Montrezl Harrell no longer lives in a blue state
Montrezl Harrell used to play for the Los Angeles Clippers. Now he plays for the Charlotte Hornets. He may not realize that he no longer lives in one of those horrible blue states where people are not “free”:
Montrezl Harrell is facing felony drug charges after authorities found three pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana in his car.
Harrell was pulled over in Richmond, KY on May 12. His vehicle was searched after a trooper said he smelled marijuana.
The 28-year-old is charged with trafficking less than five pounds of marijuana and could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
What’s 5 years in prison, when you are “free” of those annoying mask mandates?
Update: Commenters pointed out that marijuana arrests still occur in California. I searched and found some data on that:
Felony arrests for marijuana fell a whopping 74% to 2,086 in 2017 from 7,949 in 2016. Under Prop 64, the majority of felony offenses were reduced to misdemeanors. Felony arrests have plummeted from 13,300 since 2014. . . .
The number of marijuana arrests in California continued to decline toward new lows in 2018 according to data released by the Criminal Justice Statistics Center. The total number of felony arrests was 1,617, down 22% from 2017 and the lowest since the 1950s.
And this:
Arrest data from the CA DOJ shows that felony arrests for marijuana continued to decline in California, from 1,181 in 2019 to 1,027 in 2020
So considerable progress since 2014, but much more work to be done. It should be zero.
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14. June 2022 at 15:19
At least he doesn’t play in Russia 😭
14. June 2022 at 16:59
For what it’s worth, even if Harrell was still in California, his possession of 3 ounces of marijuana would bring him to the same result, as the legal possession limit in California is only one ounce. Regardless, as a basketball fan, hope he gets this situation sorted soon, he’s a hell of a scorer and hustler.
14. June 2022 at 17:26
There are many thousands of people in jail in California for marijuana-related offenses many of them beginning after the (so called) legalization:
https://drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/NF-DPA-California-Incarcerations-Report-2016-FINAL.pdf
14. June 2022 at 18:38
I added an update on marijuana arrests in California.
14. June 2022 at 21:13
Scott, I presume there will still be enforcement actions against unauthorized trading in marijuana in California in the future.
Not so much against trading at all, but I would assume just like with tobacco and alcohol, some people will keep trying to evade taxes?
14. June 2022 at 21:23
Matthias, That’s right.
15. June 2022 at 05:38
The real story here is the ridiculous law that would imprison him for five years for something so trivial.
The fact that you would use this travesty of justice (and ruination of someone’s otherwise bright future) to gloat and posture about mask mandates is disappointing.
15. June 2022 at 08:19
Muelleau,
“The fact that you would use this travesty of justice (and ruination of someone’s otherwise bright future) to gloat and posture about mask mandates is disappointing.”
Why would I gloat over something I oppose, such as mask mandates? Very strange comment, but I gather you are new here.
This post was a sarcastic dig at all those fools that prattle on about the GOP being the party in favor of “freedom”.
15. June 2022 at 10:36
If this was look at like tax evasion, then we’d be looking at an administrative fine, and only anything that looks like jail for a much larger operation. 5 years in prison would be a much bigger issue.
The point is still that everyone defines freedom as being able to do the things they want, while making sure other people aren’t free to do what they want, even in situations that are purely personal matters. The religious right wants just as big and intrusive a state as the left, just in different ways.
15. June 2022 at 11:19
De facto, there will always be a limit and a restriction. Alcohol is also “legal” in Germany, it is also “legal” in the US, but I am still not allowed to produce or sell it in Germany without a license. This is quite absurd, my grandfather made a perfect schnapps, but it became more and more impossible to make it legally. Not that he would have cared at his age, he just did it anyway, but still.
As long as that is the case, all drugs will always be only partially legalized. In the US it is even more extreme with these extra stores, where you feel as if you were a severely addicted felon if you want to buy a bottle of whatever. In a few states like Utah it’s for real beer as well, right? No beer in the supermarket? That’s super harsh.
What I will never understand, however, is how one can take the concrete case and cry about it, as if it had been impossible for the offender to know the law and not to obey it. I know a thousand absurd laws. If you break them, you will still be punished for it. We don’t have to pretend that this is an unjust peculiarity that could not have been easily avoided by simply obeying the law – or at least don’t cry about it when you get caught sometimes.
15. June 2022 at 15:03
Apologies, it seemed like to me like a sarcastic dig at Harrell, which seemed a bit insensitive given that he is undoubtedly the victim of something awful in this situation.
15. June 2022 at 15:10
Bob, Exactly.
Christian, You said:
“What I will never understand, however, is how one can take the concrete case and cry about it, as if it had been impossible for the offender to know the law and not to obey it. I know a thousand absurd laws. If you break them, you will still be punished for it.”
Imagine those people in Russia and China who cry about the fact that they get 10 years in prison for criticizing the government. What babies!
Muelleau, No, I favor legalization of drugs and view people like Harrell as victims.
As you see in my reply to Christian, I use a lot of sarcasm.
15. June 2022 at 15:34
The democrats don’t respect freedom. Andrew Jackson did. The parties founder was a libertarian, but the neo-thugs today are not. This is true across the board, and it is most evident in the self-rightous virtue signaling, in their constant imposition upon others — both domestic and abroad– and in their efforts to centralize industry and governance, pack the courts in an effort to shape Federal power over states, etc, etc. Placing freedom in quotes is also kind of ugly. The people who call you a totalitarian thug, and who point to your fascination with CCP governance, get a lot of ammunition when you place freedom in quotes. Historically, freedom is rare. It’s difficult to keep.
Freedom is about individual choice, individual responsibility, the ability to accept risk, but its also about respecting the values of a community. If a state decides that it wants to ban marijuana, then its mostly because the people who live there don’t like drugs.
Some of these people look at the inner cities today, particularly in blue states, and they see tremendous crime, corruption, and degeneracy. These people tend to hold different values. They don’t like “thug culture”.
The constiution gives states the right to legislate, as long as that legislation doesn’t violate the inviolable — i.e., the inalienable (more specifically the bill of rights to those who can’t grasp those more broader philosphical terms).
In short, I do believe you are a bit of a thug. You are so wrapped up in your arrogance, in your hubris, in this idea that only your views are correct, that you don’t respect others. Just a few days ago you were talking about “pressuring private companies”. It’s like, who the fuck are you. You are a nobody. How dare you. YOU are violating the inviolable, not these christians and mormons that you hate so much.
15. June 2022 at 15:43
Sumner has no tolerance for others.
The idaho farmer who asks his state rep to ban drugs must be committing some crime. That state rep should not listen to his constituents views. He should simply do what Sumner wants him to do.
15. June 2022 at 16:02
In Amsterdam, importing and exporting of any classified drug is a serious offence. The penalty can run up to 12 to 16 years if it is hard drug trade, maximum 4 years for import or export of large quantities of cannabis
15. June 2022 at 16:16
Sarah, You said:
“The democrats don’t respect freedom. Andrew Jackson did.”
Really? Did Jackson’s slaves say that? How about the female slaves he had publicly whipped?
How about the tens of thousands of Indians that died along the Trail of Tears? Was he giving them freedom?
Like many right wingers, when you say “freedom” you mean freedom for people that look like you.
15. June 2022 at 16:32
Yeah, I don’t get this post.
So this guy was arrested and imprisoned because he didn’t respect the law? And? What is the problem?
I don’t understand the outrage.
Each state has different drug laws, right?
Next time, maybe he will show respect for the people who are living there.
16. June 2022 at 06:22
I wonder if this still bothers Rand Paul… or if he has been fully swallowed by the the fascist wing of the party?
16. June 2022 at 06:26
Kevin, the point seems to be that right wingers (at least today’s variant) are not really for small gov and individual rights… why is a party supposedly for small gov and individual rights crying about the oppression of mask mandates when they are locking people up for 5 years because they possess a few pounds of a wild growing flower that’s much less dangerous that Kentucky burbon?
16. June 2022 at 08:50
Half of my commenters are the sort of people who if they lived in Germany during the 1930s would have defended laws aimed against Jews. “But it’s the law”. LOL.
16. June 2022 at 09:16
You are right Scott.
16. June 2022 at 11:23
“What’s 5 years in prison, when you are “free” of those annoying mask mandates?”
I forgot to respond to this statement.
In your mind you have already reached the conclusion that masks are harmless, that they are effective, and that everyone should simply wear one. In your mind, mandates are NOT a big deal so everyone should just deal with it. But this is arrogant. Incredibly arrogant.
First of all, you don’t want to give apparatchiks power to issue mandates — even in a so-called “emergency” — because they will abuse that power. History is replete with examples.
Secondly, a study was published a few days ago showing that masks do more harm than good. Not to mention countless studies already showing low efficacy. Maybe you see an error in these studies. Great. Maybe you are right, maybe not.
But your analysis is predicated upon what you believe, which studies you accept and discard, who you trust, so on and so forth. In short, you are making an “individual choice” predicated upon your understanding of what has been published and your tolerance for risk. The people who choose not to wear a mask want you to respect their individual choice and their tolerance for risk. The government is not in a position to take sides in a heated scientific debate.
Finally, the argument that Covid is a threat to others, and this justifies a mandate is not a good one. You are more likely to die from heart disease, and just as likely to die from the common flu every winter, especially when you are elderly. Should we ban beef because we want to “save people” or tell everyone to mask up every winter when the common flu arrives?
Moreover, if a virus had a very high fatality rate you would not have to convince anyone to get the vaccine, or wear a mask. This feeling that you have to come to “their rescue” and “save them” is an arrogant one. It’s a feeling predicated upon your belief that you are superior to them, that they are too “simple minded” to make the “right decision”.
Incidentally, DNA based Covid-19 passes, and taxing Cow burps to stop Global warming are some of the other things that democrats seek to mandate. Where do you draw the line?
All of these things are part of god-complex mentality, and to some extent mass delusion.
16. June 2022 at 14:59
“This post was a sarcastic dig at all those fools that prattle on about the GOP being the party in favor of “freedom”.”
You equate a law forcing citizens to wear masks with a law that forbids possession of distribution-sized quantities of an illegal drug? The extent you will go at a sarcastic dig at the GOP.
Do you believe that a community should have a say in what drugs they, pardon the pun, want to deal with?
16. June 2022 at 15:01
“Like many right wingers, when you say “freedom” you mean freedom for people that look like you.”
Have you seen a picture of Sarah?
16. June 2022 at 15:21
See there Vince goes suggesting rules requiring masking during a pandemic are bad and rules calling a wild growing plant far less dangerous that burbon are good. A real small limited gov type would suggest both are an over reach… Vince likes freedom only when he supports it. Exactly what Scott is writing about.
First of all Sarah is paid troll or a bot, so she doesn’t have a real picture. Second of all, sarah, like you, only supports freedom when she agrees with the particular thing being discussed. She isn’t really for liberty, she is for her views. Possession of assault weapons, she prefers liberty. Possession of weed and she prefers authoritarianism. Hence, it’s not about liberty, it’s about getting her way… liberty be damned.
16. June 2022 at 15:21
“Half of my commenters are the sort of people who if they lived in Germany during the 1930s would have defended laws aimed against Jews. “But it’s the law”. LOL.”
Which half, the Democrats?
16. June 2022 at 15:27
If the people of KY want to throw people in jail for 5 years for possessing a wild growing plant, they sure can… but they should stop claiming to be for limited government and freedom, because they are not.
Far right types will scream until they are blue in the face about how gun laws cant stop violence so we ought not have them, then turn around and argue for making drugs illegal so we can’t prevent drug addiction… and they do so with a straight face… and then claim to be for individual liberty.
16. June 2022 at 15:28
1. “there Vince goes suggesting rules requiring masking during a pandemic are bad and rules calling a wild growing plant far less dangerous that burbon are good.”
Where did I suggest masks were bad? What is your evidence that masks work? Why compare marijuana to bourbon?
2. “Vince likes freedom only when he supports it.”
Did I say that? Why don’t you tell us what you believe and not assume what others believe?
3. “First of all Sarah is paid troll or a bot, so she doesn’t have a real picture.”
Where is your evidence? Are you are a troll?
16. June 2022 at 15:30
The authoritarian half…. Both liberals and conservatives.
Look at your argument about marijuana being called an illegal drug… i am going to go out on a limb here and say you would have made the same argument about the laws on Jews in 1930s germany. That’s Scott’s point!!!
16. June 2022 at 15:35
Vince I am pointing out the fact that many far right types don’t have a problem with marijuana laws but they do with mask mandates. They are for freedom when it suits them and against it when it doesn’t. Liberty is not their concern. Their concern is their personal beliefs about what someone should be free to do.
You didn’t say it specifically, but it’s implied by what you did say.
The evidence Sarah is a troll is everything it says.
16. June 2022 at 15:39
What is your evidence that a 5 year sentence for possessing marijuana is just?
16. June 2022 at 15:43
Prohibiting guns won’t end violence just as prohibiting weed won’t end drug addiction. Why do so many right wingers argue the former and still the latter? Because liberty isn’t their primary concern. Their beliefs about things is.
16. June 2022 at 15:45
And why do so many lefties argue the opposite? Because it’s not about liberty. That’s why so many lefties get all worked up about 1M covid deaths but not 50M babies being terminated by their parents for money/time.
16. June 2022 at 16:18
Sarah is the troll. Lmao.
17. June 2022 at 08:06
Vince, You said:
“You equate a law forcing citizens to wear masks with a law that forbids possession of distribution-sized quantities of an illegal drug?”
LOL, you thought I was equating them? Read it again. Putting people in prison for 5 years for possessing pot is 10 times worse than a mask mandate that basically has no serious penalty.
17. June 2022 at 12:17
He’s from North Carolina, and plays there. I suppose he may have been visiting KY because that’s where he went to school, Louisville? NC has long decriminalized small amounts, but three pounds would still get him in trouble there.
17. June 2022 at 12:20
California does make people go through the legal market, and is one of those blue states that took the unfortunate route of putting so many taxes and supply restrictions on the legal marijuana that there’s still a black market, for which people get arrested.
Three pounds of marijuana is similar to an amount that would get you arrested for tobacco cigarettes or alcohol, also for suspension of tax evasion.
18. June 2022 at 11:21
“Putting people in prison for 5 years for possessing pot is 10 times worse than a mask mandate that basically has no serious penalty.”
You gloss over some inconvenient points.
Possessing pot? How much? A bong hit or three pounds?
The law against possession went through a legislative process in that jurisdiction. A mask mandate is just that, a mandate. It didn’t go through a legistlative process. Why not?