Bill Richardson for Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Maybe you've seen this news video that's going around, about the cop who stole someone's marijuana stash and then ate a tray of brownies and called 911 thinking he was dead. It's pretty funny, I admit. [Hat tip: Gina]
But part of me was annoyed that here's this scene of everybody laughing — even the blowdried newsheads know that there's no serious risk to either health or society in getting really, really high, and don't mind communicating that — and yet the government is still throwing billions of dollars at this non-existant problem. Indeed, if anyone other than a cop had made this call, even leaving aside the fact that he stole the drugs to begin with, he'd likely be in jail right now. Maybe they'd have taken his house too. If you call 911 to report a drug overdose, you can be arrested for possession.
Except in New Mexico, where Gov. Bill Richardson recently signed the first law in the nation prohibiting arrest and prosecution based on evidence “gained as a result of the seeking of medical assistance.”
Related: Bill Richardson makes it official.
Previously: Bill Richardson for Secretary of State.
Comments
The poor folks were just having a cannabis induced panic attack... poor them, it's not a fun experience.
Posted by: Hyperman | May 22, 2007 5:26 AM
bill richardson is a supremely competent and reasonable executive. maybe he's not flashy, maybe he's not eloquent, but this time around all i really want from a president is competence.
Posted by: slutwench | May 22, 2007 9:23 AM
That news clip was intoxicatingly funny.
But all the civic-minded stuff just killed my buzz, man.
Posted by: Vance | May 22, 2007 9:58 AM
i'm a little late in commenting on this one, but after having mocked slutwench's dream ticket of richardson/edwards last month, i wanted to note that richardson is sounding much more competent, and even eloquent, lately. maybe he just needed some practice presidential campaigning, i don't know.
(i still think john edwards is sort of a douche.)
Posted by: t.a.m.s.y. | May 30, 2007 5:22 PM
richardson is sounding much more competent, and even eloquent, lately.
Hmm. That's not what I've heard.
Posted by: radosh | May 30, 2007 5:28 PM
yikes. i hadn't seen that appearance (or the coverage of it).
well, whatevs, i'm still an obama man myself. he's flashy, eloquent and competent!
Posted by: t.a.m.s.y. | May 31, 2007 1:47 AM