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Traffic Stop Nets 110 Pounds Of Marijuana

By "Radical" Russ Belville on September 4, 2008

STPNS – Traffic Stop Nets 110 Pounds Of Marijuana, Socorro, New Mexico
SOCORRO, New Mexico (STPNS) — Reserve Magistrate Court Judge Clayton Atwood presided over a preliminary hearing Tuesday for a man who was charged with two felonies after a state police officer discovered more than 100 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop in August.

Edward Tossa, 36, of Michigan, is charged with one count each of trafficking a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a third-degree felony.

Trafficking of more than 100 pounds is a second-degree felony.

At about 9 p.m. Aug. 14, New Mexico State Police officer Michael Forgue stopped a van for speeding in Quemado. Forgue said the driver appeared nervous and hesitant.

The officer smelled marijuana and after the driver gave permission to open the van doors, further investigation of the van revealed about 110 pounds of marijuana.

“Why sure, officer, go right ahead and open the doors of my van without a warrant so you can discover the evidence of the 2nd degree felony I’m committing!”

You have a right to remain silent.  You have a right to refuse a search. If you’ve got 110 pounds of weed in your van, you should use those rights (and you shouldn’t be speeding, either.  One law at a time, pal).  You’re not going to be any more arrested or more convicted by asserting your rights.  If you’re going to go down, why not waste some police time that it takes to hold you, get a warrant, bring a dog, and then discover your felony?  Maybe they mess up the procedure and your excellent NORML Legal Committee defense attorney gets you off on a technicality.

Instead you decide to make the case against yourself for the police?  Did you think they’d go easier on you?  If you give the cops permission to search, you just kneecapped your defense attorney.  No prosecutor is going to let you off easy because you cooperated.

You’re a 36-year-old man.  I’d expect this from someone half your age, but you should know better.

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I am the producer of The NORML Network, the host of the NORML SHOW LIVE and The NORML Stash Blog, and NORML's Outreach Coordinator. I'm married, live in Portland, Oregon, and I am a registered medical marijuana caregiver in this state. I've worked days as an IT geek and nights as a professional musician. Previously, I have been the host of my own political talk radio show on satellite radio. I've been the High Times "Freedom Fighter of the Month" and I travel across the country to educate people on marijuana reform. I've dedicated my life to bringing an end to adult marijuana prohibition and re-legalizing cannabis hemp, and I'm honored to be chosen by NORML to give voice to the Marijuana Nation and to speak for those who can't speak up.

2 responses to “Traffic Stop Nets 110 Pounds Of Marijuana”

  1. Lex
    Lex
    September 5, 2008 at 6:12 pm |

    This guy was an idiot though!! Why was he speeding with that much weed in his car??? I would be following ALL the TRAFFIC laws if I were carrying that much pot…Hell, I only get an oz or QP at a time and even then I’m very careful and slow!!!I’ll lose my financial aid if I were to get caught!! So I’ve learned valuable lessons from this STUPID STONER STORY!

  2. Eddie
    Eddie
    September 4, 2008 at 5:46 pm |

    If the cop had “Probable Cause” he wouldn’t have to ask, and without “Probable Cause”, the judge won’t issue a search warrant.
    Drugs? Just Say No!

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