Pubdate: Sun, 18 May 2003 Source: Tribune Review (Pittsburgh, PA) Copyright: 2003 Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Contact: http://triblive.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/460 Author: Dimitri Vassilaros TOMMY CHONG IS A VICTIM OF REEFER MADNESS Tommy Chong is a victim of reefer madness. Say so long to the Chong bong. Chong pleaded guilty last week in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh to selling products over the Internet that most of his customers probably use to smoke marijuana. The national investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the office of the U.S. Attorney targeted distributors of drug paraphernalia sold in "head shops" here and elsewhere. Your precious tax dollars in action to win the war on drugs. Or practically speaking, is that "inaction"? The 60-something former stoner hooked up many tokes ago with Cheech Marin to create the Cheech and Chong comedy team. They act like two wild and crazy druggies who float through life, man. They have been doing drug humor for over two decades. It is a remarkably stupid act that I never got, other than their "Basketball Jones" song and the "Sister Mary Elephant" bit. Even a broken clock is right, like, twice a day, dude. As stupid as their act is, it is not as senseless as our government's offensive against nonviolent people who happen to smoke pot. The feds still might not know where Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are holed up, but the long arm of the law can grab a Tommy Chong. "Madness" cannot begin to describe the utter idiocy of this war on peaceful Americans. A DEA spokesman did not return my calls, and Chong's spokeswoman declined an interview request. His attorney has said that Chong came forth at the earliest possible time and admitted his culpability. At his sentencing, set for Sept. 11, Chong hopes to receive home detention, which will allow him to continue working. Not long ago, Sept. 11 was a reminder of who our real enemies are. Chong could get three years in prison. He probably lost over $300,000 now that his bong business has closed. That's one less criminal who can threaten us. Homeland security remains secure. Why are we afraid of nonviolent people who choose to smoke pot? What do we have to fear, other than maybe one might have enough focus to somehow break into a home to steal munchies? Why people choose to alter their consciousness with illegal drugs such as pot -- or legal ones such as alcohol -- is something I never will understand. I never have inhaled, other than gagging on second-hand smoke at a concert. Why is society so threatened by these losers who could end up harming only themselves with their drugs of choice? We allow our government to do things in the name of drug prevention -- such as invading our privacy and using virtual entrapment -- that would appall us if it were done for any other reason. Maybe by the next century, society will come to realize that drug prohibition has failed, and that it has been the greatest violation of civil rights since slavery. The popularity of Tommy Chong and pot smoking truly is beyond my limited comprehension. Why anyone would care enough to create laws to turn the former into a criminal and the latter into a crime is incomprehensible. For the sake of our personal freedom, let's hope and pray that a majority of Americans someday demand an end to the war on drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh