omoa.com
Bordering on insanity

I have a couple of items this morning. This first story would not be particularly notable except that the alleged "crime" was committed by a Canadian border guard who was caught attempting to smuggle 22 kilos of cannabis over the border. For the metrically challenged that's about 45 pounds of pot. Not much in comparison to say this bust, where they found almost half a ton in a truck bound for Costco.

The penalties for being caught are almost equally severe. The guy with half a ton is facing up to 20 years in prison and a $4 million fine. The border guard with 45 pounds faces up to 20 years in prison and up to $1 million US in fines and his accomplice who was to receive the cannabis on this side of the border could receive 25 years in prison and up to $500,000 US in fines.

The hapless border guard was bagged as a result of "a bi-national investigation involving several county, state and federal agencies that spanned several months." Think about how much the investigation alone cost you as a taxpayer. Add to that the cost of prosecution and incarceration and once again (the fines nothwithstanding) you're spending obscene amounts of money to chase down people who supply a natural unadulterated herb to non-violent consumers, when you could be enjoying the financial benefits of a legally regulated market.

Meanwhile the most dangerous mind-altering substance, alcohol remains legal and is abused by law enforcement officials as well as ordinary citizens. Looking at the lead article at the second link, a St. Clair County Sheriff Deputy and his wife are charged with lying to police about a drunk driving accident, where the husband rolled their car over in downtown Port Huron and his wife claimed to be driving. He's looking at 93 days in jail and a $300 fine, she could receive up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.

This incident truly did endanger the public safety and the disparity in the penalties compared to cannabis, (which has not actually ever been proven to cause an accident based solely on its use), is just crazy.