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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
i believe they nailed him for selling water bongs and the like. his sentencing was also well beyond what similar offenders got. that particular U.S. Attorney also has a somewhat unsavory reputation for being attracted to high-profile, questionable benefit cases.
Interesting comments so far. Boysda seems to be the only one up to speed. FM, as usual, seems to be in the dark.
Fact: Tommy Chong had no previous convictions.
Fact: Tommy Chong was not arrested for possession of illegal substances or narcotics
Fact: Tommy Chong was not arrested for sale or distribution of illegal drugs
Fact: Tommy Chong received the harshest sentence of all similar simultaneous arrests
Fact: During his trial, the character he played in the movie (and played in sitcoms, etc) was cited as proof of his culpability for the charges
Butch mentions Willie Neslon, who is probably to be counted among the many members of this board who now smoke or have smoked marijuana in the past, but that is not why Chong was stripped of assets and jailed according to the accounts I've read and the recent documentary of events on TV.
Because of his advocacy of marijuana usage, it is natural to presume that he probably arrested countless times, but that is not the case.
The case is interesting to me because he was, in my opinion, targeted by the federal government for selling bongs, which is an article made of glass. Paraphenalia is illegal in four states. As I understand it, a shop in PA was utilized to get his company to sell an order to them. The company refused, so the "reps" from that shop went to his factory and placed an order, saying they'd pick it when it was complete.
Later the reps talked the company into shipping it to PA, which IS illegal, and Chong was arrested.
Is that entrapment? Is that OK? Does it make a difference in the world of drug abuse? Is Chong different than those who sell other illegal things such as fireworks (which are similar to bongs in that the transportation is a key factor in their illegality and the location of distribution and usage matters also).
The case, in my mind, raises questions...about the blurred lines between what we say and what we do as a country and a people.
If he had possessed marijuana he would have probably done no jail time...or then again, maybe he would have...but NINE MONTHS?
Do your own search on Tommy Chongs arrest. Please correct me if I am wrong.
I consider it a bona fide arrest...which made little or no difference to anyone except the prosecutors.
Am I wrong? Is this wrong? Does it matter that an American citizen can be targeted and jailed for such things? John Ashcroft and the prosecutor think it was meaningful and made a difference.
Tommy Chong's Incarceration...
