Mississippi: Young man gets $1,100 fine, 6 months driver’s license suspension, for cannabis stem
Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 8:10 pm | By: Radical Russ
I get the most incredible emails, and I mean “incredible” as in “it strains credibility” to believe this really happens in America.
My name is [Bob]. I’m 23 years old and I’m from … Mississippi. Until this year I had never been convicted of a crime. I had never even had a speeding ticket. I was on my way home from work and I was pulled over. I got caught with a stem on my floorboard. Which probably wouldn’t even register as .01 [grams] on a scale. The officer searched my vehicle 4 times before he even found it. I was arrested and taken to [jail.] My vehicle was impounded. I lost my job and eventually my home. I bonded out and received my court date later in the mail. When I went to court I received an 1100 dollar fine and my license was suspended for 6 months. The funny thing was a repeat offender 2 cases before me only received a 600 dollar fine for simple assault. He also received a set number of hours in an anger management class. His charge was for beating his pregnant girlfriend. I have lost faith in America and our leaders. Marijuana is a wonderful herb and I enjoy the way it makes me feel. Sometimes I suffer with horrible depression and marijuana makes me feel soooooo much better. I’m a musician as well and marijuana stimulates my mind in ways that I never could naturally. … Anyways I figured I would share this with you so you could see how bad we have it down here in Mississippi.
Mississippi law says no jail for a stem…..on the fence on this one RR….
True, Mississippi is decrim, but a $1,100 fine and 6 mos. driver’s suspension?
Unanswered questions:
Was he “bear baiting” with a broken tailight? Why did he get stopped? Did the cop have probable cause? Did he give the cop permission to search? Was he smoking in the car, ergo the car smelled of pot?
Too many unanswered questions to give much sympathy to the ignorant.
Kids, re-watch “Busted” on YouTube and learn about your rights when you get “stopped” or “detained” or “get that knock on the door”. Don’t play with fire without proper training. Be safe rather than sorry.
I’ve made it for 40+ years smoking (now vaping) without a major incident. But it only takes one encounter to have bad day.
Peace
But I think the offending judge and cop should get “detained” at the Pearly Gates for being total assholes.
This is basically my story 20 years ago…this kid needs to know its not over for him. Russ, do you have his email addy, I need to write him?
I do have his email, remind me when I’m back in town and I’ll let you write him. He could probably use some words of wisdom from someone who’s survived what he’s going through.
Was there probable cause for a search, or did this young man waive his rights and allow the search?
No, you may not search my property or person.
Did they do a dna analysis to determine whether that stem was in fact Cannabis? How much did that cost??
Most if not all stems have some residual THC on them. Don’t need any extraordinary means to tell it’s pot (very little pot).
Does anyone know the name of the judge and what county this happened so we can send the judge letters?
That really sucks man, I’m sorry to hear that. Don’t lose faith in America, just get everybody you know and then some to vote! The war on drugs is a failed war and it’s sad to hear some battles still being fought.
Ladies and gentlemen, the criminal justice system. I cannot believe all that punishment is over a lousy stem of all things. Are they so afraid that he’s going to take that stem and kill someone with it? It’s unbelievable! Things have to start changing around here real soon.
Its sickning that a Judge in these times and days would sentence a marijuana consumer to more time than a violent offender. Yet it happens everyday in every state across this nation. And these cops seeking arrests, if you have to search 4 times to find a stem, well you could have been arresting a rapest or real criminals withthat time.
TN, two weeeks ago, Cop pulls over 88yr old man, man cant hear well and so didnt pull over for 3 miles, when he did they dragged him out of the car he cracked his head 4 times on the pavment they cuff him leave him laying on road for 20 min, he starts bleeding in the brain and goes into cunvultions. Wakes up in hospital and is still there today.
Why? Because this Drug War has turned cops from protecting and serving to Seeking and Destroying. They are more and more doing military style arrests, violent and uncaring/uncommpassionate. Even 90yr old citizens are a threat to them and when your worried about 90yr old citizen there is a problem with your system! They have had an attitude of US vs Them for so long, the public has that same feeling.
These non-consumers best wake up and see this war effects them too, everyday citizens are getting homes destroyed and family killed all becasue cops are forced to seek and destroy. This is America folks it was never suppose to be this way!
That’s totally insane, but unfortunately it happens all the time here in Iowa too. I have sat in courtrooms on many occasions and watched woman beaters and thieves get far less severe sentences than someone guilty of growing or possessing cannabis.