At press time, comedian Tommy Chong is in his third week in federal prison in California, where he's serving a nine-month sentence after pleading guilty to selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet. Chong was popped in February as part of the federal government's much-hyped paraphernalia sting, code-named Operation Pipe Dreams.
While selling drug paraphernalia is technically illegal, the decision on whether to pursue bong sellers as criminals has long been left to the discretion of local law enforcement agencies.
OPD operations were based in Iowa and Pennsylvania -- two states with a reputation for considering paraphernalia peddling a serious crime -- and Chong was trapped in the OPD net after sending a hand-blown glass bong to Beaver Falls, Pa.
While two previous Pipe Dreams defendants pled guilty to similar charges, each was sentenced only to six months of house arrest; so far, of the 50 Pipe Dreams defendants, Chong is the only one who has been sent to jail (see "Will Chong's Freedom Go up in Smoke?," Sept. 26). Chong and his supporters say the comedian's sentence is unreasonably harsh and claim that prosecutor Mary Beth Buchanan, the U.S. attorney for Pennsylvania's western district, used the pot-toking character that Chong has played for 30 years as evidence that the real-life Chong undermines drug-law enforcement.
On Sept. 17, attorney Stanton Levenson filed an appeal of Chong's sentence with the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, claiming that the government relied on "improper evidence" when sentencing Chong. "Apparently they have an inability to separate fact from fiction," Levenson told the Chronicle. Further, Levenson said that during the sentencing hearing, Judge Arthur Schwab "extracted a promise" from Chong that he wouldn't "use this experience" in any of his future "entertainment enterprises" -- a pledge that Levenson said is likely a violation of Chong's free-speech rights. Levenson is also asking that Schwab release Chong on bail while the 3rd Circuit considers his appeal. Schwab is expected to rule on the motion some time next week.
Meanwhile, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has kicked off a "Free Tommy Chong" campaign and, along with Chong's wife Shelby, are asking that Chong's supporters drop him a line. "He's going to be getting a ton of mail," said NORML Director Allen St. Pierre.
To join the letter train, address mail to:
Tommy Kin Chong
Inmate No. 07798-068
Taft CI
Unit A No. 4B
PO Box 7001
Taft, CA 93268
NORML: Free Tommy Chong! by Jordon Smith
Source: Austin Chronicle (TX) October 24, 2003
Contact: louis@auschron.com * Website
Related Articles & Web Site
U.S. law enforcement spends $7.5 to $10 billion annually enforcing marijuana laws.
According to the FBI, 720,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges in 2001.
Keith Stroup, (NORML)
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Will Chong's Freedom Go Up in Smoke?
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Source: New York Times October 22, 2003
A flack for the new movie "Potluck" told us excitedly that "half the cast was either in prison or rehab." Press agents exaggerate, of course, and as far as we could determine, only two actors in the film are or were so indisposed: TOMMY CHONG, sentenced this month to nine months in prison for conspiring to sell bongs over the Internet, and JASON MEWES, reportedly in rehab.
A prison sentence, of course, is no reason to shirk one's promotional duties, so we called Mr. Chong in the Taft Correctional Institution, near Bakersfield, Calif.
Rush Limbaugh: aka Jeff Christie 1972 - 1973 KQV Radio Pittsburgh,Pa
Meet Thine Enemy By Michelangelo Signorile
Source: New York Press October 22, 2003
Its true that Rush Limbaugh wont be going through cold, nasty, state-funded drug treatment like his poorer fellow addictsthat is, in the states that still have treatment slots open, as Republicans, spurred by people like Limbaugh and his armies, have consistently put the kibosh on government-funded drug programs. And yes, as a loaded, white alleged buyer of illegal drugs he probably wont go to jail the way a street addict would, though the maid he allegedly got to buy illegal pain pills for him may be put in the can.
Makes No Sense At All
Osburn Defense Fund
* The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry *
Has Ashcroft Abandoned Federalism for Fed. Power? By Radley Balko
Legal Marijuana Smoker Touts 'Good Medicine' By Jessamy Brown
Source: Star-Telegram October 23, 2003
Denton - When George McMahon picks up his pain relief medicine, he has to go through two sets of locked doors and, once home, store it in a locked safe. He's just done a drug deal, but it's legal.
McMahon, who smokes 10 marijuana cigarettes a day to ease chronic pain, is one of a handful of patients in the government's little-known medical marijuana program.
Fear of Flying
Patients Out of Time
Tourist-Free Coffee Shops Rejected
Hashish Is Medical Marijuana Attorney General Says
While selling drug paraphernalia is technically illegal, the decision on whether to pursue bong sellers as criminals has long been left to the discretion of local law enforcement agencies.
OPD operations were based in Iowa and Pennsylvania -- two states with a reputation for considering paraphernalia peddling a serious crime -- and Chong was trapped in the OPD net after sending a hand-blown glass bong to Beaver Falls, Pa.
While two previous Pipe Dreams defendants pled guilty to similar charges, each was sentenced only to six months of house arrest; so far, of the 50 Pipe Dreams defendants, Chong is the only one who has been sent to jail (see "Will Chong's Freedom Go up in Smoke?," Sept. 26). Chong and his supporters say the comedian's sentence is unreasonably harsh and claim that prosecutor Mary Beth Buchanan, the U.S. attorney for Pennsylvania's western district, used the pot-toking character that Chong has played for 30 years as evidence that the real-life Chong undermines drug-law enforcement.
On Sept. 17, attorney Stanton Levenson filed an appeal of Chong's sentence with the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, claiming that the government relied on "improper evidence" when sentencing Chong. "Apparently they have an inability to separate fact from fiction," Levenson told the Chronicle. Further, Levenson said that during the sentencing hearing, Judge Arthur Schwab "extracted a promise" from Chong that he wouldn't "use this experience" in any of his future "entertainment enterprises" -- a pledge that Levenson said is likely a violation of Chong's free-speech rights. Levenson is also asking that Schwab release Chong on bail while the 3rd Circuit considers his appeal. Schwab is expected to rule on the motion some time next week.
Meanwhile, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has kicked off a "Free Tommy Chong" campaign and, along with Chong's wife Shelby, are asking that Chong's supporters drop him a line. "He's going to be getting a ton of mail," said NORML Director Allen St. Pierre.
To join the letter train, address mail to:
Tommy Kin Chong
Inmate No. 07798-068
Taft CI
Unit A No. 4B
PO Box 7001
Taft, CA 93268
NORML: Free Tommy Chong! by Jordon Smith
Source: Austin Chronicle (TX) October 24, 2003
Contact: louis@auschron.com * Website
Related Articles & Web Site
U.S. law enforcement spends $7.5 to $10 billion annually enforcing marijuana laws.
According to the FBI, 720,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges in 2001.
Keith Stroup, (NORML)
He's Taking One Big Hit
Will Chong's Freedom Go Up in Smoke?
Chong To Appeal Prison Sentence
Tommy Chong Speaks From Behind Bars
Rush and Chong - Sierra Times
Crash of Conservative Icons
And Won't Rush Be Pleased to Get a Card By Joyce Wadler
Source: New York Times October 22, 2003
A flack for the new movie "Potluck" told us excitedly that "half the cast was either in prison or rehab." Press agents exaggerate, of course, and as far as we could determine, only two actors in the film are or were so indisposed: TOMMY CHONG, sentenced this month to nine months in prison for conspiring to sell bongs over the Internet, and JASON MEWES, reportedly in rehab.
A prison sentence, of course, is no reason to shirk one's promotional duties, so we called Mr. Chong in the Taft Correctional Institution, near Bakersfield, Calif.
Rush Limbaugh: aka Jeff Christie 1972 - 1973 KQV Radio Pittsburgh,Pa
Meet Thine Enemy By Michelangelo Signorile
Source: New York Press October 22, 2003
Its true that Rush Limbaugh wont be going through cold, nasty, state-funded drug treatment like his poorer fellow addictsthat is, in the states that still have treatment slots open, as Republicans, spurred by people like Limbaugh and his armies, have consistently put the kibosh on government-funded drug programs. And yes, as a loaded, white alleged buyer of illegal drugs he probably wont go to jail the way a street addict would, though the maid he allegedly got to buy illegal pain pills for him may be put in the can.
Makes No Sense At All
Osburn Defense Fund
* The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry *
Has Ashcroft Abandoned Federalism for Fed. Power? By Radley Balko
Legal Marijuana Smoker Touts 'Good Medicine' By Jessamy Brown
Source: Star-Telegram October 23, 2003
Denton - When George McMahon picks up his pain relief medicine, he has to go through two sets of locked doors and, once home, store it in a locked safe. He's just done a drug deal, but it's legal.
McMahon, who smokes 10 marijuana cigarettes a day to ease chronic pain, is one of a handful of patients in the government's little-known medical marijuana program.
Fear of Flying
Patients Out of Time
Tourist-Free Coffee Shops Rejected
Hashish Is Medical Marijuana Attorney General Says
