Posted on 02/28/2013 10:18:49 AM PST by Lexington Green
One of the suspects in this case is dying.
She is in her 60s, and confined to a wheelchair.
One of the other suspects is her caretaker.
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He is also in his 60s, and a disabled Vietnam veteran.
This husband-and-wife crime wave were at their home in Parrish, just across the Sunshine Skyway bridge in Manatee County, when deputies arrived Monday afternoon.
It seems a real estate agent had been checking out a house next door when she spotted marijuana plants growing in the back yard of Bob and Cathy Jordan.
Several deputies, detectives and undercover narcotics cops in ski masks later, two mature plants and various seedlings were confiscated, and the case was turned over to the State Attorney's Office to determine if charges are to be brought against Ma and Pa Jordan.
This would almost be comical if Bob was not worried it might lead to his wife's death.
Cathy Jordan has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) and has depended on marijuana to combat the progressive nature and many of the symptoms of her disease.
"I know it's against the law, and I know the cops have a job to do. But I have a responsibility, too, and my responsibility is taking care of my wife,'' said Bob Jordan, a retired steel worker. "They don't have to tell me this is serious. To us, this is life-and-death serious.
"I'm not backing down. If I have to go to jail, I'll go to jail. Just because something is illegal, doesn't make it morally wrong. My wife is dying! She's dying, man.''
Unbeknownst to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, the people they were investigating have been leaders in a push to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes in Florida.
On Wednesday afternoon, two days after the incident, Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, filed the previously planned Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act (SB 1250) in the Senate.
Clemens has filed similar bills the previous two years in the House and has essentially been ignored by his fellow legislators.
Even though 18 states have passed medical marijuana laws, and recent polls indicate Florida residents are overwhelmingly in favor of it, Clemens has little faith that his legislation will pass this year. His hope is that it will at least be discussed in a workshop and pick up momentum for sometime down the road.
"What is the public purpose of this policy? Is this the best way to use law enforcement resources?'' Clemens asked. "We are spending billions of dollars investigating, arresting, prosecuting and then housing people for small-time drug offenses. It's mind-boggling.
"The hope is that by regulating medicinal cannabis we can at least eliminate the senseless cases like this one in Manatee County.''
In the meantime, the Jordans are talking to an attorney and hoping the State Attorney's Office decides this is not a case worth pursuing.
They're also worrying about Cathy's health because they say cannabis is the only drug that has alleviated her depression and muscle issues while also helping with her appetite.
"This is her medicine. It's that simple,'' said Bob Jordan. "The problem is people are prejudiced against cannabis because of the tie-dye, hippie, bulls--- image.
"They don't have a cure for this. And none of their legal drugs ever did a thing for her.''
Note the parallel to gun-control initiatives with respect to criminals vs. the law-abiding.
This is more like a case study of Soros’ influence peddling machines trying to legalize narcotics. In Colombia they voted 95% against it because they know first hand the crime, addiction devastation, and death that comes with drugs. All drugs.
More laws...Ban guns, ban beer..ban cars that can go faster than the speed limit...Ban it all
These people are obviously Loserdopians whose heads need a couple of cracks from the Fed’s nightstick so they can learn to ThinkRight.
Yes, that's right. Billions.
Jail is big, big business for those sheriff's departments that have nominal management at county jails.
It also cures pernicious dandruff.
Hope that’s sarcasm. If not, submit a resume to the sheriff’s department. You’d do great in inmate management.
I know it’s illegal but I want it therefore I should be allowed to have it.
I’m sure you will get flamed for your post, but you are spot on. There will always be these pull-at-the-heart-strings stories out there. The Left practically invented this emotional tactic.
The bottom line is that there are always better medical alternatives to marijuana. Most people with more than one brain cell left know that the whole “medical marijuana” angle is a ruse, an effort to slowly break down the resistance.
I have no doubt this guy is thoroughly convinced that marijuana helps his wife, but the science says that there are better alternatives.
It is time to stop the deception. Medical marijuana is the pathway used to legalize smoking pot, the path of least resistance.
Why not advocate legalizing the plant-based drugs, cocaine or heroin too?
lol...Ya never know anymore....Ya got people out here cheering on the feds....yuk yuk...
The best sarcasm is when people can't even tell it's sarcasm!
Wow . . . a '98er. Can't believe we've never crossed paths before on the WOD threads.
So they can make Tobacco into gum and Patches, but they cannot make Marijuana into a pill?????
This is the MAIN issue I have with “Medical Pot”
Funny stuff...
Tobacco should be banned!!
Those using the gum need to pay additional fees and should be registered and licensed. In fact, those who are against this, should be investigated.
I got run off plenty of those threads. lol, miss A+Bert, tho. Old Atlanta, too.
“Why not advocate legalizing the plant-based drugs, cocaine or heroin too?”
Exactly so! That is the question to raise.
Why does anyone having witnessed the history of the last 100 years trust the government to act in good faith for the benefit of the people in matters involving money, especially huge amounts of money?
Legalizing opium and cocaine would be a net benefit to society, even if it is some sort of an imposition on control freaks, and deprives certain interests of their revenues.
Actually, in this specific case, her husband flat-out reported that science does not. And perhaps I'm reading too much into this story, but her husband sounds like the sort of fellow who'd move heaven and earth to help ease his wife's pain and suffering, so if science could offer him a viable alternative, I'd bet dollars to doughnuts he'd be on board with it.
Doesn't the 10th Amendment leave that decision to the states? Do you support honoring the 10th?
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