Up In Smoke

Here's Skippy to remind us that while the traitorous "Scooter" Libby won't spend a hour in jail, a guy who sold pot has been sentenced to 55 years in jail: Thirty-two months ago, a young marijuana dealer from Salt Lake City named Weldon Angelos was sentenced to 55 years in prison after a paid informant testified that during three drug transactions Angelos wore a gun on an ankle holster. While no evidence was ever presented regarding the gun, the mere allegation had been enough to turn what would otherwise have been a relatively minor state case into a big-deal federal prosecution. The reason? Under a well-meaning but poorly written provision of the federal code 924(c), if a drug dealer has a gun during the deal serious mandatory penalties kick in. It's a good law when applied to a drug kingpin armed to the hilt with automatic weapons. It's a lousy and expensive law when applied to a low-end street dealer dabbling in a few thousand dollars of marijuana. After all, in a country with over 250m privately owned guns, it's not as if drug dealers have a monopoly on showing up to work armed. Here comes the new bullshit, same as the old bullshit. Same as it ever was. Sending guys who deal pot to die in prison ain't got nothing to do with justice. It doesn't do a damned thing to keep us safer. It keeps rapists, killers, and pedophiles on the streets. But it has everything to do with supporting the penal system in this country, which is one of the most profitable industries in the United States. So lawyers, cops, and judges get to stay busy at our expense. Dear God. Too bad if you're a cancer patient who prefers smoking a joint to chemo. How does one escape the dreadful weight of such an awful reality? Get drunk. Smoke a carton or two of Camels. Spend a week's paycheck on lottery tickets. Fuck without a condom. Just don't get high. Medically, it won't kill you, but the stupid laws keeping it illegal will.