Originally Posted By Mr X Even if she IS guilty of carrying an eight of an ounce of pot (not very much, in other words), I hardly see where she deserves 20 years! If guilty though, she's awfully stupid to try that.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle Totally agree on both points. 20 years is far too severe a punishment.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Yes, WAY irrational. It just sickens me that they won't just hand her over to her own country, especially when she hasn't harmed anyone.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut <<20 years is far too severe a punishment.>> well when you consider that some of the best drugs are floating around ours and the worlds prisons, it might not be all that bad for her.
Originally Posted By Mr X I doubt there is much in the way of decent drugs in THOSE prisons. We're not talking America here. And, who knows...if you accept anything there, you're probably looking at a death sentence all over again (you don't think there is heavy surveillance?)! TDG...I agree fully with that sentiment. I wish it would become INTERNATIONAL LAW. If you are facing charges that might be less harsh (or even, in the case I mentioned, no charges at all) in your home country, you should be let out and allowed to go home WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. And the idiots that run the show should realise that's all for the best anyway. Anything else is just bad press...and why should they care about harrassing foreigners anyway!? They've got their own criminals they can torture and kill. No worries.
Originally Posted By pecos bill There are so many loopholes in California that it might as well be legal. There are doctors who will prescribe it medically for any ailment you can think up. Then you can legally grow your own. You cant smoke in public or while operating a vehicle, but anything else is pretty much fair game. I has always bewildered me that people have been imprisoned and had their lives torn apart over the mere posession of this stuff.
Originally Posted By Mr X Many have even received the death penalty, Pecos Bill. That's where it goes beyond "bewildered"!
Originally Posted By peeaanuut Pecos: state law says legal, fed law says illegal. Fed trumps state in this case. But a local sheriff wont really bust you but a FBI or DEA agent will put you through the ringer.
Originally Posted By pecos bill When I was much younger, I helped construct a state park area in Nevada where we worked closely with convict labor crews. I got to know some of them real well. One of these guys was driving through the great state of Nevada and was pulled over by the Highway Patrol. He was caught with a small amount of Marijuana and ended up in state prison. He owned a restaurant in Seattle and was married with two kids. Sometimes the words "Land Of The Free" seem so hypocritical.
Originally Posted By barboy "I read somewhere that Japan has harsher drug laws than IRAN!" "Japan has the nastiest drug laws around" I'm sure you read that but in no way does Japan come anywhere near the the likes of Middle Eastern states or South East Asian states like Malaysia, Singapore, China, Philippines and Indonesia. Middle Eastern and SE Asian states kill drug possessors. If I had to busted down with drugs I'd much rather be in Japan even though penalties are very harsh.
Originally Posted By Mr X Barboy...very true (of course!). But my amazement stems from the fact that I like to think of Japan as one of the "regular" countries (America, Canada, England, France, etc...) where, in general, you expect to see the punishment fit the crime. Of course, as mentioned above, that's not always the case. But anyway, when it really comes down to it, Japan is a real wolf in sheep's clothing and has some draconian laws that are a lot closer to their Asian and Middle East brethren than we would normally be led to think. That was my point (and I did specifically mention Iran because that's what I read...I do realize a lot of other countries are much more severe). I might have mis-read, but I don't believe Iran has a death penalty for drugs although yes I do realize some other middle-eastern countries do.
Originally Posted By avromark I disagree every country should enforce drug laws like the middle east. (This is WE)
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>only careless fools get caught.<<< lol. You know, I've actually known a couple of people who dared to smuggle, shall we say, "contraband", into Japan. In my opinion, that's just about the dumbest thing you could attempt. Customs has every tool at their disposal to bust people, including strip searches, dogs, x-rays, you name it. Way too much risk!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I really think it would be great if countries legalised Canabis and taxed it. I mean, everyone would be much more mellow. I would not partake, but I stand by the fact that I prefer to come across someone who is stoned, than someone who is drunk.
