http://www.miller-mccune.com/legal-affairs/taking-drug-task-forces-to-task-3794/ Nationally Acclaimed Politics, Science and Culture Coverage Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:00:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.miller-mccune.com/legal-affairs/taking-drug-task-forces-to-task-3794/#comment-15241 ionmagic Fri, 28 May 2010 15:07:55 +0000 http://blog.miller-mccune.com.s72010.gridserver.com/2009/04/17/taking-drug-task-forces-to-task/#comment-15241 Washington state, where medical marijuana is allowed, is also suffering from the heavy handed tactics and hard-to-hold-responsible nature of these federally-funded Byrne Grant Task Forces. "Valid medical marijuana patients and providers" ...sick people....and the people who provide them their life sustaining medication under a doctor's recommendation....are the "class" under siege here. They are being targeted, abused, and terrorized individually and collectively by these heavy handed federal goons. Medical Marijuana patients and providers have legal "rights" in Washington State, but are being arrested and charged in Federal Court by federally funded task forces, where the patients are not allowed to present or argue the "affirmative defense" provided for by the state's medical marijuana laws, or even mention they are medical marijuana patients! Families are being destroyed, children are being abused, and huge amounts of private and real property in the millions is being "forfeighted" by default to these drug squads, which end up getting few successful prosecutions. The drug task forces look for "easy pickin's" ....and what's easier than a large population of relatively peaceful and sick people who are authorized by their state to use medical marijuana, but who are busted by the fed-led task forces, stripped of their state-granted "affirmative defense rights" and hauled off to jail to face years of persecution resulting from these busts? Its embarrassing...but...and here's the really wicked bit: NO ONE is responsible for the task force's actions.....they have no OVERSIGHT. There is NO ONE to call and complain to! Washington state, where medical marijuana is allowed, is also suffering from the heavy handed tactics and hard-to-hold-responsible nature of these federally-funded Byrne Grant Task Forces. "Valid medical marijuana patients and providers" …sick people….and the people who provide them their life sustaining medication under a doctor's recommendation….are the "class" under siege here. They are being targeted, abused, and terrorized individually and collectively by these heavy handed federal goons. Medical Marijuana patients and providers have legal "rights" in Washington State, but are being arrested and charged in Federal Court by federally funded task forces, where the patients are not allowed to present or argue the "affirmative defense" provided for by the state's medical marijuana laws, or even mention they are medical marijuana patients! Families are being destroyed, children are being abused, and huge amounts of private and real property in the millions is being "forfeighted" by default to these drug squads, which end up getting few successful prosecutions. The drug task forces look for "easy pickin's" ….and what's easier than a large population of relatively peaceful and sick people who are authorized by their state to use medical marijuana, but who are busted by the fed-led task forces, stripped of their state-granted "affirmative defense rights" and hauled off to jail to face years of persecution resulting from these busts? Its embarrassing…but…and here's the really wicked bit: NO ONE is responsible for the task force's actions…..they have no OVERSIGHT. There is NO ONE to call and complain to!

]]> http://www.miller-mccune.com/legal-affairs/taking-drug-task-forces-to-task-3794/#comment-287 Dave Cearley Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:55:05 +0000 http://blog.miller-mccune.com.s72010.gridserver.com/2009/04/17/taking-drug-task-forces-to-task/#comment-287 Having experienced the unprofessionalism of Hearne's traffic cops, I am not surprised. I remember a few years ago the Sheriff of Brenham Texas refused to join a regional task force. He commented to a news reporter that task forces concentrate on arrest numbers and not actually taking drugs off the street. Bravo to him for having the political will to do the right thing. It also clearly illustrates the validity of your arguement. I believe we could take 30% or more of our low level drug inmates out of jail and see no increase in crime. Think what we could do with the extra cash. Having experienced the unprofessionalism of Hearne’s traffic cops, I am not surprised. I remember a few years ago the Sheriff of Brenham Texas refused to join a regional task force. He commented to a news reporter that task forces concentrate on arrest numbers and not actually taking drugs off the street. Bravo to him for having the political will to do the right thing. It also clearly illustrates the validity of your arguement. I believe we could take 30% or more of our low level drug inmates out of jail and see no increase in crime. Think what we could do with the extra cash.

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