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Pot icon Tommy Chong makes movie of his imprisonment
reuters.com ^ | 9 10 05 | Cameron French

Posted on 09/12/2005 4:36:47 PM PDT by freepatriot32

TORONTO (Reuters) - Comedian Tommy Chong has spent almost three decades wringing laughs from cigar-sized joints and smoke-filled vans but now a nine-month jail term has turned him serious and revitalized his flagging career.

Promoting his documentary "a/k/a Tommy Chong" at the Toronto International Film Festival, he hopes the film will expose what he says is the U.S. government's heavy-handed dealing with marijuana offenders in the post-September 11 era.

"The United States is under martial law, it's under dictatorship," the 67-year-old father of four said in an interview.

The film chronicles the Canadian-born comedian's 2003 arrest and imprisonment for selling drug paraphernalia online to an undercover U.S. drug enforcement agent.

The bust was part of a sting operation known as "Operation Pipe Dreams," which the film likens to a witch hunt by former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft following claims that drug trafficking financed terrorist activities.

The film's producers say the federal government spent $12 million pursuing Chong and compare that to the $25 million bounty for the capture of Osama bin Laden.

Chong has been an outspoken marijuana advocate since his days in the Cheech and Chong comedy team, which rode pot culture to fame in the 1970s with films like "Up in Smoke" and "Still Smokin."

The documentary suggests the government's motive was not to rid the Internet of a mail-order pipe-and-bong business but to send a message about Chong's three decades of movies and stand-up routines celebrating marijuana use.

"DEA AFRAID"

"The DEA was afraid that 'Up in Smoke' (the 1978 movie that made Cheech and Chong a household name) was going to be around forever and ever subverting young kids," Chong said. "Now, we've got this documentary that's going to be around forever."

Faced with the prospect of seeing his wife and son -- who was running the pipe business -- being prosecuted, Chong said he made a deal to serve nine months in a minimum-security prison

"It was easier for me to go to jail and do the time than it would be to fight," he said.

Since his release in 2004, Chong has worked the ordeal into his comedy routines and has been enjoying a larger stage than in his recent past.

"Jay Leno is a good example," he said. "He had me on the 'Tonight Show' before but just for little peripheral things, never on the couch, and when this happened, now I've been on the couch twice now."

"It's like the weed culture. You just wait, it'll change. Everything changes. Bush won't be in power forever, Ashcroft is already gone. There's going to be another cycle and it's going to go the other way."


TOPICS: TV/Movies
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To: tacticalogic

"Outside of that context, arguing different constitutional interpretations based on different scriptural interpretations attempts to drag the Constitution into a religious argument."

Freedom of religion is not checked at the door of debate about Constitutional limits of power upon the federal government. Rights are the God given property of the people and, as are any gifts from God, irrevocable by any government instituted by men. It is not my intention to force the people to adhere to the dietary laws of the old testament. For, God forbid that anyone ever attempt to make sharia law the law of this land. It is with great trepidation that I fight to expose the former religious influence of puritannical nature which has brought us to this state of perpetual war. While you say that what I have posited are 'interpretations', I must say that they are contrasted on the other side of the debate by usurpations and supplantations of remedial language for punitive language. Are we a free nation or a prison nation? How can the commerce clause really trump the freedom of religion?


361 posted on 09/16/2005 8:57:51 AM PDT by PaxMacian (Gen. 1:29)
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To: PaxMacian

Not trump but rather off-suit, IMHO.


362 posted on 09/16/2005 9:29:52 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: PaxMacian
Mercy belongs to those seeking redemption and genuine forgiveness of their sins.

Pro-drug activist and gay activists both are prideful of their sin, so you are quoting the wrong stuff for your self vindication.

363 posted on 09/16/2005 4:04:59 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy
Mercy belongs to those seeking redemption and genuine forgiveness of their sins.

Pro-drug activist and gay activists both are prideful of their sin, so you are quoting the wrong stuff for your self vindication.

Did you just pop in from the Spanish inquisition?

I suggested a few posts back that you might formulate a list of violations of Christian laws that you would like to make federal laws against - and - I can understand that you are very busy just defending your puritan position on the issue of cannabis use - so - I don't expect to see such a list. However - as you continue to push the point that use of marijuana is in some way a violation of the religious views that you embrace - pray tell me if you would like the same degree of enforcement used against marijuana users / merchants for a few of the sins mentioned in just the Ten Commandments i.e.- liars , adulterators, Sabbath breakers. etc.?

Now let's just remember that our federal laws against marijuana use cause the spending of aprox. 10 billion dollars per year to hunt down, arrest, jail, send to court, etc. around 700, 000 basically law abiding citizens just because someone doesn't like how they are altering their mood.

That is un-constitutional and it is just about insane.

I'm going to go right now and have a beer and a smoke of cannabis.

Good - night!

364 posted on 09/16/2005 8:01:07 PM PDT by winston2 (Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness! :-)
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To: winston2

Being irresponsible by using illegal drugs like it is a good thing is a self dillusion. You can check out pretty much all non-flake religions and they call it a sin, not Holy.

The pro-drug crowd are EXACTLY the same as the homosexuals in regard to wanting their sin seen as normal behavior.
You can make up what ever you wish in regards to God blessing your activity, but it isn't so. You are not dealing with reality.


365 posted on 09/16/2005 9:48:41 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy
Being irresponsible by using illegal drugs like it is a good thing is a self delusion. You can check out pretty much all non-flake religions and they call it a sin, not Holy.

Where is it written in the U.S. Constitution that the job of the federal government is to punish sinners and if so why not start with the sins described in the "big Ten" list?

Where is it described in the Bible that followers of God persuade a federal government to punish anyone for perceived sins?

I have another question for you in particular: What is the range of your experience with cannabis and the people who enjoy it? I will recount mine on request.

I suggested a few posts back that you might formulate a list of violations of Christian laws that you would like to make federal laws against - and - I can understand that you are very busy just defending your puritan position on the issue of cannabis use - so - I don't expect to see such a list. However - as you continue to push the point that use of marijuana is in some way a violation of the religious views that you embrace - pray tell me if you would like the same degree of enforcement used against marijuana users / merchants for a few of the sins mentioned in just the Ten Commandments i.e.- liars , adulterators, Sabbath breakers. etc.?

Now let's just remember that our federal laws against marijuana use cause the spending of aprox. 10 billion dollars per year to hunt down, arrest, jail, send to court, etc. around 700, 000 basically law abiding citizens just because someone doesn't like how they are altering their mood.

That is un-constitutional and it is just about insane.

Oh, about last night and the cannabis I smoked- I drank a 12 oz. beer and smoked about the volume of marijuana equal to from your cuticle to the end of your ring finger. I put on some Celtic music from "Hearts of Space", lifted weights, did calisthenics and meditated. One of the advantages for me to smoke marijuana before working out is that I have some skeletal pain that the marijuana eases- making the workout less painful and the euphoric state of mind is a good one to be in while working out and meditating. It was nice.

366 posted on 09/17/2005 6:09:28 AM PDT by winston2 (Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness! :-)
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To: A CA Guy
"all non-flake religions ... call it a sin, not Holy."

Proverbs 15:17
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.


I am guessing the Old Testament quotes hold no weight for you
nor the Judaic take on herb since they are only the 12th largest religion.

Suggested search topics by numbers of believers

SEARCH Christian - Christ - anointed one - oklah
SEARCH Islam - drug possession penalties sharia law
SEARCH Secular - public policy marijuana legalization vote
SEARCH Hindu - Bhang (cannabis)
367 posted on 09/17/2005 9:11:29 AM PDT by PaxMacian
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To: A CA Guy

"Mercy belongs to those seeking redemption and genuine forgiveness of their sins."

Mercy belongs to no one because it is not possessed but given as
Christ bestowed his mercy upon us saying, "Father, forgive them"
I was speaking of your lack of mercy for the sick and dying in the
tone of your statement. Do you really think that they must seek
redemption and genuine forgiveness of sins which you make up
in your head while disregarding the bible's contradiction of such
false piety?

Romans 14: 2-3 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.


368 posted on 09/17/2005 9:32:04 AM PDT by PaxMacian (gen. 1:29)
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To: winston2

Where is anarchy approved in the constitution?


369 posted on 09/17/2005 1:05:54 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: PaxMacian

So now you want to say God says it's better you eat drugs instead of meat? LOL

Keep it up, the lurkers must be loving you.


370 posted on 09/17/2005 1:11:05 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: PaxMacian

You have to be sorry for what you are doing wring to get forgiveness and mercy. The gays and druggies parade and take pride in their sins IMO.


371 posted on 09/17/2005 1:12:21 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy

"So now you want to say God says it's better you eat drugs instead of meat"

It is an unalterable fact that there is no meat nor plant on the face of earth
which contains a more complete and absorbable combination of amino
acids (proteins) than the seed of this particular herb. It was a mainstay
of Europe for centuries in the form of hemp butter. Every early agricultural
site shows evidence of the cultivation of this herb. No greater gift of
material nature has the creator provided the animals and people of Earth.
You seek to eradicate it out of ignorance and bigotry because you are
covetous of a peace you naively hope to obtain from the heal of a boot
upon your throat.


372 posted on 09/17/2005 1:34:23 PM PDT by PaxMacian (gen. 1:29)
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To: A CA Guy

"You have to be sorry for what you are doing wring to get forgiveness and mercy. The gays and druggies parade and take pride in their sins IMO."

The Bible has specific proscriptions against homosexual activity.
Can you quote one such proscription against any herb? against
using any herb as incense? NO! On the contrary there are multiple
examples of both and varying interpretations as to the particular
herb in question.

Oh! I am sure you will be quoting plenty requiring one to remain "sober."
But, no matter how much herb were coursing through my body there
is no way you and your drug warriors could be more sober than I will
remain until the day of reckoning.

Revelation 9:4
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Peach be with you!


373 posted on 09/17/2005 1:57:14 PM PDT by PaxMacian (gen. 1:29)
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To: A CA Guy
Where is anarchy approved in the constitution?

It's not - but - means to defend one's self against bad laws do exist.

Some Quotes on Jury Nullification 

* President John Adams (1771): It is not only ... [the juror's] right, but his duty ... to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court.

* First US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay (Georgia vs Brailsford,  1794): The jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy.

* President Thomas Jefferson (letter to Thomas Paine, 1789): I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet devised by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.

Twelve Facts Jurors Are Not Supposed to Know

This site includes some excellent links to information to the patriot that believes that the federal government has been too powerful for too long.

-------------------------------------------------

I ask questions of Mr. A CA Guy - but rather than answer my question he fires a question to me. I answer your questions. - Could you please reply in kind?

374 posted on 09/18/2005 5:57:13 AM PDT by winston2 (Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness! :-)
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To: subterfuge
A CA Guy talking about alcoholics:

"Maybe after the first offense start to confiscate their wealth and eventually if you must keep them in a prison then use them to clean the roads to earn their way in life."

Is that you Saddam?

You just don't believe in self responsibility.
If you were responsible, you wouldn't get out of control with drinking or smoking pot.
If they are caught breaking the law, most get a small ticket at first for pot and a harsher penalty for drinking.
If you do it again, they start to charge more in fines and jail might come into play.
If people don't stop eventually and keep getting arrested, or continue to hurt others, I would have NO PROBLEM in huge fines and fining their wealth away if need be.

All in the name of forcing self responsibility on people who behave like stupid children.

375 posted on 09/28/2005 12:35:09 AM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: freepatriot32

Oh lord...........looks like Tommy Chong is now the latest 9/11 Twoofer. It’s official. Twoofers are on drugs.


376 posted on 05/09/2008 2:36:06 PM PDT by bigdcaldavis ("Screw Kahlifornia. Gimme Kolinahr." - Me)
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