Udonis Haslem facing 3rd degree felony charge.

[Dave Gray]

He got pulled over and arrested with a lot of weed in his car.  His passenger claims that it was his, but who knows -- could be taking the rap.

If convicted, it's some pretty serious jail time.

Arresting people for finding weed in their car is moronic, in my opinion.  Don't we have more important things to worry about, as a society?  This is a functioning member of society, bringing a lot of money to our area, and we're going to put him in prison, on our tax dollar, because he has plant shavings in a baggie in his car.  I just don't understand our legal system. 

[jtex316]

Isn't a "3rd degree" conviction basically the least possible infraction?

[Dave Gray]

Not for a felony charge.  A misdemeanor isn't that big a deal.  A felony is.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Isn't a "3rd degree" conviction basically the least possible infraction?

Depends on the number of degrees the crime has.  If it only has 3, its the least.  But in one state there is 8 degrees of Criminal sexual conduct.  3rd degree gets you 10-15 years. One state has 12 degrees of theft.  Third is still pretty serious.  Don't know about this particular state. 

[StL FinFan]

Unless or until marijuana is legalized, the police officer was just doing his job.  I guess it would be his prerogative to let it slide, but with a high profile person in the car he probably wanted to make an example.  Maybe the guy wouldn't give him an autograph.

[Dave Gray]

Yeah, I'm not saying that I blame the cop.

It just sucks that we're arresting people for things like that.

[Phishfan]

Has anyone heard how much there actually was? I can't find any articles release anythign except that it was possession over 20 grams. There are no trafficing charges so I suspect they had an ounce. This seems like a big stink over nothing if that is what they were carrying.

[Dave Gray]

I am hearing that this will probably get reduced to near nothing.

[Brian Fein]

Marijuana is illegal.  He has a lot of it.  Some might say he had enough that he was planning on distributing it to people, possibly for profit.  He does NOT get special treatment because he "brings a lot of money to our area." 

I'm surprised by your stance on this, Dave.  How much of it is blind homerism?  I mean, its not like its a big secret that weed is illegal.  He chose to put himself in a car with a bunch of pot, knowing its illegal, why do you blame the cop for doing HIS job?

[Phishfan]

  He has a lot of it. 

I've seen both you guys refer to this. Does anyone have any numbers? I haven't heard anyone mention distribution (there are not charges along those lines) so I'm curious since you guys live closer. Have you heard how much? I think the amount might have something to do with this, but can't get a grasp on how much there was (except it was over 20 grams).

[Fau Teixeira]

from what i read, the pot was found in a suitcase with the other guy's name on it .. and his identifying documents inside it .. while the 2nd guy told the cops that the weed was his ..

unless more facts come out, seems like a good old fashioned news grabbing witchhunt to me

[Brian Fein]

^^ my post was purely speculation, based on news reports ("car full of weed" etc) - I've not heard any specific exact amounts either but the reporters on TV make it seem like it was more than a small baggie or a joint.

If it is, in fact, the other guy's drugs, then I agree its a complete non-story.

[Dave Gray]

Yeah, I'm not saying that I blame the cop.

why do you blame the cop for doing HIS job?

Arresting people for weed is stupid.  That's always been my stance.  I don't accept that just because a law exists on the books, it is just.  Many things have been illegal over time that were stupid or unjust.  This is just another one of those.

[Brian Fein]

Arresting people for weed is stupid.  That's always been my stance.  I don't accept that just because a law exists on the books, it is just.  Many things have been illegal over time that were stupid or unjust.  This is just another one of those.

Your beef, then, is with Marijuana being illegal, not with cops enforcing the law.  And that's fine, you're definitely not alone in that one.  But, as long as its illegal, the law should be enforced.  What do you propose to do, just pretend its not illegal?

[Sunstroke]

Cops watch people jaywalk all the time without writing up tickets for it... Obviously some "victimless" crimes can be ignored by the police. Marijuana use, imo, falls under the victimless crime mantle.

Udonis will get out of this without so much as a hand slap. The ganja belonged to the other person, in the other person's suitcase. Case closed...