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Meanwhile, Roger Christie, a "cannabis sacrament minister," remains in pre-trial detention, without bail, for over three years. The Federal Magistrate in the ca

by D9u 13y ago

Meanwhile, Roger Christie, a "cannabis sacrament minister," remains in pre-trial detention, without bail, for over three years. The Federal Magistrate in the case said that Christie is "a danger to the community." http://www.hawaiireporter.com/three-years-after-his-arrest-hawaii-island-rev-roger-christie-still-fighting-for-his-release/123 http://www.hawaiireporter.com/three-years-after-his-arrest-h... Then there's the current administration's attacks upon medical cannabis dispensaries in states where medical cannabis is legal. http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/02/barack-obamas-hardline-turn-medical-marijuana-mystery http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/02/barack-obamas-... Is this another example of "flip flopping?"

qdog 13y ago
Roger Christie dispensed pot for a donation of 'The Approximate Street Value'. I'm not sure that a non-profit religious organization that is in effect 'selling' un-taxed goods is going to get out of jail soon. If he'd been handing out alcohol or Pez Dispensers it'd still be pretty shady. The second article is a little more interesting, but I'll repeat from my comment above, it is very difficult for the administration not to enforce federal laws, even when they may want to. I would be very worried about operating a dispensary until federal laws change, unless you are ok with going to jail as an act of civil disobedience because you believe the law is unjust.
- AutoCorrect 13y ago
  so a three year pre-trial detention period is OK with you? What about the right to a speedy and fair trial?
- D9u 13y ago
  We have numerous examples of criminals accused of exponentially more serious crimes being granted bail, the latest of which is a woman who stabbed her boyfriend to death. http://www.hawaiipolice.com/puna-murder-update-08-23-13 http://www.hawaiipolice.com/puna-murder-update-08-23-13 Are you seriously trying to imply that an alleged pot dealer is more dangerous than an alleged murderess?
  - qdog 13y ago
    I didn't mention the alleged murderess, which doesn't appear to be a federal case. I agree that being held without bail seems bad. He does not sound particularly innocent, though, failing to file tax returns, haggling prices on the phone, acting as a dealer, etc. He's at a crossroads for me, from my viewpoint, marijuana should be legalized, but religions should not be allow non-profit status. So, yes, they should legalize marijuana. It should not be ok to sell it to finance your life by being a 'church', or whatver he is, and not pay taxes. Yes, get angry about no bail, but I don't think he's a poster boy for why marijuana should be legalized.
  - icebraining 13y ago
    Are you seriously trying to imply that an alleged pot dealer is more dangerous than an alleged murderess? Who alleged she's a murderess? She may have allegedly killed her boyfriend, but murder implies malice aforethought, while the victim's "lengthy criminal record and history of domestic violence" paints a different picture. Let's not use terms that aren't justified by the facts, please.
    - D9u 13y ago
      Way to parse words! Semantics aside, killing is definitely more dangerous than selling pot Please, let's just stick to the heart of the matter here. We see numerous instances where killers, rapists, child molesters, etc, are granted bail, so why not a mid level pot dealer? The big banks get caught laundering billions of dollars in cartel drug money yet not one bank employee ever saw the inside of a federal detention center, much less held without bail for over 3 years!

by D9u 13y ago

qdog 13y ago

Roger Christie dispensed pot for a donation of 'The Approximate Street Value'. I'm not sure that a non-profit religious organization that is in effect 'selling' un-taxed goods is going to get out of jail soon. If he'd been handing out alcohol or Pez Dispensers it'd still be pretty shady. The second article is a little more interesting, but I'll repeat from my comment above, it is very difficult for the administration not to enforce federal laws, even when they may want to. I would be very worried about operating a dispensary until federal laws change, unless you are ok with going to jail as an act of civil disobedience because you believe the law is unjust.

AutoCorrect 13y ago
so a three year pre-trial detention period is OK with you? What about the right to a speedy and fair trial?
D9u 13y ago
We have numerous examples of criminals accused of exponentially more serious crimes being granted bail, the latest of which is a woman who stabbed her boyfriend to death. http://www.hawaiipolice.com/puna-murder-update-08-23-13 http://www.hawaiipolice.com/puna-murder-update-08-23-13 Are you seriously trying to imply that an alleged pot dealer is more dangerous than an alleged murderess?
- qdog 13y ago
  I didn't mention the alleged murderess, which doesn't appear to be a federal case. I agree that being held without bail seems bad. He does not sound particularly innocent, though, failing to file tax returns, haggling prices on the phone, acting as a dealer, etc. He's at a crossroads for me, from my viewpoint, marijuana should be legalized, but religions should not be allow non-profit status. So, yes, they should legalize marijuana. It should not be ok to sell it to finance your life by being a 'church', or whatver he is, and not pay taxes. Yes, get angry about no bail, but I don't think he's a poster boy for why marijuana should be legalized.
- icebraining 13y ago
  Are you seriously trying to imply that an alleged pot dealer is more dangerous than an alleged murderess? Who alleged she's a murderess? She may have allegedly killed her boyfriend, but murder implies malice aforethought, while the victim's "lengthy criminal record and history of domestic violence" paints a different picture. Let's not use terms that aren't justified by the facts, please.
  - D9u 13y ago
    Way to parse words! Semantics aside, killing is definitely more dangerous than selling pot Please, let's just stick to the heart of the matter here. We see numerous instances where killers, rapists, child molesters, etc, are granted bail, so why not a mid level pot dealer? The big banks get caught laundering billions of dollars in cartel drug money yet not one bank employee ever saw the inside of a federal detention center, much less held without bail for over 3 years!