Scott Galindez: "In a major coup for the border patrol's war on drug smuggling on the Mexican border, authorities seized 6 ounces of marijuana and detained notorious pot-smoking outlaw Willie Nelson."
Singer, songwriter, American poet, Willie Nelson, 05/08/08. (photo: Unknown)
Dangerous Outlaw Willie Nelson
Detained by Border Patrol
27 November 10
Reader Supported News | Perspective
n a major coup for the border patrol's war on drug smuggling on the Mexican border, authorities seized 6 ounces of marijuana and detained notorious pot-smoking outlaw Willie Nelson. Nelson was detained after a border patrol officer heroically boarded his tour bus after detecting a pungent scent in the air
US Border Patrol spokesman Bill Brooks said Nelson's tour bus was stopped at a checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas, at about 9 a.m. on Friday. He said an officer smelled pot when a door was opened and a search turned up 6 ounces of marijuana.
Brooks said Nelson was among three people arrested.
Nelson and his crew were reportedly on their way to Austin following a gig in California. The arrest did not take place on the border, but at a checkpoint well inside the United States.
When news of the arrest leaked to Twitter, tweeters were shocked and Nelson shot up to the top of the trending list.
Comedian John Fugelsang pointed out that while Willie Nelson was arrested in Texas for 6 ounces of cannabis, God, who produces it naturally across the globe, is still at large.
A popular retweet: "They arrested Willie Nelson for weed?!? That's like arresting Santa for breaking and entering."
Rock guitarist Slash tweeted: "All things considered, Willie Nelson should have a federal issue, no limit marijuana license. End of story."
However, others tweeted that they would be able to sleep better knowing that Nelson is off the streets.
It didn't take long for Sage Francis to start a new "hash" tag: #FreeWilly.
According to multiple media sources Nelson was released after posting bail in the amount of $2,500.
While I mixed in a little satire, the sad thing is that this is a true story. How many of you would have even looked for the pot? I think I would have told Willie to make sure the driver didn't get stoned, and to have a nice day. After I got his autograph of course.
Scott Galindez was formerly the co-founder of Truthout, and is now the Political Director of Reader Supported News.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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Comments
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Quoting
Can ex-president's give pardons? amnesty? What ever. Leave Willie alone.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-carter-attends-willie-nelson-concert-at-white-house
From my experience, a badge in any state is a license to steal. (double that for "Drug Taskforces")
Mamas, don't let your babies grow up in Texas!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngbcsxFET68
thank you "MW" -- all those shrubs blowing in the TS wind caused more deaths than someone USING (not selling) weed
Quoting
Well, the bloodshed and violence are directly related to the fact that the substance is prohibited. PROHIBITION doesn't work. It only breeds crime. When was the last time you heard of someone killing people off to corner the market on the liquor franchise. Yet during alcohol prohibition gangland massacres occurred on a regular basis. Legalize it, Tax it, and if you want to be a bleeding heart about it, send some of the tax money to drug rehab facilities, but for god's sake, what point is there in sending a man in his 70's to prison for what is for the most part a victimless crime. Texas sucks, the war on drugs sucks and so do holier than thou prohibitionists .
I agree and disagee: A Democrat would have used their time to catch real criminal and shrubs (See MW above)
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There are VERY few "Democrats" worth their salt. The answer to this miscarriage of justice is not to replace Republicans with Democrats...it's to replace ALL the gutless officeholders with progressives who are willing to stand up and repeal these ridiculous laws against smoking grass.
"Democrats" who are not 'part of the solution' are a large 'part of the problem'. We are in desperate need of a 3rd party which will actually represent the interests of "We The People".
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What about the jerk in the White House? He has given ALL of Bush's war criminals a free pass. The current crop of Obama 'Democrats' have let the Bush gang [literally!] get away with Murder. Don't pin any hopes on the "re-constituted Democrats"...they are busy trying to dress themselves up as 'Republicans'.
On the other hand, if you drive that close to the border, you know you're going to get caught. Willie needs to be more careful.
Torn? WHO? the Cop or Willie?
Mickey Grant
Former Marijuanna Smoker (did you Texas Ranger guys SEE the word FORMER!)
I fail to see your point. Getting drug abusers off the street is not incompatible with also tackling child abuse, much of that abuse being at the hands of drug abusers.
Wageslave: putting police efforts to go after drug USERS (not sellers) takes away from finding the abusers of children. I know! My granddaughter lives with an abusive step mother and although I have a lawsuit - all the court looks at is "parents' rights" - ignoring the CPS report filed when the 5 yeard old TOLD school staff -- THAT is a big problem for MANY CHILDREN in the drug abusing USA. And it's the alcohol that is directly related to CHILD ABUSE in LV, NV. Get it?
I believe that parking meters are unconstitutiona l (and that the procedure violates civil procedure basics like proper service of the instrument, and conflict of interest).
If everyone pleaded not guilty to parking tickets, and demanded a trial, that would shut down the system.
I opt for community service in place of paying parking tickets. If you can't or do not want to pay, there is usually an alternative. Volunteer for work at the animal shelter. Food banks need people and Meals on Wheels needs volunteers. Much better than paying fines.
It just another reason to stay out of Texas. You can't get to Austin without going through some dangerous territory.
I'm an 82-yr-old Pedo Viejo here in Maine, and still have a lot of smartenin' up to do but this whole situation is so, so asinine and we're majorly afflicted with anal apertures in denial without much chance of seeing or changing. Alas, and so with the world!
Peace Brother!
Upon such a showing of rights and freedoms at stake our courts are to then hold that the burden shifts to the state whether they can show a reason strong enough to compel the court to allow such encroachment, like actual harmfulness, not simply politics and arbitrary demonization which would normally suffice as basis for legislation if constitutional rights were not at stake!
The recent Prop 19 vote in California, though we lost 46.4% to 53.6%, is actual proof that merely politics, not actual harmfulness is basis for such legislation and our courts should therefore strike down the marijuana laws as unconstitutiona l.
Hopefully, Willie Nelson's lawyers will raise this legal point, the Judge will respond favorably and Willie and all of us can smoke pot freely, get high and think freely at last.
Don't worry, the trooper who arrested him will probably face his own karmic comeuppance some day. Poor guy, his kids probably already hate him. I agree with some of the other comments above, where's ol' Brother George when ya really need him? They don't call it "Texas Justice" fer nuthin', folks. Mission not yet accomplished...
I thought that the American citizens had the right to change the laws....do we need a government to teat us like children and tell us what is good and bad for us...like prohibition?
Millions and millions of dollars wasted each year on the war on drugs...which is a loosing battle!
In the same way, Willie Nelson, as far as his political views are concerned in the state of Texas, is an enemy of the state. And, as a result of his political views, like Martha Stewart, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. It's as simple as that!
About a snowball's chance in hell!! Tom Delay achieved all that he wanted by successfully gerrymandering districts in Texas to replace many Democrats with Republicans with the illegal money he used. Republicans seem to do that a lot. They seem to very easily break the law when they want to, achieve all that they want, get caught and not spend a day in jail.
Pot should be legalizes and controlled by government. This would put a lot of organized crime out of business. Have it taxed like hell. With all the tax money collected it can pay for free healthcare for all Americans. Being a Canadian I do not leave home without my Canadian Health Care. Canadians do like to complain about our health care system for improvements but still feel very fortunate to have it. If our healthcare was taken away from us there would be riots all over Canada.
Kind regards from the old Snowboarder (Grey-on-tray)
BTW, if you're a fan of his and don't have the CDs "Crazy-The Demo Sessions" and "You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker" do yourself a favor and find them. I'm 67 and have most of his stuff since 1965 and these two are the best that Willie has ever done.
I agree with vuartist -
WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A FEDERAL LICENSE FOR NO LIMIT M.J.
J/B
If he boarded that bus to conduct a search after smelling burning pot in the air there is no way he didn't get stoned.
Someone should have handcuffed that lowlife secondary hit freeloader and taken him to the lockup.
I would think a good attorney would be able to challenge the random stop "checkpoint" and subsequent illegal search. Not that a judge would allow such a defense to prevail in Texas...
Needless to say, this type of victimless crime should be eliminated from the law books everywhere.
Don't forget that besides prosecutors, defense attorneys, police and judges, the prison system also benefits from the prosecution of simple victimless crimes such as this. That's an awful lot of money passing around...
This should be treated as a "medical" matter, not a legal one. Society (and the law) is so hypocritically screwed up on this issue that I can barely stand it.
It would be difficult to imagine that Mr. Nelson was unaware of this fact when he choose to transport six ounces of a controlled substance.
In reference to the officers who arrested Mr. Nelson, it is unfair to criticize them for performing the duties of their sworn office.
Checkpoint my ass!
Border Patrol is now stopping people as far away as 100 miles from the border, covering 2/3 of the US population.
See the ACLU Fact Sheet at http://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/fact-sheet-us-constitution-free-zone
That is what happened to my aunt's stepson. He was out celebrating his 18th birthday, when 18 year olds were allowed to drink in Fl., & was pulled over for what became drunk driving & felonious possession of pot. This kid looked like he was 15 or 16 tops & was as good hearted &, the only word that comes to mind is, sweet - well mannered, meek, always thinking of others - a great kid!
I didn't recognize him when he came out. And the way he looked at my 6 year old daughter sent chills down my spine.
I don't know if he was in a private or public prison, but I do know the private sector is growing throughout the country with investors such as American Express, Lehman Bros., General Electric, Goldman Sachs, etc., & has included political allies such as Sen. Lamar Alexander & wife, Honey, & Jim Thompson, ex guv. of Ill.
Stop bogarting our freedom with this ridiculous so-called crime!
Now before the rest of my comment, I need to say I agree that most drugs should be legalized and TAXED!
Those of you throwing complaints and slurs towards law enforcement should realize that for the most part they have a thankless job to do and yet they try to do it the best they can. I recommend contacting your local police/sheriff and see if you can do a "ride along", very eye opening and educational.
Willie Nelson broke the law, but because of who he is most of you seem to think he should have a free pass. Isn't that part of the problem in this country now, to many think they should be exempt from our laws, like most politicians?
If you don't like the law, then work to get it changed. There are several agencies out there trying to get pot legalized. Join one of them. In the meantime quite your whiny anonymous crying about things.
It is easy to post opinions but hard to fight the system legally. It takes lots of money and dedication to win. How many of us sat silent and just watched the election continue to keep personal marijuana use illegal in California? Maybe we wimps weren’t willing to be public about our views. In the meantime, we all should admit without shame that having to legalize a plant already legal because it was made by God (or Nature if you prefer) is absurd. We all know why it is illegal – anyone can grow it and it could hopefully replace taxed alcohol. But these absurdities are sadly common in our country.
Scientists have proven that irreversible climate change produced by human activities is going to make the lives of our children miserable beyond comprehension. The same scientific community that put men on the moon many times has told us we must act immediately. But a majority of us just voted to make climate change deniers the majority of the House. We can't afford to bury our heads in the sand any longer. The legalization of pot is the least of our worries. It is getting late.
it's in the bible!
If used in agriculture as an in-between crop it'll get rid of weeds so we'll use less poison (pesticides) that gets into our food supply.
It provides 4x the amount of fiber production as trees as well as producing a better board.
The only medical drug brought to you and endorsed by god has been illeagle for 50 years by anti-chritian anti-environmentalis ts that dont mind poisoning an entire population.
This is the link for
Law-enforcement against prohibition.
this was started by law enforcement officers that are fed up with the folly of the drug wars.
The thought is quite simple,
Would you rather have the drugs that are to be sold in the hands of adult regulators, or would you rather they be in the hands of your 13 year old son or daughter.
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
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I don't think Willie deserves a "free pass" because of "who he is".
He deserves to be released because HE DID NOTHING WRONG (in spite of what the LAW says)!!
Do the nice thing don't sacrifice another life and generation on illusion of righteousness no matter how much you have invested in it. It has been another bigotry.
This is a serious issue facing the country as powerful corporations & powerful political interests - local, state, or national - are in bed with one of the fastest growing sectors in our otherwise stagnant or slow growing economy - private prisons.
As I stated in my first comment, private prisons are a serious threat to our freedoms as they must lock up more people to give their powerful investors, some of whom were also mentioned in my 1st comment, a 'reasonable rate of return.' Those primarily targeted & incarcerated are non-violent users who, when they come out of these hell-holes, are often violent because of what they had to endure to survive. They are also usually the poor, & their recidivism rates are high.
It is quite easy to understand why this nation leads the world in incarceration rates. I've signed LEMAR & NORML petitions & the result is nil.
As a nation, we should be ashamed.
Shawn Ashby Postlethwait
That Sen. Lamar Alexander & other political leaders are in favor of locking up more of our citizens to put money in their pockets is, on this issue, probably the lesser of our worries. (Mr. Alexander, by the way, used his wife, Honey, as the actual go-between for their investment in CCA, one or the largest private prison corp.s in the nation. Their $9,000 investment netted them, ultimately, $140,000+. CCA is also Sen. Alexander's 2nd largest contributor as of '08.(Check out its co-founder, Tom Beasley, former Chair of Tenn.'s Repub Party, & his relationship w/ the Alexanders - it's sick/criminal?)
The larger worry comes from the $ invested by American Express, Goldman Sachs, GE, etc. They're the heavies in this 'shill game' &, if you are a stockholder, speak out or, better yet, get out.(The Netherlands, by the way - given 40 years - are right.)
I hope Willie will use his bust as an opportunity to go on talk shows and what not and tell this story. In fact, I'm going to communicate this to him.
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