… essentially nothing.
Tweet of the day from Glenn Greenwald.
An extra cup of coffee is more likely to make someone unduly aggressive than trace amounts of THC
Maia Szalavitz in Time points out the absurdity of breathless media reports that Trayvon Martin had THC in his system:
Traces of Marijuana Found in Trayvon Martin’s Body: Does It Matter?
I’m not interested in getting into any debate over Martin/Zimmerman (that’s for the courts), but the miniscule presence of THC makes no more difference in this case than the presence of undigested Twinkie.
The real interesting part is that they tested the VICTIM for drugs, and not the PERPETRATOR. But, the killer had drugs in his system too, he has admitted it! He was taking PRESCRIBED PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION.
From the very beginning the onus has been on Treyvon Martin to somehow posthumously prove he was not a dirtbag, rather than on Zimmerman to prove the shooting was justified. Anybody else see something significantly awry here?
It’s a pretty standard test for an autopsy, no?
When drugs are suspected as a contributory cause in things like assaults, accidents and traffic stops, isn’t it customary to test the suspected perp? Or is the victim tested and the perp walks free until the victim proves he didn’t deserve to be victimized?
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Well I don’t know. I don’t recall that being mentioned on CSI:Wherever, but they do run a toxicology screen on the cadaver in every episode. My point was that they didn’t run the toxicology screen on Mr. Martin for any reason other than SOP.
I do seem to recall a lot of criticism in the MSM of how the local yokels ran this investigation, including the fact that Mr. Zimmerman wasn’t given a whiz quiz. Regardless, I just can’t bring myself to cheer in favor of urine testing, even as an investigative tool. He either committed homicide or he didn’t, and that question should be decided predicated on his actions, not the color of his pee-pee.
…my point was, that if you are going to test only one party to a two party crime, why do you test the victim?
That’s law enforcement for you.
Wednesday my car, parked legally on the 25 mph street in front of my house, was demolished in a hit-and-run. The police (who wouldn’t even respond when my wife called 911 until the perp was arrested for DUI in a neighboring city and those cops reported the same hit-and-run to my city’s dept) demanded to see my proof of insurance. Yet nobody even asked the perp to provide proof of insurance, and none of the cops for either city can tell me if the vehicle that struck mine was insured. Way to protect and serve, fellas!
Could it be Nora Volkow? “Sorry, I don’t agree with you, and I sure know better than you about it.” – Nora1
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/17/world/mexico-decapitated-bodies/index.html
Watch as the Drug Warriors spin it:
See? He had THC in his system and now he is dead.
THC kills!! Save the Children!!!!
I wish someone would dig up Abe Lincoln,George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and check them for thc.
“…but the miniscule presence of THC makes no more difference in this case than the presence of undigested Twinkie.”
I disagree. Knowing that he was high, Trayvon Martin knew that his freedom and very likely his life would be forfeit if he were caught with unapproved substances coursing through his bloodstream. That would certainly add an edge of desperation.
dj, the report mentioned trace amounts and said unequivocally that they likely were ingested days before and could have had no effect on Martin’s behavior at the time of the shooting.
DC, stop trying to confuse the issue with facts!
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/may_2012/56_favor_legalizing_regulating_marijuana
I’m really surprised you or any of the other drug policy bloggers/organizations haven’t trumpeted this poll yet. It’d be nice to see the crosstabs for a better breakdown of what the numbers were on each question but the topline number is extremely promising. Rasmussen while not having the best track record of pollsters is still a respected outlet.
I think we have a trend. I am wondering, has any other issues ever so quickly had such a drastic shift in public opinion?
marriage equality
if orourke beats reyes in the texas primary the writing will really be on the wall for dinosaur politicians. then watch them finally struggling to get in line with public opinion. we live in interesting times
Could someone remind me which side’s position is considered “fringe”? I can’t seem to remember…
Here’s how I see it: the Internet + demographic turnover + ever-increasing obsolescence of the legacy media + the financial crisis and the fiscal insolvency of national, state, and local governments + continuing “normalization” of marijuana as a result of medical cannabis + growing political unrest + “tipping point” / positive feedback loops = things are moving very, VERY quickly right now. I’d suggest standing well clear of the Drug War Wall (but keep manning those catapults).
Good news! Just another 43% and maybe we’ll have a shot.
Wait a goldurn minnit here, Duncan. Isn’t it you who always jumps on the posters who say nothing will ever change and we’re wasting our time?
Am I the only one around here who will stop sometimes in the middle of some mundane task and inexplicably get a rush from realizing that WE’RE FUCKING CHANGING THE WORLD? That poll says it all for me.
A reminder to all personnel: hardhats and orange safety vests must be worn at all times when working in the vicinity of this wall.
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Goddammit it was a 1% joke. 56% + 43% equals 99%, which leaves 1%. When I was still wet behind the ears a 1%er rode a Harley but today “they” have changed the meaning and I was just trying to incorporate some modern culture into a bit of humor. Ah, nutz. I’m going on retreat, no doubt. Misfiring on all cylinders.
I think I’ll spend a few days catching up on my old professional football habit. No way I’ll ever be a Redskins fan. Perhaps I’ll adopt the Detroit Lions as my surrogate home team.
Brown: At least 50 percent of NFL players smoke pot
Ummm…if you make a joke, your best bet is to not wait on me. I won’t get it until I’m lying in bed three days later half asleep. Please don’t let the fact that dc is obtuse slow your pace. Eventually I laugh. My wife thinks I’m crazy.
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Well we haven’t changed the world quite yet, but it sure looks like it’s all downhill from here:
Helena mayor: “legalize, regulate, and tax” marijuana
Make that 45% Duncan, sometimes it seems that’s what it’s gonna take.
KA-THUD!!!
They had a drug test for a job the other day and found urine in my drug stream.
Glad to hear your making some attempt at staying properly hydrated Charlie.
From the “prohibitionists say the darnedest things” file:
At least the man has a sense of aesthetics.
Wait, you can remove the males?
Yes you can ,it’s an amazing new technology invented in the 60’s
I can just see that conversation now,
“Gosh Joe, these sure are some pretty cannabis plants we got here.”
“Yeah Justin. Real pretty. Look at those perfectly serrated leaflets and exquisite venation.”
“And the trichomes? Have you ever seen such a glow? See how they reflect the light!”
“What a gawd damned specimen Justin. What a beaut.”
“Yup. Someone sure put in a lot of effort here. Very Pretty. So… do you want to tear them up and shove ’em in the glad bags or should I?”
30 percent THC ? Yum yum I want to find Dan Raber before the cops do.
4th High-Ranking Mexican Army Officer Detained.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mexican-army-captures-gulf-cartel-members-guns-16383360#.T7erJ58th3Y
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And then there were three? Stay tuned!
Pro-marijuana group submits signatures for fall ballot measure
Just yesterday I read the ravings of a PP who claimed that the most annoying thing about potheads is how they complain that the law should be changed but don’t put any effort into doing so. Go figure that one out.
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Just another card carrying pothead.
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The police weigh in on this story on Oaficer.com
What I think makes this particular article interesting is that it actually gives the test results for Mr. Martin’s THC levels, active as well as inert metabolites. Those were 1.5 ng/ml of active THC and 7.3 ng/ml of THC-cooh in his chest blood. The urine test was presumptive and no precise levels of metabolites in the urine were released.
Does anyone else think it remarkable that in the thousands and thousands of articles written about this particular autopsy that those that target the police market were the only ones who bothered to include these salient facts?
(wow, oaficer.com takes comments from the peanut gallery now via Disqus)
Nah, nobody goes to jail for merrywanna, ‘specially in a progressive State like Washington.
Well at least they included a sad, pathetic joke with that last snip. Will they be scratching their heads and trying to figure out what went wrong when the cost goes the other way? What kind of message does it send the children when authorities are persistent, blistering idiots?
BTW, if you want to rent a jail cell in Spokane it’s only $3802.33 per month!
Why not drop this into the the debate at the “Reality-Based” community? (I laugh at that constantly, I think of it kind of like all the chemical fertilizers that claim on their labels to be “Organic Based”. If they say “organic based”, there is nothing at all organic about them.)
Please feel free. I’ve already reached my limit for vomiting this month and that site makes me want to puke my guts out.
Okay, it’s there.
Radley Balko has a truly shocking story on L/E abuse of forfeiture laws using “dog alerts” to steal bail money (after they conveniently insist on relatives bringing cash only) L/E justification of these actions read like Monty Python “Dead Parrot” excuses….is there no end to drug war corruption?
I don’t seem to be able to get a link but its on Huffpo headed “Under Asset Forfeiture Law, Wisconsin Cops Confiscate Families’ Bail Money.”
Duncan, be ready to vomit some more…
Have a little compassion old man, they’re just pining for the fjords.
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