Stop Arresting Pot Smokers

It's none of the government's business, and it's a waste of money. And Barney Frank and Ron Paul agree:

In a shot at Republicans, Frank said it was strange that those who support limited government want to criminalize marijuana.

Strange and a strangely common kind of ModernRepublican hypocrisy.

FARC Release 8 More Hostages

The especially good news about this release, the story explains, is that it was arranged exclusively by the Red Cross. Their effectiveness and safety had been brought into question after the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others, including three Americans who'd been held since 1993, earlier this month. During that mission one of the rescuers wore a Red Cross jacket - a breach of international law that could endanger other Red Cross workers around the world.

The freed American hostages, mostly unknown to Americans all these years, were drug-war civilian contractors Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves, and Thomas Howes, who were captured on February 13, 2003, after their small plane crashed in the Columbian jungle.

Prisoner Can't See His Dying 10-year-old

Update: Video and contact info for prison below.

Update II: Posted at Daily Kos with more links.

Crappy story.

Jayci Yaeger has late stage brain cancer. Her father, Jason Yaeger, is in federal prison on methamphetamine charges. The guy is due to be released to a half-way house in August - less than five months away - but they won't give him an "extraordinary circumstances" 30-day release to see his near-dead daughter.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons Web site states its policy -- that furloughs can be allowed for a family crisis and that decision is left to the warden.

"We've asked them numerous times, 'What is an extraordinary circumstance?'" said Vonda Yaeger. "They danced around it. They don't give you a direct answer.

What could possibly be more extraordinary?



Update: Contact info for this federal (you pay for it) prison:

FPC YANKTON
FEDERAL PRISON CAMP
1016 DOUGLAS AVENUE
YANKTON, SD 57078
MapQuest® Map and Directions1

Phone: 605-665-3262
Fax: 605-668-1113
E-mail address: YAN/EXECASSISTANT@BOP.GOV2 [update: email doesn't seem to work] UPDATED: Try this: yan/execassistant@ bop.gov

Go ahead - give them a call and be real nice and tell them you think they should let the guy be with his daughter because she's dying of cancer and she really wants to see him.

Arrested For Addiction...and Pregnancy

Mindboggling:

Shekelia T. Ward gave birth Jan. 8 at Andalusia Regional Hospital, and the next day she was arrested, jailed and charged with chemical endangerment of a child, a felony.

The reason: Ward and her newborn both tested positive for cocaine, and the hospital reported the information to authorities as evidence of possible child abuse.

Ward's experience is the product of a new law that has some prosecutors, particularly in southeast Alabama, arresting new mothers who test positive for illicit drugs. The prosecutors began filing these charges after the state Legislature in 2006 made it illegal to "chemically endanger" a child.

These are undoubtedly addicts. They are sick. Arresting them and charging them with a crime is inhuman. God.

And look at this:

But he acknowledged the law has some problems and needs clarification. Originally proposed to prosecute parents who exposed children to toxins associated with methamphetamine production, it doesn't mention pregnant women or their babies.

"It's obviously a close call under the law," Gambril said.

It's a close call? Like charging some with battery for having a pack of Evereadys. Unbelievable.

Never Get Busted Again

Almost funny:

A one-time Texas drug agent described by a former boss as perhaps the best narcotics officer in the country plans to begin selling a video that shows people how to conceal their drugs and fool police.

A promotional video says [Barry] Cooper will show viewers how to "conceal their stash," "avoid narcotics profiling" and "fool canines every time."

Cooper, who said he favors the legalization of marijuana, made the video in part because he believes the nation's fight against drugs is a waste of resources. Busting marijuana users fills up prisons with nonviolent offenders, he said.

In 2005, 696,074 people were arrested for possession of marijuana in the U.S. 1,907 a day.

Happy holidays to everyone sitting in prison for possession of pot.