Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2014
Source: Kokomo Tribune (IN)
Copyright: 2014 The Kokomo Tribune
Contact:  http://www.ktonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1204
Author: Shaun Slack

FERTILIZER PURCHASE LEADS TO DEA WARRANT

The war on marijuana is a smashing and overwhelming success, if you 
measure success by how many violations of civil rights, liberties and 
constitutional rights it has generated.

In a far-flung suburb of Chicago named Shorewood, the Drug 
Enforcement Agency and local cops entered the house of Angela Kirking 
for shopping for organic fertilizer. It seems that in itself is 
reasonable suspicion, if you shop at an Illinois home-and-garden store.

Police ran her plates and found her address. They looked through her 
garbage, which supposedly had a marijuana scent to it. Also, her 
electric bill was deemed too high. Finally, they got a judge to sign 
off on a warrant.

They raided her house with drawn guns and found a third of an ounce 
of marijuana. Yes, you can breathe easy knowing the DEA and police 
are on the case to go after suburban women who occasionally smoke 
small amounts of marijuana in their homes and go to garden stores.

If someone is smoking marijuana and driving then, yes, ticket or 
arrest them and take them off the road. But this is just stupid. Even 
the most ardent drug warrior must be taken aback by these tactics.

I am glad groups like the National Organization for Marijuana Reform 
or Marijuana Policy Project exist to counter these abuses.

Shaun Slack

Kokomo
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