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"Sentenced" to Write an Anti-Marijuana Essay

by LarryC
34 replies
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I really hate to see judges abusing their authority in this way. I'm against drug laws in general, but this is a case of the government attempting to brainwash people into accepting its laws.

The judge in this case forced a pot dealer to write an essay about the dangers of marijuana. I can't say that this is worse than sending someone to prison, but it's definitely bad in a whole different way. This is a kind of Orwellian Thought Police type tactic. The judge, who is in a position of power, is compelling someone to think a certain way -or face dire consequences (go to jail, presumably).

Regardless of what you think about pot, this is a creepy type of precedent. I don't think judges should have this kind of leeway when it comes to imposing sentences. This happens to have occurred in the UK, but I've heard cases of judges in the U.S. getting "creative" with their demands.

Anytime you combine force with thought, you are on the brink of totalitarianism. Or did I just read too much Ayn Rand when I was younger? (not that I see her having much sympathy for pot smokers).

Note: the following link is actually right (at least the last time I checked) even though the story title is wrong.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
    That's not forcing thought; it's forcing writing. The pot dealer doesn't have to agree with what he writes.

    As to abuse of power, I don't know, but I'd be willing to bet the dealer prefered an essay to going to jail.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      The judge in this case forced a pot dealer to write an essay about the dangers of marijuana.
      It can lead to you being subjected to out of date asinine drug laws. Those laws in turn can lead to a loss of money and freedom. That will lead to having a criminal record and a loss of rights. All for possessing a harmless plant.

      That was easy
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        It can lead to you being subjected to out of date asinine drug laws. Those laws in turn can lead to a loss of money and freedom. That will lead to having a criminal record and a loss of rights. All for possessing a harmless plant.

        That was easy
        That's where I would go with it is to write an essay about being inducted into an extremely corrupt judicial process that includes slave labor - all because I chose to have a plant that has amazing medical benefits. What else IS there anti to say about it? IF the judge got quirky about it the answer is "I was afraid to lie on it - that's perjury."
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    • Profile picture of the author LarryC
      Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

      That's not forcing thought; it's forcing writing. The pot dealer doesn't have to agree with what he writes.

      As to abuse of power, I don't know, but I'd be willing to bet the dealer prefered an essay to going to jail.
      True, you can't force someone to think a certain way. This definitely has an element of brainwashing to it, though.
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      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
        Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

        True, you can't force someone to think a certain way. This definitely has an element of brainwashing to it, though.
        Not for Thom!

        Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    lol, come on that's not even a punishment.
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    and i thought brainwashing only occurred in north korea
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    • Profile picture of the author mojojuju
      Originally Posted by hardraysnight View Post

      and i thought brainwashing only occurred in north korea

      That's not true. I'm actually brainwashing you right now.



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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    It would be a great opportunity to write a satire. I once had a friend who had to write an essay about why it is bad to be be late to math class. He wrote a satirical essay that was so hilarious that his teacher asked him to be late all the time.

    NOTE: I just read ThomM's response, LOL.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    The judge, who is in a position of power, is compelling someone to think a certain way
    I don't think so.

    I'm with you in finding this a little bizarre, and I agree with almost everyone's comments above. This was clearly intended as "imposed education". I happen to agree with you that that's inappropriate, troublesome and probably futile, but writing an essay about the negative aspects of something certainly doesn't "compel anyone to think a certain way".

    By the way, for those unfamiliar with the story, this guy wasn't actually going to prison anyway - this time: this was an alternative to a suspended sentence and community service, and arose only because (having been injured in an sporting accident) he wasn't physically able to do the community service originally ordered.
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  • Profile picture of the author germoney
    I also think that it won't change the dealer's attitude towards drugs..
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Did people read the article?

      The first sentence handed down was a year of probation and 240 hrs of community service.

      The guy said he couldn't do community service due to a shoulder injury from snowboarding. This was the alternative the judge came up with and this guy agrees with it. It sure won't take 240 hrs to write it so I'd say he got off easy.

      This guy says he believes in pot - but truth is he was profiting from it.
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      • Profile picture of the author LarryC
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        Did people read the article?

        The first sentence handed down was a year of probation and 240 hrs of community service.

        The guy said he couldn't do community service due to a shoulder injury from snowboarding. This was the alternative the judge came up with and this guy agrees with it. It sure won't take 240 hrs to write it so I'd say he got off easy.

        This guy says he believes in pot - but truth is he was profiting from it.
        That's not really the point. Obviously, writing an essay is not difficult compared to physical labor or prison. If the guy was injured, couldn't the judge have found some non-physical type of community service?

        I don't even care if the guy agreed to it. I just don't like the idea of the government ordering people to create propaganda that justifies their often irrational and oppressive laws.
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

          That's not really the point. Obviously, writing an essay is not difficult compared to physical labor or prison. If the guy was injured, couldn't the judge have found some non-physical type of community service?

          I don't even care if the guy agreed to it. I just don't like the idea of the government ordering people to create propaganda that justifies their often irrational and oppressive laws.
          Like the wat they get people to say Cannabis is addictive.
          The way that scam works is a judge will give a defendant a choice between jail time or saying cannabis is addictive and going into rehab for a couple of months.
          Then the govt. shows a statistic "proving" cannabis is addictive.:rolleyes:
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          • Profile picture of the author Kay King
            That's not really the point. Obviously, writing an essay is not difficult compared to physical labor or prison. If the guy was injured, couldn't the judge have found some non-physical type of community service?
            It is the point - if the guy who was sentenced has no problem with being told to write an essay ....why should anyone else be complaining? Would it be better if he went to jail? Better for whom or whose cause? Do you think the judge should have said "oh, you have a sore shoulder...never mind, you can go"?

            Do we now go into court after breaking a law and tell the judge what we are "willing" to do as punishment?
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            • Profile picture of the author LarryC
              Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

              It is the point - if the guy who was sentenced has no problem with being told to write an essay ....why should anyone else be complaining? Would it be better if he went to jail? Better for whom or whose cause? Do you think the judge should have said "oh, you have a sore shoulder...never mind, you can go"?

              Do we now go into court after breaking a law and tell the judge what we are "willing" to do as punishment?
              Well, actually, yes I do think they should have just let him go as I don't see any justification for these laws at all. That, however, is another topic.

              Even when it comes to legitimate laws (i.e. where there is a victim), I don't think judges should have the power to just invent punishments. Even if this hardly qualifies as a punishment, it's still rather arbitrary. In a free society, laws are objective and not thought up on the spot by judges.

              To me, the main point is not that this guy suffered greatly, which he obviously didn't. It's just the idea of governments compelling people to spew out nonsense that is supposed to justify their silly laws.
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

            Like the wat they get people to say Cannabis is addictive.
            The way that scam works is a judge will give a defendant a choice between jail time or saying cannabis is addictive and going into rehab for a couple of months.
            Then the govt. shows a statistic "proving" cannabis is addictive.:rolleyes:
            If the judge told me to write the report (and I thought he had a sense of humor) I might say;

            "Judge, I can't write a report about Marijuana. Because that report would be a gateway report. After I write one report, and then get the emotional high from knowing people read my reports.....I may become addicted to writing reports.

            And not just reports of soft subjects, but hard reports...Reports that could affect my health, and land me in jail. Do we even know the long term effects of habitual addictive report writing?

            How many people have to die from compulsive report writing, before we put a stop to it?

            We see this over and over again....First you write a simple report, that one is usually free...then you are off to harder reports..blogs, pamphlets...books....and you find that you can't stop. Sure, you tell yourself 'I can quit writing any time I want'...but you can't.

            It's a slippery slope. Look at Stephen King. He started out writing simple reports in school. But the habit got him...he couldn't stop....soon, he was writing stories.....and then books...and now his books are a thousand pages long! He has to seek help before it's too late!

            Judge, save me from a lifetime addiction to writing...stop me before I lose control, and it consumes me. Thank you"
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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          Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

          I just don't like the idea of the government ordering people to create propaganda that justifies their often irrational and oppressive laws.
          I wouldn't like that, either. But I think there's absolutely no intention of "propaganda", here? That would depend on the use to which the essay is put (I don't think anyone's suggesting that it be published anywhere, are they?), not on the fact that it's being written? "Propaganda" means "publication"/"propagation of material", not "creation of material", after all.
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          • Profile picture of the author ThomM
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            I wouldn't like that, either. But I think there's absolutely no intention of "propaganda", here? That would depend on the use to which the essay is put (I don't think anyone's suggesting that it be published anywhere, are they?), not on the fact that it's being written? "Propaganda" means "publication"/"propagation of material", not "creation of material", after all.
            Depends on what he writes.
            If it is something they can use for propaganda they will.
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            • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              If it is something they can use for propaganda they will.
              Hmmm, well, I doubt this. I suspect actually it might not even be legal for them to do that (he'd still own the copyright, unless specified otherwise?). And I think it would also be dreadfully embarrassing for them to try to do that? They don't typically like having to sentence people for this kind of offense at all.

              I'm not sure there's any great "they" about this, anyway, you know? This is just one mildly eccentric/mildy amused and imaginative judge's own opinion, I think.

              Very many judges over here are pretty casual in their whole approach to this sort of offense, you know? Nobody takes "possession" seriously, and even most cases of "with intent to supply" (as judged by the quantity, typically) are nothing like what they used to be.

              If people are terribly pro-marijuana and anti law-enforcement, they're really barking up the wrong tree altogether if they think the UK is a good country to be criticizing on this front (I'm not suggesting you meant it that way, of course, Thom!). By comparison with many/most countries, our authorities are pretty much liberal/libertarian about it, even if some of the laws are out of date. "Just saying".
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              • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                Hmmm, well, I doubt this. I suspect actually it might not even be legal for them to do that (he'd still own the copyright, unless specified otherwise?). And I think it would also be dreadfully embarrassing for them to try to do that? They don't typically like having to sentence people for this kind of offense at all.

                I'm not sure there's any great "they" about this, anyway, you know? This is just one mildly eccentric/mildy amused and imaginative judge's own opinion, I think.

                Very many judges over here are pretty casual in their whole approach to this sort of offense, you know? Nobody takes "possession" seriously, and even most cases of "with intent to supply" (as judged by the quantity, typically) are nothing like what they used to be.

                If people are terribly pro-marijuana and anti law-enforcement, they're really barking up the wrong tree altogether if they think the UK is a good country to be criticizing on this front (I'm not suggesting you meant it that way, of course, Thom!). By comparison with many/most countries, our authorities are pretty much liberal/libertarian about it, even if some of the laws are out of date. "Just saying".
                If he has to write it for the court then the court (or state) would own the copyright on it.
                The they is the D.E.A. and they will use anything that is to their advantage and try to spin it into the truth. They did it with people tkaing rehab over prison and spun that into their "proof" that cannabis is addictive, after all why else would someone go to rehab:rolleyes:
                I wasn't talking about the U.K. Alexa. I know nothing of your laws or attitude there.
                Over here in the U.S. they'll (D.E.A.) will use any means possible to justify their stand on cannabis. Their logic is if you lie often enough and with conviction then eventually people will believe it's the truth.
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                • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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                  Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

                  The they is the D.E.A. and they will use anything that is to their advantage
                  LOL, well, ok ... then please forgive me for not appreciating that when discussing a specific case from Bristol Crown Court, in England, the "they" you referred to apparently meant the DEA in the US?! :p
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                  • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                    Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                    LOL, well, ok ... then please forgive me for not appreciating that when discussing a specific case from Bristol Crown Court, in England, the "they" you referred to meant the DEA in the US?! :p
                    It was confusing me also
                    I kept forgetting this happened in the U.K., it does sound like something an American judge would do.
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                  • Profile picture of the author art72
                    Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                    LOL, well, ok ... then please forgive me for not appreciating that when discussing a specific case from Bristol Crown Court, in England, the "they" you referred to meant the DEA in the US?! :p
                    Oops... didn't notice that one myself.

                    Either way, doesn't change how I feel about some of the current US laws, lol.:rolleyes:
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              • Profile picture of the author HeySal
                Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                Hmmm, well, I doubt this. I suspect actually it might not even be legal for them to do that (he'd still own the copyright, unless specified otherwise?). And I think it would also be dreadfully embarrassing for them to try to do that? They don't typically like having to sentence people for this kind of offense at all.

                I'm not sure there's any great "they" about this, anyway, you know? This is just one mildly eccentric/mildy amused and imaginative judge's own opinion, I think.

                Very many judges over here are pretty casual in their whole approach to this sort of offense, you know? Nobody takes "possession" seriously, and even most cases of "with intent to supply" (as judged by the quantity, typically) are nothing like what they used to be.

                If people are terribly pro-marijuana and anti law-enforcement, they're really barking up the wrong tree altogether if they think the UK is a good country to be criticizing on this front (I'm not suggesting you meant it that way, of course, Thom!). By comparison with many/most countries, our authorities are pretty much liberal/libertarian about it, even if some of the laws are out of date. "Just saying".
                I believe the problem with this "sentence" is that it can be used for "proof" the law is just in punishing offenders. That's why I suggest, rather than a written admission that I was doing something harmful to myself and society, the defendant should write on the seriousness of the damage caused by marijuana once it has been propagandized, illegalized, and used to stock corporate prisons with slaves who were of absolutely no danger to society, yet whose lives are ruined by the law. After all, that is the true danger of marijuana. The judge gets his paper, the defendant shows he has studied the issue, and nothing can be passed anywhere that serves as admission of value of the laws for anyone but the heads of the system.
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          • Profile picture of the author LarryC
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            I wouldn't like that, either. But I think there's absolutely no intention of "propaganda", here? That would depend on the use to which the essay is put (I don't think anyone's suggesting that it be published anywhere, are they?), not on the fact that it's being written? "Propaganda" means "publication"/"propagation of material", not "creation of material", after all.
            I have no idea if this essay will be published or used publicly in any way. Even if it doesn't, however, I was using propaganda in a broader sense. I assume the idea is that by getting someone to research and write something, he is supposed to be "rehabilitated" and learn the error of his ways.

            Granted, this case is not even close to being the worst example of government abuse of power. It's rather trivial. It just jumped out at me as having an Orwellian flavor to it, especially since the health hazards of cannabis are so minor compared to many legal foods and substances.
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          • Profile picture of the author HeySal
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            I wouldn't like that, either. But I think there's absolutely no intention of "propaganda", here? That would depend on the use to which the essay is put (I don't think anyone's suggesting that it be published anywhere, are they?), not on the fact that it's being written? "Propaganda" means "publication"/"propagation of material", not "creation of material", after all.
            Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

            It is the point - if the guy who was sentenced has no problem with being told to write an essay ....why should anyone else be complaining? Would it be better if he went to jail? Better for whom or whose cause? Do you think the judge should have said "oh, you have a sore shoulder...never mind, you can go"?

            Do we now go into court after breaking a law and tell the judge what we are "willing" to do as punishment?
            See Thom's comment on post #14

            Exactly, Thom. This is exactly how they build propaganda. Corn-fed citizenry. We're so screwed.
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            • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
              Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

              Did people read the article?
              Aw Kay, since when do we need to read an article to form an opinion about it? :p


              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              Over here in the U.S. they'll (D.E.A.) will use any means possible to justify their stand on cannabis. Their logic is if you lie often enough and with conviction then eventually people will believe it's the truth.
              My guess is "often enough" is just once for about half the country. There are still plenty of people who believe whatever the government and lame stream media tell them.
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              • Profile picture of the author HeySal
                Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

                Aw Kay, since when do we need to read an article to form an opinion about it? :p




                My guess is "often enough" is just once for about half the country. There are still plenty of people who believe whatever the government and lame stream media tell them.
                People stood for Obamacare - jacked their jaw all over for it without once bothering to read it - ya think this type of article's gonna get more reverence? LMAO.
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    Honestly everyone should get in the drug business if sentences is like this.

    what next stand in a corner for 15 minutes?2 hours detention with no speaking rule?

    write "i will not push pot" on a blackboard?
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
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    The guy could probably get that essay finished up with a fiverr gig, lol.

    Spin it at 83%, the judge will never know. That would be hilarious...
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill View Post

    "What we've got here... is a failure to communicate, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it, and I don't like it any more than you men!"
    Great movie!

    From my own personal experiences with the law, there was absolutely no regard for justice whatsoever...the only focus was on money, money, and more money!

    Hell, someone has to pay for those shiny elevators, marble laden halls, and fat salaries, right?

    MONEY = POWER = CONTROL = CONFORMITY = INJUSTICE

    "So, what we have here... IS NOT the way "WE THE PEOPLE" wants it... it's criminal in itself, and we're basically powerless against it, for the time being!"

    I mean c'mon don't we have bigger issues to deal with than arresting nearly 800,000 people a year for a little weed?

    God forbid, we might smoke a fattie and think aliens do exist or something crazy, right?:rolleyes:

    Perhaps priority should be on paying off our countries debts... caused by whom?

    Meanwhile, this judge has issued a language arts lesson... how ironic. Perhaps, underneath that robe, even he thinks its a f'in joke! Certainly a 'slap-on-the-wrist' compared to going to jail or doing 240 community hours... but here we are looking at this like it's a 'good deal' for the guy, right?

    I disagree, and believe certain laws (*created by bigots) hold no value, therefore this punishment, be it small as it may... is a continuum to the absurdity this country has allowed to be imposed upon itself, while greater issues are going ignored. Imagine if they invested half as much in providing solution to the many displaced and homeless living in this country?

    I believe it's another case of "distraction tactic" on what's really going on... IMHO. Keeping everyone blinded from the truth, and their freedoms in one 'fowl' swoop!

    If our precious law-makers focused on providing solutions over that of "mining our pockets for change" to pay debts created from their compounded mistakes... we may actually be a "FREE" Nation one day... as of yet, I don't foresee that in the near or distant future.

    My fishing partner and close friend is currently facing a "3rd Degree Felony" charge and a "Misdemeanor" possession charge... for eating a $5 sack of weed (*Destruction of evidence, lol) while being pulled over. It's almost laughable, they took a picture of the 'crumbs' on his shirt, and found rolling papers in the vehicle.

    Yet ths man works hard, has 2 young children, and a baby on the way. It took 2 days, and $300 to bond him out. Surely, this 'event' will cost him thousands of dollars that should be going to him supporting his children and family, paying his bills, and yet... he now faces (2) options: Pay a lawyer and 'maybe' beat the charges -or- submit to a "No Contest" plea followed by probation costs, court costs, counseling, suspension of his driver's license, drug treatment, time loss from work, whatever else they can scratch out of him...

    Is all this really necessary for $5 worth of pot?... I think it's stupid... and it pisses me off, deeply! -Just knowing this can happen to anyone, or even myself... (although, I probably wouldn't have left any crumbs.:p) is an injustice.

    I could understand if he was distributing mass quantities or something, but I've NEVER heard of a "Felony" for a $5 nickel-sack... REALLY? :confused:

    I'm sure some would say... just don't smoke it then, or eat it in this case. I find that also being stated completely from a bias standpoint. I don't take pills (anymore), I don't drink (anymore). Yet, in under an hour, I can have a script for "Roxy's" or "Oxy-Codone" - a 5th of Rum and be completely 'numb... and it's perfectly legal. - I smoke a little, I relax, it calms my nerves... risk going to jail, cause I'm a criminal. :confused:

    Sorry, but pills, alcohol, and me... BAD combination! -I learned this the hard way.

    Yet, what works for me (and millions of others)... is 'coined' illegal? - NONSENSE!

    These kinda threads always get me worked up... hope I didn't offend anyone -or- tread too close to the TOS or something!

    Just legalize it already, and stop this absurdity!
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  • Profile picture of the author mrozlat
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    I really hate to see judges abusing their authority in this way. I'm against drug laws in general, but this is a case of the government attempting to brainwash people into accepting its laws.

    The judge in this case forced a pot dealer to write an essay about the dangers of marijuana. I can't say that this is worse than sending someone to prison, but it's definitely bad in a whole different way. This is a kind of Orwellian Thought Police type tactic. The judge, who is in a position of power, is compelling someone to think a certain way -or face dire consequences (go to jail, presumably).

    Regardless of what you think about pot, this is a creepy type of precedent. I don't think judges should have this kind of leeway when it comes to imposing sentences. This happens to have occurred in the UK, but I've heard cases of judges in the U.S. getting "creative" with their demands.

    Anytime you combine force with thought, you are on the brink of totalitarianism. Or did I just read too much Ayn Rand when I was younger? (not that I see her having much sympathy for pot smokers).

    Note: the following link is actually right (at least the last time I checked) even though the story title is wrong.
    Yahoo! Shine - Women's Lifestyle | Healthy Living and Fashion Blogs
    write about the dangers of marijuana when not used as a medicine
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by mrozlat View Post

      write about the dangers of marijuana when not used as a medicine
      Don't take this the wrong way but why don't you just start a new thread, that way you can actually have a discussion with the people in the thread as opposed to people that ceased having this conversation years ago?
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      Wibble, bark, my old man's a mushroom etc...

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