Exclusive: Border guard fired, 'interrogated' for saying pot should be legalized

i edited the post to not be so provocative , you dont do either thats good man i bet you got a lot more spare cash now right . you see how the argument has defused ? thats whats lifes about buddy .
BTW i dont have kids yet im 33 my girl is 3o i want kids more than anything but you have to admit its a cold world nowadays beans ,peace to you beans no hard feelings pal .

Originally posted by ShadeWolf
He's a border guard. I think it's perfectly sensible to fire him over this. He thinks it should be legalized, and therefore is a risk to security because he might let it pass instead of seizing it and arresting the person carrying it.

Just because he's a gov employee doesn't mean he should lose his First Constitutional Right or any other.

A loooong time Sheriff that just retired not far from where I live was pro-pot, so is the new one that took his place and the mayor. They're still very concerned with our security.
Where I live, we have more pot dispenceries than we do; gas stations, 7-11's and grocery stores combined, seriously. We have very low crime and most are pretty happy around here. LEO's don't seem to mind and it's actually has made their job a little easier in a lot of respects. You don't ever hear of people selling weed on the streets anymore, that element is gone.

reply to post by SevenBeans

Is it good, bad or none of the above to have people driving around stoned?

Unless you can show me a rigorous scientific study, with a statistically significant number of subjects, that demonstrates that being stoned does actually impair driving ability in a manner which causes crashes, then, being a logical person, I must respond: none of the above.

It just isn't good enough to take away millions of people's right to enjoy something based on nothing more than your assumption that the type of intoxication produced by cannabis leads to a dangerous impairment of driving ability. Especially when the anecdotal evidence suggests that stoned people take even more care behind the wheel than they otherwise would, b/c it feels like the car is moving faster than normal.

The border patrol guys I know are all terrible wife-beating drunks. It would be nice if they became potheads. They should be allowed to be peaceful potheads. Life would be better for all.

Originally posted by Bunken Drum
reply to post by SevenBeans

 

Is it good, bad or none of the above to have people driving around stoned?

Unless you can show me a rigorous scientific study, with a statistically significant number of subjects, that demonstrates that being stoned does actually impair driving ability in a manner which causes crashes, then, being a logical person, I must respond: none of the above.

As I've already explained, it's impossible to determine if someone was stoned at the time of a crash.

Originally posted by Bunken Drum
It just isn't good enough to take away millions of people's right to enjoy something based on nothing more than your assumption that the type of intoxication produced by cannabis leads to a dangerous impairment of driving ability.

Would you let your kids ride in a car if you knew the person driving was stoned out of their gourd?

You and I both know that it can cause distorted perception, loss of cooridination, poor judgement, and hallucinations soooo... you think any of these effects can impair your driving ability? Really? You need a study?

Originally posted by TheGhostViking
I second that id like to see . some evidence too

Really? Distorted perception, poor judgement, hallucinations etc. etc. You really need evidence?

Why not just ask for evidence that closing your eyes can impair driving ability?

You and I both know that it can cause distorted perception, loss of cooridination, poor judgement, and hallucinations soooo... you think any of these effects can impair your driving ability? Really? You need a study?

While I'm as much a fan of Henry Ford's invention as the next guy, I don't agree with outlawing things because it impairs operation of a machine. Some people put cucumbers on their eyes when they're sleeping. Should they do this while driving? No, of course not, but I'm not about to agree with legislation outlawing cucumbers because some people don't understand that there's a time and a place for all things.

Originally posted by ShadeWolf
He's a border guard. I think it's perfectly sensible to fire him over this. He thinks it should be legalized, and therefore is a risk to security because he might let it pass instead of seizing it and arresting the person carrying it.

Wait...let me make sure i have this straight...since he is a Border Patrol Agent he has to forego his 1st Amendment right?

Operation Mindcrime???

Originally posted by Boreas
While I'm as much a fan of Henry Ford's invention as the next guy, I don't agree with outlawing things because it impairs operation of a machine. Some people put cucumbers on their eyes when they're sleeping. Should they do this while driving? No, of course not, but I'm not about to agree with legislation outlawing cucumbers because some people don't understand that there's a time and a place for all things.

I don't like banning things either but if someone kills your girlfriend or child etc. etc. because they're stoned out of their gourd and driving it's "oh well, wouldn't want to ruin people's fun?"

They will never be held responsible because it's impossible to prove they were stoned at the time.

Haha If driving around lean was that dangerous I'm sure we would know about it by now!!!
Seriously I dont think the governments etc have a clue how many people actually smoke- most people drive so it figures that theres probably a lot of stoners on the road at any one time, but I can only think of 2 recent(ish) cases in the news involving stoned drivers crashing, one of them was George micheal lol
In my experience most people who drive drunk have normally only had a few but as they are over confident think they are fine to drive, when they are obviously not! If they have had a smoke they are more paranoid about it and if they feel they are too wasted would rather just chill until the effect has worn off a bit, then drive ridiculously carefully as they do not want to get pulled over or crash! You tend not to think about things properly when drunk when stoned its the opposite, you think too much!!
For the record I do not drive myself so I am not talking about me personally- However I have met lots of people who have done both. IMO drunk drivers deserve everything they get!!
Back on topic, yes it is an infringement on freedom of speech.. However surprisingly I do agree with the point that as a customs officer he shouldnt shout this about too much, it is his job at the end of the day to stop these drugs coming through..maybe he should re-think his career options!! Mind you maybe thats why he was in the job in the first place He should have been disciplined- but being sacked and interragated is a bit much!!
Can you imagine if UK had the equilivent of DEA? Im sure they would be kept very busy indeed!!

reply to post by SevenBeans


I see where you're coming from and certainly would want justice if it was my family and someone's arrogant recklessness caused their death, but think about all of the legal drugs that have the same debilitating effect. Beyond that, consider how many people die because of idiots drinking + driving, something which can be tested for and is highly illegal. These kind of laws won't deter asses from being asses, unfortunately. You may find comfort in punishing that person more but if someone's going to be irresponsible, no law will stop them. Just my two cents though.

Originally posted by Britgirl
Haha If driving around lean was that dangerous I'm sure we would know about it by now!!!
Seriously I dont think the governments etc have a clue how many people actually smoke- most people drive so it figures that theres probably a lot of stoners on the road at any one time, but I can only think of 2 recent(ish) cases in the news involving stoned drivers crashing, one of them was George micheal lol

Sigh... it isn't possible to know if someone is stoned when a crash occurs (unless they admit it of course). Gee, wonder why we never hear about people being stoned and crashing...

reply to post by SevenBeans



In the US, the burden of proof lies with the accuser. If the State wishes to prove someone was intoxicated, they need to create the technology to do so. It isn't that hard, you know, to detect short lived metabolites.

It is no excuse to have it claimed "Well, we cannot prove you are doing it or not...so we will just suspend the rights of everyone instead." That is not freedom.