12/3/2008 10:02:00 AM Letter: Border Patrol should follow marijuana law
Editor, Leader:
Regarding the story by Allison Arthur about the medical marijuana case being dismissed: good news - charges against Mr. Dixon were dropped; bad news - no mention of the federal government deferring to Washington state citizens to govern themselves. Medical marijuana is legal here.
One of the lessons learned after Sept. 11, 2001, was that various government agencies involved in 911 were not good at communicating with each other.
It appears - in late 2008 - that this is still the case. The Border Patrol/Department of Homeland Security did not take time out to coordinate with the U.S. Attorney General's Office. To the public, this looks unprofessional.
Best-case scenario: Suspicionless, internal checkpoints would end. Until that time, we should see a statement from the Border Patrol that documented medical marijuana patients who are acting within Washington state law will not be cited - not because of a lack of interest in prosecuting such cases, but because of Washington state law.
Some say that those who complain about checkpoints would be the first to scream if the federal government fails to keep us safe. The fail part has already happened. Leave us alone to go about our daily business; we'll call when we need you.
ALEX HEPLER
Port Hadlock
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, December 22, 2008
Article comment by:
Alex Hepler
The desire to govern ourselves should count for something.
Posted: Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Article comment by:
M. Mahoney
How did Mr. Dixon get screwed? He violated federal law. Until the Supreme Court declares them unconstitutional the drug laws stand. Mr. Dixon has no one to blame but himself.
I think the Border Patrol is doing a fantastic job and should keep up the good work. Locals should be happy with the work they do considering the estimated 15-25 million of illegals that live here are taking away American jobs, using America's natural resources, using American social services, and costing the American taxpayer more money. Maybe if we got rid of all the illegals we would have more money for schools, health care, roads, etc. Quit whining and be happy with them doing their jobs.
Posted: Saturday, December 06, 2008
Article comment by:
H. Cocles
A. The checkpoints aren't "suspicionless" checkpoints. A certain amount (as prescribed by U.S. Supreme Court decision) is required to send a person to secondary review.
B. Marijuana is still illegal under federal law and I don't care what nonsense your state passes. If you look at a Border Patrol agent's badge it says U.S., not W.A. In other words, they enforce FEDERAL law, and are not bound by the constraints of silly local laws.
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2008
Article comment by:
Curt Knudtson
Mr. Hepler fails to understand is that with the Border Patrol around, we don't HAVE to call for help, because they have already STOPPED the criminals, and no further action on our part is required. If we didn't have them around, then something bad has to happen before we call. Wouldn't you rather have a crime stopped BEFORE it actually occurs? I would. And with the response time for most agencies, it's re-assuring to know that somewhere out there, someone is willing to lay down his/her life/lives for my protection. I would gladly lay down my life to keep you, your neighbors, and the rest of this country safe. Shame on you for being so selfish that a little traffic stop interferes with your daily trek to where ever it is you go. And to everyone else who protests the Border Patrol, shame on you as well! Don't you have anything better to do with your time? And Mr. Mutchler is right. The people in the Twin Towers DID call for help. But if Border Patrol, Homeland Security, and Customs had checkpoints back then, maybe the thousands of people wouldn't have been killed by an illegal alien. (you do remember the terrorists, don't you?)
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2008
Article comment by:
Alex Hepler
The federal government squanders credibility by sending the message that we are in a fight for our survival Re: Sept 11th 2001,(we are at risk enough to go to war X2, but not so much at risk that political leaders and statesmen would make the case to the American People that it is time to consider a draft) then citing a legal medical marijuana user in an effort to fight the "War on Terror" Some of those who are OK with the checkpoints would say "If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about"
Mr Dixon did nothing wrong and got screwed with anyway.
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2008
Article comment by:
Mark Mutchler
The people in Tower 1 and Tower 2, the Pentagon and the UAL flight that crashed in Pennsylvania tried to call for help but it was too late.
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