts from untested candidates who CLAIM to support ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ by simply signing loyalty oaths or pledges. How does one measure if a candidate actually supports liberty?
If they’re a politician, look at their past voting record and rhetoric. If they’re non-politicians running to be politicians, then the voters are left with not much more than the candidate’s rhetoric and/or messaging to evaluate.
A cannabis reformer who wants to try to elect cannabis reform-oriented policymakers need not ask politicians to aspire to support abstractions like ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’. Ask, nay demand, of them to support cannabis legalization specifically as proof positive that they do in fact support ‘liberty’ and personal ‘freedom’.
If they support legalization, ergo, they’re a supporter of freedom.
BTW, Ron Paul served almost 20 years in Congress before speaking out for personal freedom regarding cannabis, and yet even he did not sponsor legalization legislation, only decriminalization, and only after Barney Frank convinced him to join him in introducing NORML-friendly legislation.]
Editor you pulled out Barney Frank? Talk about having skeletons in the closet. I happen to like Mr. Frank but even he can’t be used as a pristine example for all to emulate. I hope you don’t speak for the entire NORML Organization.
You tell Brian: “Don’t fall for goofy political stunts from untested candidates who CLAIM to support ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ by simply signing loyalty oaths or pledges.” Lmao, I guess Barney has you fooled then? As long as he says he supports the cannabis movement and takes small steps in that direction everything else that he may do behind closed doors is perfectly fine with you isn’t it?
Editor what you said a majority of politicians do. They have to in order to get the votes they need for election. You must lie to get by? If that isn’t true then why do so many do it? Same sh!t different day! Just depends on what game you play. Quite simply all you can do is give someone the benefit of the doubt and TRUST that they will follow on what they said they will do. If they break any bonds(TRUST) then the TRUST is gone. TRUST is a must. Emphasizing is fun for everyone. Fool me once shame on me. fool me twice shame on you. Good day to you.
[Editor’s note: The point of mentioning Barney Frank is that it was a liberal Democrat, not a so-called ‘liberty candidate’ that has been behind the push in Congress to reform cannabis laws, not Ron Paul. Where was Ron Paul from 1986-2002 re ‘liberty’ for cannabis consumers? How many bills did he introduce to reform cannabis laws during this time? The answer to both questions is that he (the apparent standard bearer in some people’s minds for all things libertarian) didn’t lift a finger to end cannabis prohibition.]
I live about 30 minutes from Saginaw aka SagNasty. So far in Michigan, I haven’t noticed a lot of people getting harassed by local law enforcement, let alone the DEA.
Hey, at least they didn’t arrest him. Sucks about the 7,000. I am almost 99% sure the cops are in the wrong here. Never know though, some people don’t follow the rules. I.E. he could have been growing way more than what was allowed. Honestly, 7,000 for a medical marijuana set up??? Under our state’s medi MJ laws… I believe we can only grow like 12 plants max…. don’t see how even a bomb ass set up would run 7k$
I just can’t wait till its legal overall…. seriously, the movement needs to progress, very soon, into legalization for recreational use by adults.
for the past decade, us healthy recreation smokers have pushed medi marijuana agendas in hopes it would be a stepping stone to flat out legalization and/or taxation/regulation
Times are good… shit is stirring
Go California, Nov 2010!!!! Start the ball rolling towards the East Coast Guys
If every one of us SUE THE PISS OUT OF THEM , THEY WILL START TO GET THE MESSAGE.I’m living in california and found an article about a dispensery owner getting 35 lbs of med. marijuana BACK BY COURT ORDER! WE HAVE TO FIGHT………
I just took a brief look at the wsbsite for the LIBERTY PARTY CANDIDATES that the gentlman BRIAN has linked above. 5 out of 5 of the candidates are republicans or supported by the GOP!!! does anyone remeber who started all the drug testing of federal workers? RONALD REAGEN!!!! What was the policy of the Bush administration?? Not to be rude but lets use our heads here for one moment. Dig deep when researching your candidates. There are already enough SHEEPLE OUT THERE FIGHTING THE TRUTH!
The Obama is turning into a back stabber. He is losing favor quite rapidly. He seems to think that moving next to the Jones in white Washington will make him popular at their parties. wrong!.He should have stayed with us on the left. You now the supporters down by the Lincoln memorial. He has become power hungry. And nothing but blood and sorrow and disappointment will be all he’ll be remembered for. Stop the killing and the death threats of assassination. Start sticking up for the sick and innocent, and stand up for peace on earth. Chain up our military until we have a real threat. Like say North Korea.
My heart goes out to all those who are really sick and using the medicinal marijuana as it is suppose to be used. I look forward to the day when the politicaians and the DEA realize marijuana is not making the country fall apart, they are. Legalize it all let the dumb ones kill them selves, violence will stop, Stupid people will be gone from over doses. Those that are educated know that marijuana is not a gateway drug, the plant alone has so many uses, beyond smoking it. Rope, clothing canvas, bio fuel, better for you than omegas, and the list goes on. Sorry for the man and his wife that had to deal with their house being destroyed, I hope her health is continuing to improve. I have no use for the police and their thug tactics. Go after the real criminals child molesters and murders
It really is coming to a point where “law enforcement” is a euphemism for “Legally sanctioned armed thugs”.
a lot of hoopla over a harmless plant.
True JUSTICE would dictate that Mr. Boyke should now be allowed to incur $7,000 of damage to the homes of each of the officers involved, perhaps the judge’s, too…
What He said they might start folling the law
Isn’t this what the Obama Administration said they would NOT do!!???
America is not what it was intended to be. We are now living in a communist country. THEY decide what we can and can’t do. THEY decide who’s a criminal, THEY decide what our children will learn in text books. THIS LAND IS NOT FREE! And anyone who decides to stand up and fight for our rights as Americans and Humans is now called “terrorists”. Sure, there are the real ones out there, but be careful what you say and do….Big Brother is watching.
Are you kidding? Coming to a point? They have been doing this for YEARS! The problem is no one cares until it’s THEM or someone very close to them. People need to stop being lazy and get involved before it’s too late.
The laws need to change. Our people are being harassed by the government and it makes it worse that he was COMPLYING with the law.
I second what Ben says 100%. You couldn’t have said it better!
Just because someone has a gun and a badge, does not mean they are not a criminal. All this could be avoided if people would simply re-read the Constitution of the United States and comply with God’s will for people to live in freedom with liberty as acknowledged and cited in that founding document. Freedom and liberty must extend to the point where free exercise thereof violates like freedom and liberties of others. Otherwise, we are at best marginally willing slaves in a police state. Don’t those police have any crimes to solve where there are actual victims?
The police have become legal thugs…they are trained in deceit and manipulation. Many of them are on the take and breaking the law themselves daily!
He should call the police an report that someone broke into his house and vandalized it. Then sue the mo-fos for illegal search and seizure. I’d like to know how these people with grow operations are getting caught? Seriously.
I am sick and tired of this BS.
I thought the saying went, “innocent until proven guilty,” not, “innocent until the police arrive.”
cops and dea all need shot.they need to go to some real police work.
I’ts a shame when even citizens who abide by the “laws” given to medical marijuana patients , are forced to be bullied by our Government. In California back in 2009 there was a “drug bust” 3 doors down from where a known pedophile had a child duct taped to a lawn chair in his basement ..while SWAT teams were busy destroying growing equipment and searching for more than the resin in a pipe they found ..this young boy was raped…3 houses down..put that in your pipe and smoke it.
agreed
legalize it. stop funding these animals (DEA) with our hard earned $$
“It’s so new to us, this new law, so we’re acting on protocol that’s been in place… forever with manufacture of marijuana,” Pfau said.
NO – Manufacturing (growing) of cannabis has been going on forever… Its only be illegal for 70+ years…
Get your facts straight Pfau!
prohibition much?
they better pay for all that..shitty cops
No it’s coming to the point where we utilize our 2nd amendment rights and protect ourselves from the corruption of this out of control government. Let us stand up against our oppressors and fight for freedom once again. We fought and won a war “over a tea tax” among many other violations of our freedoms, yet we stand by now and watch the government take all our freedoms from us. The next to go and already has begun is our 1st amendment and once that is gone the rest will fall like dominos. Come on people open your eyes, get out of your comfort zones, we can live without cell phones, big screens, xbox’s. All these devices make us slaves. And the government knows this. They want us to be obedient little slaves for their master plan of world domination. Don’t stand idle while they strip us of our freedoms! We have a God given right to be free, not a man made right A divine right to freedom. Do you really feel you need to be told what to think, how to dress, what food to buy, where you will live, what to say, what you learn. For now we still have decisions we can make on our own but lately I see those opportunities fleeting very fast. Sure marijuana should be legal but that’s just a small piece to the real battle we face. Once we lose our freedoms we will never see them again. The American Revolution started because someone took the first shot, and if you look at all this government has done I would say they have taken many first shots! How many more will they take before WE THE PEOPLE stand up for what is right?
The evidence destroyed by police? Has the law enforcement change policies and no longer collect evidence, but to search and destroy and then press charges?
They are being the bullies that they truly are and acting like spoiled children who have to have their way no matter what.
Police need to fear the consequences of overstepping their bounds. Just like the people fear them. The good people of this country do not deserve to be terrorized. People who act in this matter whether they are law enforcement or not, need to know that they are not safe. No one is untouchable so long as they are human. The police act this way because WE let them. We give them too much power. We can take it away in a heartbeat. If we want.
For 32 years I was in the “protect and serve” mode, adjusting procedures as laws and policies changed.
I will not believe that Saginaw PD did not know about the passing of medical marijuana laws in Michigan, I am ABSOLUTELY positive DEA knew about it.
What is sad is that they see their ‘old’ methods as justified, and would continue to do so if not for a change in legislation.
I always think to myself, “sure, laws can be immoral and wrong but why do people enforce them? People should be able to transcend laws. Officers should see that it is wrong that they are ordered to destroy lives, and as a result stop.”
Nope, Drug Wars require a stupid and immoral police force willing to arrest their neighbors and destroy their property. Police states and martial law require a stupid and immoral police force willing to shoot their neighbors.
Officers enforced slavery laws back in the day. They are shooting people in Bangkok. Our military listen to ‘higher-ups’ without thinking, and as a consequence they drone strike areas packed with civilians in Pakistan.
From our foreign troops in Afghanistan, to our ‘domestic troops’ at home, this complex of legal evil and following orders needs to STOP!
Government is our greatest threat! Not Cannabis or terrorism! Police that enforce dangerous government are our most physical and direct threat!!!!
I can’t believe what detective pfau said! It’s a new law and these cops were acting on the old law. what??????
That is such BS. How stupid do these cops think we are?
Utterly unbelievable what excuses these cops come up with. LEGALIZE NOW!!!!
its funny if the law makers change a law or make a new one i just say maybe you dont understand it or maybe didnt know about it do you think any of the police,judges,or any others of them would give you a break ??? ok then insted of asking for his 7000 dollars maybe he should be asking same jail time PROBATION and record ,jobloss any of us would get if we broke in say a cops house and done same to his home.im just saying maybe we not asking for enuff in return
$7000.00 HA!!! Get a lawyer and sue the city for all you can get. They have no right to terrorize the law abiding citizens. Contact the ACLU and call the lawyers in the HIGH TIMES LEGAL GUIDE. The cops will try to intimidate you and will bluff you if given the slightest opportunity. Most people don’t realize how accountable cops are when they violate an Americans civil liberties. You need a lawyer to push this case all the way to the Supreme Court.
I am sick and tired of the DEA! I am a chronic pain patient and I am sick of the power they have over us.
They have gotten into the doctors business. THIS HAS TO BE STOPPED!
I am just waiting for people to become so outraged that we will finally exercise our rights.
Absolutely OUTRAGEOUS!
Hey here’s an idea, why don’t these cops go over to their grandmothers house and raid her medicine cabinet. After they find all the NARCOTICS they can begin destroying her stuff too. Oh wait, those NARCOTICS are legal, but so was the use of medical marijuana in this situation.
These cops are clowns. They knew what they were doing. Taking a mans medicine?? What were they thinking???
the system is called fascism. fascists love war and their own glorious corporate power.
mussolini got thrown on a meathook but fascism lives on.
hitler got whupped but his wall st bankers live on.
yes, prescott bush got indicted for his support of hitler. after the war he got elected sen of connecticut anyway.
fascists fear cannabis users as they should.
Yes, please register and get your perscription card, thanks for the address.
I hope the authorities and law enforcement keep making mistakes like this. All it might take is a few more innocent children and family pets shot up in botched swat and police raids for people will become so fed up that they will rise up against this tyrannical corporate motivated insult of government we are currently living under.
No one is above the law. Ever.
The proper form of politeness when faced with injustice is to ATTACK! Use your Second Amendment rights if ANYONE, be it cop or criminal, enters your home unannounced! Don’t be ashamed to defend your Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness. God gave us these rights for a good reason.
Agreed Nic, couldn’t have said it better.
You know what that is… That’s BULLSHIT!
I agree with nic, we are supposed to be a government for the people by the people, yet washington seems to be comprised, these days, of people who view and establish themselves as something altogether seperate from the rest of america, especially “middle class” americans. It seems like our voice is silenced amidst false allegations from the government based on years of propaganda and research that has since been disproven or discredited. It feels like when we were kids and our parents told us not to do something, and then told us that it was because they said so, with no logical argument to base their decision on. But we are not kids any longer, the government is taking away our freedom bit by bit, and we just continue to sit back, put our noses in the corner, and buy all the crap they serve us. It is time for something, shooting at the government might not be the best idea haha, but we need to unite. It’s not only about marijuana anymore, its about our rights, our rights as individuals and states, and as citizens of what was once a great nation.
many people have taken the first shot and have died defending thier homes the problem is its to many home owners who die and to few crimnals .who get shot and thier buddys try to make them out as heros .this will not end till there are 100 new hereos a day givin the honor of dieing to enforce failed drug policy .history says many true patriots will die flushing the big toilet called ,marijuana prohabition
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then we will know peace – Jimi Hendrix
If the growers in question had LEAGAL pappers to have a growop. Then why did the law go throught the expese of tax money to destroy it. And GOD knows so many of us would die sooner without it. Please share love and the CURE.Sicerly, just want to live alilbit longer.
holy fuck, i thought they stopped all this, EDITOR, please put up a counter like the cost of our wars counter about the shit med users are getting, an email count etc
norml FTW
email me please meester editor
Isn’t it interesting that so many right-wing ‘law and order’ types think it’s just fine for folks to be allowed to carry guns, with which they can shoot their fellow citizens, but that the possession of a medicinal herb that can alleviate their most debilitating symptoms is seen as being such a danger to society? How is medicinal cannabis a threat to anyone unless it’s big enough to club ’em over the head with? I mean, seriously, why is it that the dumbest faction always seems to wind up with the weapons of both the literal and figurative variety?
Someone invades your home, then shoot to kill. Don’t waste time. Get a gun and protect yourself.
I would consider going the initial extra costs of LED +
CFL’s. The low electrical use stays under the radar and has no heat signature,I heard that,,,,,somewhere over the rainbow,,,,,,,
Wow, this was absolutely unnecessary! Hopefully in the future they WILL change their policies and stick to their word and ONLY “raid” homes of those who are actually BREAKING THE LAW! I don’t even take most police “raids” seriously anymore, given all the recent mishaps with these so-called military-style “raids” on non-violent offenders.
Although their statement of the law “being so new to them” might carry SOME merit, I bet you if it was a new drug law/sanction they wouldn’t have any problem understanding it, nor implementing it.
When did the job of “Peace Keeper” become known as “Law Enforcement!”. Screw this country.
lawyer-lawsuit-win-sit back on that 1,000,000.00 and toke up! SUE-SUE-SUE!
PURE BULLSHIT
Since when do cops think they’re above the law? Wouldn’t they arrest or give someone a ticket for not following a new law? Him saying that “It’s so new to us, this new law, so we’re acting on protocol that’s been in place… forever with manufacture of marijuana,” is unbelievably hypocritical.
“It’s so new to us, this new law, so we’re acting on protocol that’s been in place…” Apparently a medical marijuana license saying they could keep it is so terribly difficult to reason legality. I’m sure a 30 minute class is overkill on how to discern a real medical marijuana license from a fake.
In fact, as a waiter, there is a book which tells you of the out of state licenses that you are not familiar with. It takes 5 minutes to check. And nothing is lost, damaged or stolen, in the process.
I hope Mr.Boyke sues the P*SS out of the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Dpt. President Obama pledged to stop raids on patients with a medical marijuana prescription. Michigan obviously does not respect the law because it doesn’t suit them anymore. Get ’em Mr.Boyke. Medical marijuana users AND every user of this ancient healing herb back you 100%!
Oh, so, now they won’t destroy your stuff, but they’ll still steal it from you, even if you’re a registered patient who is legally allowed to have the equipment and plants? They will “take everything in a forfeiture and let a judge make a decision on whether [you’re] allowed to have that property back or not”? Civil or asset forfeitures rarely get ‘returned” – Google “Policing for Profit” if you ain’t already hip. They’ll take this property from people still and they’ll never get it back. The only difference is now, instead of it being trash, it will be sold to create revenue for MI. Isn’t that great, everybody?
They do it – We do it
forfeiture – theft
taxation – embezzlement
execution – murder
Almost anything we’re not allowed to do, the government is. They don’t even get in trouble when caught, they just get demoted, or have to resign and go work for one of the many giant government companies. You know, when my mom pulled this “do as I say, not as I do” bullshit with me as a kid, I called her out on her hypocrisy. If she was as stern as our government, I’da probably had to kill her.
I am 51, and have long been anti gun. Not anymore……
cops are above the law. they make up the law, there above the law there is no justice unless your rich. that is b.s. as far as what Obama said a politician
will say anything you won’t to hear until they get in office and then they don’t know you or what they said before. it’s all in all B.S. vote the bums out off office.
Have we not learnt anything from the days of prohibition? By legalizing marijuana not only would it solve the problem of making criminals out of ordinary citizens but it would save the country billions of dollars used to pay the local police and the DEA to say nothing of the cost associated with prosecuting people and incarcerating many of those same people in local and federal prisons. Instead of closing programs in schools and even laying off school teachers states would have enough cash left over to not only fund these programs but have some left to build better schools and pay teacher more money. Save the jails and police to put away real criminals.
# DB Says:
May 22nd, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Someone invades your home, then shoot to kill. Don’t waste time. Get a gun and protect yourself.
this is exactly what I shall be doing. If a God Damn cop walks in to my home without me or anyone saying anything I will I promise to blow his or her fucking head off. If they want a war I just got back from Afghanistan I can most definately provide one. I Promise I will take heads if they walk into my home and even think of destroying what I worked my ass off for.Those cops are criminals and will be dealt with appropriately.
So the Feds are targeting Michigan? lol.
Hey foolish Feds, just for the record: Michigan has gone through an economical structural change and the result is permanent Depression for this state until a new business boom comes along.
You are killing the only way out for Michigan, and you are doomed to failure.
DB, not a good idea, check out this casualty of the “War on Ourselves”
http://reason.tv/video/show/mississippi-drug-war-blues
And if anyone is wondering why our officers are continuing to illegally search and seize, watch this video, All episodes of Reason. tv are extremely pertinent to our plight as a society.
http://reason.tv/picks/show/policing-for-profit
[My letter to the Saginaw Police]:
Nice work destroying all that LEGAL medical cannabis equipment. That’s some great police-work there, busting up LEGAL Saginaw operations so violently and pointlessly. Why let a judge decide when your boys can just throw a temper tantrum and destroy it all immediately?
“waaaah waaaaah but we don’t like the law so we’re going to break things! We smash property!”
Keep up the good work killing new LEGAL business opportunity, that way you can finally choke your useless, dying city to death once and for all.
The entire world knows cannabis isn’t an issue, you cops are just addicted to it because it offers limitless opportunity to be completely corrupt.
ges he’s 64 years old let him be !
Somebody is going to have an explosive device waiting for one of those raiders when they come in the home to do that…
A total violation of this man’s 4th amendment rights protecting him from unreasonable search and seizure…
Marijuana is a plant…. deal with it!
My wife fell ill about six years ago with ovarian cancer. Being self-employed at the time and not very wealthy, we simply could not afford insurance. We looked on the internet to see what we could find – anything to help my wife. We were desperate. We found cannabis.
Eventually, I started growing the plant and extracting the necessary oils from the flowers and applying them to my wife’s abdomen. I am no doctor nor am I a surgeon; I simply did what I thought was best. As for the results of our efforts, all I can do is tell you what her surgeon said to me in post-op: “I have been a surgeon for over sixteen years. When I went in to remove your wife’s ovary, I found that the tumor had ruptured. It was gone. I have never seen anything like this in my entire career.”
Being in a state that frowns very heavily upon cannabis, I felt compelled to keep my mouth shut regarding the oils we had been applying. I know that we shouldn’t have but we were scared of the potential fallout. As it turns out, what I should have told the doctor ought to have been the least of my fears.
A short time later I happened across a long-time family friend and he related to me that his uncle had lung cancer. I told him of our “discovery.” He said he would like to know more information so I invited him out to my home. To make a long story somewhat shorter, he became “Unidentified Informant Number One.”
When the “Peace Officers” arrived to serve the search warrant they came in with bullet proof vests, helmets, and guns drawn. Five “Peace Officers” threw my wife to the ground and pointed their guns at her head – she had had her surgery about two weeks prior. When I pointed that fact out to the “Peace Officers,” three members of the “Force” removed themselves from the scene, with one commenting, “I can’t do this anymore.” Unmoved by their colleagues’ bravery, the remaining “Peace Officers” absolutely trashed our home: overturning bookcases; ransacking our filing cabinets; overturning the cat’s litterbox and food dish; kicking and threatening to “kill [my] worthless mutts”; dumping my dogs’ water and food dishes; rifling through our dressers and closets; tearing down ceiling tiles; smashing holes in my walls; rifling through our video collection; confiscating High Times and Cannabis Culture magazines; even reaching in and searching through the rocks in my aquarium; “disabling” any grow equipment that was deemed supplemental to the arrest; “confiscating” some of our product for later “analysis;” and, actually resorting to graffiti on one of my walls. The whole time the “Peace Officers” related to my wife and I what “scumbags” we were.
After they had their fun, they hauled my wife and I to the local county jail. We stayed there for three days; our animals stayed in the disaster area that was once our home for the entire time as the police refused us to allow anyone to enter our home to remove our animals or even provide for their basic needs. They claimed it was a crime scene.
I completely understand that American citizens are required to understand the law and what we did was in violation of said laws. We get no free pass if we are unfamiliar with the laws: “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” I did eighteen months of a four year sentence, my wife served four years probation.
However, how can it possibly be that the “Force” whose duty it is to uphold the laws do not have to keep abreast of the current legal atmosphere? It is simply unconscionable that a representative of law enforcement can use the excuse that the “law is too new” to have in place updated protocol.
Holy Smokes. Next time you get pulled over for a tail light or brake light not working will they photograph the tail or brake light and then destroy your car. Is that what we are coming to?
The Rev.
Regarding Mr. Edwyn W. Boyke Jr., 64, of Saginaw Township Michigan
The man is 64 years OLD, may I suggest; at that age, he is probably not able to launch such a major “Law/Legal Action”, given his age, his medical considerations, and the cost$.
I suggest; ‘WE organize and form The Boyke Rescue Fund.
Maybe NORML can find a good lawyer to take this case.
I want to see a lawsuit.
@ Mark – The worst thing about these corrupt, thieving, prejudiced cops is that there will be no need for most of them soon. Like you said, if they keep killin’ the economy that’s tryin’ to grow out of the ashes, the welfare system won’t be able to support their asses, too. States aren’t able to keep up with the unemployment payouts any more. They keep puttin’ us in prison, that just secures a few more jobs for their private sector security guards, who’s jobs they’ll want next when they’re given a pink slip from the Chief. I often wonder if the shit hits the fan how many police, sheriff’s, state troopers, and military personnel will stand against what is wrong. We won’t be able to do it without a lot of them – if the shit hits the fan, that is… ¦·þ
this goes to show that law enforcements are just wasting more time and money going after medical marijuana users as well as those who choose to use marijuana when those law enforcers can be better put to use to help our nation with more serious problems in stead of wasting taxpayers money and their valuable time. IT IS far over due that marijuana prohibition must end and be taxed and regulated where it will free up the money being wasted as well as allowing the law enforcements to do their job to get worse people off the streets such as drunk drivers and killers to name but a few….. The time for taxation and regulation is far over due and needs to start today . Remember together we can and shall make a difference…
I just read this article, and I gotta laugh at the bull that these law enforcement spoksemen try to throw at the public. The police chief says that his men aren’t used to the new law, so they make mistakes. Unbelievable garbage! I’ll tell you why these disgusting raids continue–it’s not that these “gendarmes” aren’t used to the new law; it’s just that they don’t accept the new law and they despise people that smoke herb. And the feeling is mutual, believe me. WE can’t stomach the William Bennetts of the world, and we’re getting really tired of them.
A new Law my ass, I am from this area and let me tell you medical MJ has been here in the state for over 2 and a half years and this is a constant thing with the saginaw PD and the DEA – This is such bull – saginaw county is known for this and all police in this state are trained about medical marijuana. What a bullshit exscuse…
Obomber lied. As us skeptics said… his non-binding suggestive letter that federal raids stop on medical marijuana related business was a whole load of BS.
Do you reaaaaaaaaally still think Obomber is going to legalize it in his second term?
Vote for liberty candidates, the ones who believe in REAL change, and believe in REALLY dismantling the drug war.
[Editor’s note: Really? Why do you obsessively try to spread your political delusions on NORML’s webpage? Too bad there are no such thing as ‘liberty candidates’ or a ‘liberty party’. There are four basic organized political parties in America in the order of registered voters: democrats, republicans, libertarians and greens. Almost 50% of Americans do not associate with political parties and are often labeled ‘independent’. Rarely, a political candidate who shuns political parties (or, more likely were shunned by democratic or republican primary voters) chooses to run, and win, as an ‘independent’. The current group of people self-identifying themselves as “tea baggers” are not an organized political party.
Again, there are no ‘liberty’ candidates for voters to select in either primaries or the general elections.
And there is zero reason to spread the lie that Obama (or NORML, or any drug policy reform group, or the average commentator on NORML’s webpage) claimed that when elected he’d legalize cannabis. About the only thing Obama and company claimed is that federal law enforcement would abate from being involved in aggressive enforcement of federal anti-cannabis laws in states with medical cannabis laws. That has largely happened with decidedly fewer federal raids and prosecutions, and states like CA, CO, MT have seen HUGE increases in retail access to medical cannabis. More states (like NJ, ME, RI, NM and DC) will have retail access very soon with legislators providing approval citing the federal government’s allowing states greater autonomy to create and implement cannabis policies that run total afoul of existing federal laws and supreme court decisions.
You can be a partisan hack all you want…but there is no reason to spread falsehoods on NORML’s webpage in support of fictional ‘liberty’ candidates or claiming policy statements never made.]
What a bunch of utter tossers.
Land of the free indeed
Low Country Liberty Report
http://www.youtube.com/user/LCLREPORT
REFLEXIVELY DESTROY is a d.c. lawyer bullsh!t phrase.
how about adrenalin addiction and destruction with malicious intent of the peaceful?
how about fascists destroy ……..?
Send in the DEA {pause} Laughter
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8699834.stm
The poor Canadians, this is not about Marc Emery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Emery
I wish I could see a picture of the doll’ Michele Leonhart http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michele_Leonhart_official_photo.jpg
http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2010/05/il_law_enforcement_on_medical_marijuana_like_takin.php
CC: President Obama
CC: Eric Holder US AG
CC: Jesus
Wow, police love to tear up anything they get a chance to. Can the medical marijuana user sue the police dept of Saginaw? How is this not illegal? Vandalism at least..the police department should have to get money to this man. Emotional trauma, personal property destroyed….this is against the law and the police have no consequence. BS man
Martin luther king said never be violant but when the goverment comes and destroys stuff you can buy leagaly that’s when the buck stops here. let destroy their stuff and maybe they’ll understand thats thier new name is now Goons
How stupid is this chief? How about the fact that he not only admitted failing to provide his police force with adequate training on laws which have been enacted for plenty of time before the incident, he basically tells the press that afterward they will simply “change their policy” regarding the matter. In a nut shell he said, “I am an incredibly irresponsible dumb ass”. The really dumb part of this whole thing is that he actually believed this is better than just admitting that his beliefs that his personal resentment for marijuana justifies their relentless persecution of law-abiding citizens. Malarkey I say!
F!ck the Police!!
They just think they can do everything!
Law must change! I’m waiting for changes since.. umm I’m smoking Mary Jane (half a year)…..
I never claimed Liberty Candidates are an organized party, just a collective of candidates who believe in a limited federal government and ending the drug war.
They are real, and you can view them here: http://www.liberty-candidates.org/
If I am breaking your comment policy, please point it out to me and I will stop doing so. Otherwise I am just offering a solution that I feel, in my humble opinion, is a good one. People can make their own decisions. I am sorry if I am breaking commenting rules.
[Editor’s note: Thanks for the webpage of Ron Paul wannabees…so-called liberty candidates are using the same populist language that then so-called ‘freedom’ candidates (i.e., Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey and Tom Delay, etc…) tried using to convince voters in 1994 that they actually supported ‘liberty’, ‘freedom’, ‘apple pie’, kissing babies, etc…). How did those bomb-throwing back benchers come out for the course of freedom and liberty?]
re: Malarkey
I agree
Ok, so my solution of voting for candidates who proudly proclaim that they are A) for marijuana legalization and B) for ending the drug war makes me a partisan hack and somehow I am being deceived. Furthermore, these are candidates that believe the federal government should be limited, leaving the power to the states to decide what is best.
I am very sorry that I have apparently been deceived, and that I am apparently some naive simpleton and my suggestions are crap.
So anonymous NORML editor, what DO we do then? Apparently I can not trust candidates who do say they are pro-legalization, pro-states rights (thus for states like Cali who have legalization ballot initiatives). What is your plan?
Obviously voting for main stream establishment republicans is not the way to go. Are you saying that voting for democrats is the way to go?
Or are you saying voting isn’t even the way to reform Marijuana?
I am being singled out from you for telling people about a group of politicians who say they are pro-legalization. So apparently that is bad, and it deserves harsh anonymous commentary from NORML.
How about you offer me any alternative solution then? Maybe point me in a new direction?
[Editor’s note: Don’t fall for goofy political stunts from untested candidates who CLAIM to support ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ by simply signing loyalty oaths or pledges. How does one measure if a candidate actually supports liberty?
If they’re a politician, look at their past voting record and rhetoric. If they’re non-politicians running to be politicians, then the voters are left with not much more than the candidate’s rhetoric and/or messaging to evaluate.
A cannabis reformer who wants to try to elect cannabis reform-oriented policymakers need not ask politicians to aspire to support abstractions like ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’. Ask, nay demand, of them to support cannabis legalization specifically as proof positive that they do in fact support ‘liberty’ and personal ‘freedom’.
If they support legalization, ergo, they’re a supporter of freedom.
BTW, Ron Paul served almost 20 years in Congress before speaking out for personal freedom regarding cannabis, and yet even he did not sponsor legalization legislation, only decriminalization, and only after Barney Frank convinced him to join him in introducing NORML-friendly legislation.]
You really just trashed a 64 year old man’s growing property? WTF, why don’t you pick on someone your own size and go for the REAL DRUGS!
Thanks to my local Fox news for dedicating time to the new study showing a decreased risk of diabetes for “moderate” drinkers!
This story about the govt lying about cannabis is probably for tomorrow.
Bless alcohol and all its miracles and joy that it brings every family.
Editor you pulled out Barney Frank? Talk about having skeletons in the closet. I happen to like Mr. Frank but even he can’t be used as a pristine example for all to emulate. I hope you don’t speak for the entire NORML Organization.
You tell Brian: “Don’t fall for goofy political stunts from untested candidates who CLAIM to support ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ by simply signing loyalty oaths or pledges.” Lmao, I guess Barney has you fooled then? As long as he says he supports the cannabis movement and takes small steps in that direction everything else that he may do behind closed doors is perfectly fine with you isn’t it?
Editor what you said a majority of politicians do. They have to in order to get the votes they need for election. You must lie to get by? If that isn’t true then why do so many do it? Same sh!t different day! Just depends on what game you play. Quite simply all you can do is give someone the benefit of the doubt and TRUST that they will follow on what they said they will do. If they break any bonds(TRUST) then the TRUST is gone. TRUST is a must. Emphasizing is fun for everyone. Fool me once shame on me. fool me twice shame on you. Good day to you.
[Editor’s note: The point of mentioning Barney Frank is that it was a liberal Democrat, not a so-called ‘liberty candidate’ that has been behind the push in Congress to reform cannabis laws, not Ron Paul. Where was Ron Paul from 1986-2002 re ‘liberty’ for cannabis consumers? How many bills did he introduce to reform cannabis laws during this time? The answer to both questions is that he (the apparent standard bearer in some people’s minds for all things libertarian) didn’t lift a finger to end cannabis prohibition.]
I live about 30 minutes from Saginaw aka SagNasty. So far in Michigan, I haven’t noticed a lot of people getting harassed by local law enforcement, let alone the DEA.
Hey, at least they didn’t arrest him. Sucks about the 7,000. I am almost 99% sure the cops are in the wrong here. Never know though, some people don’t follow the rules. I.E. he could have been growing way more than what was allowed. Honestly, 7,000 for a medical marijuana set up??? Under our state’s medi MJ laws… I believe we can only grow like 12 plants max…. don’t see how even a bomb ass set up would run 7k$
I just can’t wait till its legal overall…. seriously, the movement needs to progress, very soon, into legalization for recreational use by adults.
for the past decade, us healthy recreation smokers have pushed medi marijuana agendas in hopes it would be a stepping stone to flat out legalization and/or taxation/regulation
Times are good… shit is stirring
Go California, Nov 2010!!!! Start the ball rolling towards the East Coast Guys
Anonymous editor, thank you FINALLY for a proactive and kind reply.
If every one of us SUE THE PISS OUT OF THEM , THEY WILL START TO GET THE MESSAGE.I’m living in california and found an article about a dispensery owner getting 35 lbs of med. marijuana BACK BY COURT ORDER! WE HAVE TO FIGHT………
I just took a brief look at the wsbsite for the LIBERTY PARTY CANDIDATES that the gentlman BRIAN has linked above. 5 out of 5 of the candidates are republicans or supported by the GOP!!! does anyone remeber who started all the drug testing of federal workers? RONALD REAGEN!!!! What was the policy of the Bush administration?? Not to be rude but lets use our heads here for one moment. Dig deep when researching your candidates. There are already enough SHEEPLE OUT THERE FIGHTING THE TRUTH!
The Obama is turning into a back stabber. He is losing favor quite rapidly. He seems to think that moving next to the Jones in white Washington will make him popular at their parties. wrong!.He should have stayed with us on the left. You now the supporters down by the Lincoln memorial. He has become power hungry. And nothing but blood and sorrow and disappointment will be all he’ll be remembered for. Stop the killing and the death threats of assassination. Start sticking up for the sick and innocent, and stand up for peace on earth. Chain up our military until we have a real threat. Like say North Korea.
My heart goes out to all those who are really sick and using the medicinal marijuana as it is suppose to be used. I look forward to the day when the politicaians and the DEA realize marijuana is not making the country fall apart, they are. Legalize it all let the dumb ones kill them selves, violence will stop, Stupid people will be gone from over doses. Those that are educated know that marijuana is not a gateway drug, the plant alone has so many uses, beyond smoking it. Rope, clothing canvas, bio fuel, better for you than omegas, and the list goes on. Sorry for the man and his wife that had to deal with their house being destroyed, I hope her health is continuing to improve. I have no use for the police and their thug tactics. Go after the real criminals child molesters and murders