Top federal prosecutor in Seattle overrules Border Patrol in small scale pot busts

[babylonsister]

Last updated November 14, 2008 10:19 p.m. PT

Jim Bryant / P-I
Steve Dixon, shown outside his Brinnon home, was pulled over by the U.S. Border Patrol in August and busted for having 3 grams of medical marijuana. The charge against him was dismissed Wednesday.
Small-scale pot busts snared in Border Patrol stops

By PAUL SHUKOVSKY
P-I REPORTER


The top federal prosecutor in Seattle has overruled the Border Patrol, whose officers filed petty marijuana charges against five people stopped at roadblocks in Washington.

The roadblocks -- set up dozens of miles from the border -- are meant to detect terrorists, undocumented immigrants and drug traffickers. But they also have snared people such as Stephen Dixon, 55, a disabled veteran who uses medical marijuana with a doctor's approval to fight unrelenting pain. Border Patrol officers cited him for misdemeanor marijuana possession earlier this year.

Even though U.S. Attorney Jeff Sullivan dismissed the federal charges against Dixon on Wednesday, along with four others cited for minor marijuana possession, Dixon isn't a happy man.

"It has affected how I travel, how I visit family," Dixon said in an interview Friday. "I don't want to go anywhere. I don't want to be out on the highways. I don't want it to happen again. It left a pretty bad taste in my mouth.

"I'm not proud of my country anymore. I don't like what we are doing abroad, and I don't like what we are doing at home."

more...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/387945_pot15.html

[arcadian]

1. Police State USA

n't

[Generic Other]

2. Practically in my neighborhood

I don't see how those border patrol creeps have any right detaining citizens of the state of Washington for any reason whatsoever. We are not in their jurisdiction if we are not crossing the borders. The Hood Canal Bridge is halfway between Canada and Oregon! Right smack in the middle of our state.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. This is the map they are allowed to set up check points- no joke

Using data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the ACLU has determined that nearly 2/3 of the entire US population (197.4 million people) live within 100 miles of the US land and coastal borders.

The government is assuming extraordinary powers to stop and search individuals within this zone. This is not just about the border: This " Constitution-Free Zone" includes most of the nation's largest metropolitan areas.

We urge you to call on Congress to hold hearings on and pass legislation to end these egregious violations of Americans' civil rights.

http://www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/areyoulivinginaconstitutionfreezone.html

[Metta]

4. "Dozens of miles from the border ...." Home Sec can stop us w/in 100 miles of any border.

Happy fascism, George and happy karma, too, btw.