Three arraigned on drug-related charges

Monday, July 12, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- Three people were formally charged in Putnam County Circuit Court Monday afternoon on drug-related charges stemming from a Friday afternoon bust.

Michael A. Johnson, 26, has been charged with Class C felonies dealing in marijuana and possession of a controlled substance and Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance.

Johnson's housemates, Daniel Frost, 23, and Dominique York, 24, have both been charged with Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance.

According to Greencastle Police Department Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins, members of the GPD Emergency Response Team, Plainfield Police Department Emergency Response Team and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department Drug Investigation team served a search warrant at the trio's home at 906 Crown St. at about 4:30 p.m.

Officers found approximately 281.3 grams (just a little over a half-pound) of a green, leafy substance that was field-tested and later determined to be "marijuana ready for distribution," Hopkins said.

Also found at the residence were seven live marijuana plants, the remains of a marijuana growing operation, a sandwich bag containing hallucinogenic mushrooms, a .380 caliber handgun, approximately 75 rounds of .380 ammunition, and several pipes and "bongs" believed to have been used for marijuana use.

Information from the bust was forwarded to the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office, and formal charges were filed Monday.

Frost and York were both released Monday afternoon after posting 10 percent of $10,000 bonds. Johnson remains in jail in lieu of a $20,000 cash only bond.

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  • Does a drug that is a lot less harmful than ALCOHOL (which is legal) have to be prosecuted or pursued by law officials so aggresively? And was the .38 a registered weapon that was kept legally and automatically tied to the drugs to make it look dangerous?

    I condone the responsible use of marijuana and psilocybin (the triptamine in "shrooms"), just as I condone alcohol. However, the consequences of their abuse are nowhere near as extreme as the abuse of alcohol. How often do you hear of a marijuana or mushroom-related death? I've heard of NONE, unless they're given the wrong mushrooms, which is why it should be legalized and regulated...taxes welcomed to compensate regulations. Have you ever heard of an angry stoner? A marijuana or mushroom related crime other than mere possession or use? I haven't either.

    How is our nation so ignorant?

    If you do your research and look up testing of marijuana, look into how the tests "against it" were actually administered. (There are also tests that promote its benefits. Please feel free to check into how they were administered as well!)

    With mushrooms, the only harmful effects of the drug is getting the wrong type of mushrooms. There might be short-term psychological side-effects (lasting the duration of the "trip"), but after the "trip", nothing is left except a few hours of intense thought, usually concerning life and life choices (which I've never considered to be a bad thing).

    Also, with "all-natural" and "organic" being the trend, I would like to point out that these two have much fewer negative physical and psychological consequences than even acetametaphine (Name Brand: Tylenol)...but of course, our ignorant nation is content with the harmful side effects of pharmaceuticals to deal with their problems with little effort to target the real source of the problem. Hey, go ahead, do whatever's easiest for you! Then join in on hypocrisy and target users of healthy, natural drugs in order to justify your dependence on that harmful little pill!

    The only reason these are still illegal is because of the billions of dollars MADE by the supposedly non-profit court systems. There is more revenue (for the government) in these substances being illegal than legal.

    Now, whosoever wants these 3 "off the streets" is merely caving to said nation of ignorance. But please note, I advocate their legality, I do NOT, in any way, condone irresponsibility and abuse of any substance, legal or not. No one "needs" any substance. If you say you "need" it or use it to "self-medicate", you have problems that you need to actually deal with rather than ignore.

    -- Posted by torninfinity87 on Mon, Jul 12, 2010, at 10:47 PM
  • I also want to go a step further and ask the question that very few people consider: Do you actually know, first hand, what the drugs actually do to/for the user, and what the actual effects are? (Other than "it gets you high" or "you see crazy stuff")

    I really wish I had the space here to educate you all away from ignorance! But I suppose with ignorance comes a lack of interest in opposing view-points.

    -- Posted by torninfinity87 on Mon, Jul 12, 2010, at 11:04 PM
  • Kudos to our local police...

    It's great to seize large quantities on the local interstate system, but even better to nab those directly affecting our own community.

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 12:36 AM
  • Over the counter drugs do more damage then marijuana! Wake up all you closed minded people marijuana will be here to stay and there is nothing you can do about it! The police are fighting a war they can't win. The sad thing is that there are acutually good people sitting in prison just for having a joint. Forget marijuana and chase the real criminals.

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 2:20 AM
  • I bet the police department is smoking the evidence! I wonder how many crooked cops have sticky fingers and take some of the evidence home. Im sure its more then one!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 2:22 AM
  • All of your arguments are moot and pointless. The point still is and will be until the law is changed that it is illegal to possess, deal, or grow marijuana. They may not be bad people but they are still criminals. Criminal is not defined as a bad person, but by one who breaks the law!!

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 5:10 AM
  • omg torninfinity87...was this your supplier?? most people know the effects of shrooms and marijuana. everyone was a teen at one time or another. but the fact is it is illegal and against the law....great job GPD.

    To call people ignorant is just showing how smart you are not!!

    -- Posted by proudemt on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 11:35 AM
  • What don't you people understand about the work "illegal"? Some of the comments obviously are from people who know ALL about it.

    -- Posted by bearcat on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 1:03 PM
  • Everyone knows their effects? Everyone that I know that is against it has never tried it. If I'm against something, I'll try it once before passing a qualified/experienced judgment on the matter. But hey, the good thing about mother nature is that it can grow anywhere! =)

    And yes, cops smoke pot too.

    Westforty...what? Are you intellectually bankrupt? How did you go to DPU? Is DePauw really that easy of a school to go to?

    -- Posted by torninfinity87 on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 1:29 PM
  • Baffle people with the BS all you want. the fact is it is illegal and alcohol isnt so just for that you dont have a valid argument against the bust.

    -- Posted by funguy69 on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 1:40 PM
  • Cannabis is legal for medicinal use in

    Colorado and here are a few more!

    Hawaii 2000 Senate Bill 862 (32-18 House; 13-12 Senate) $25 3 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)

    5. Maine 1999 Ballot Question 2 (61%) *** 2.5 oz usable; 6 plants Yes

    6. Michigan 2008 Proposal 1 (63%) $100/$25 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants Yes

    7. Montana 2004 Initiative 148 (62%) $25/$10 1 oz usable; 6 plants Yes

    8. Nevada 2000 Ballot Question 9 (65%) $150 + 1 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)

    9. New Jersey 2010 Senate Bill 119 (48-14 House; 25-13 Senate) **** 2 oz usable Unknown

    10. New Mexico 2007 Senate Bill 523 (36-31 House; 32-3 Senate) $0 6 oz usable; 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature)

    11. Oregon 1998 Ballot Measure 67 (55%) $100/$20 24 oz usable; 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature)

    12. Rhode Island 2006 Senate Bill 0710 (52-10 House; 33-1 Senate) $75/$10 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants

    13. Vermont 2004 Senate Bill 76 (22-7) HB 645 (82-59) $50 2 oz usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature)

    14. Washington

    23 other states have approved the use for medical but have yet to vote.

    We are so behind the times!

    Marijuana when eaten or smaoked cures (or alleviates) menstrual cramps,headaches,muscal pains,epilepsy,gives appetites to cancer and aids patients etc etc the list goes on. It even stops restless legs dead in its tracks. Bottom line is the big medical comapnies do not want you to be able to grow your own medicine. If you are against it it is because you are not educated on the matter. NO ONE HAS EVER DIED FROM SMOKING POT! And furthermore if it were fully decriminalized the Mexico border would be a safe place again because we wouldnt be bringing truckloads of cannais from the south.

    -- Posted by Dodger 1 on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 1:45 PM
  • How did this become a pro-legalization discussion board? People broke the law, and are being punished. End of story (well, almost... Frost and York tested negative in drug testing while in jail). Should it be legal? That should be a discussion board topic under the "Opinion" tab above. How about focusing on the fact that this 26 year old Johnson man that was brought up on charges of "maintaing a public nuisance" was actually going around threatening and sometimes physicially hurting other people, while carrying his handgun? And did it mention that he already has a felony on his record, and lived 3 blocks from an elementary school with a handgun? Bigger picture, people. Bigger picture... and Banner Graphic, how about an update?

    -- Posted by MsBehaving on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 1:53 PM
  • FUNGUY,

    I disagree! an argument isnt regulated by someone who disagrees. You are the same type of person who thinks they know it all and yet knows nothing.

    Probably a couch potato?

    Anyways alcohol was illegal until the big comapnies lobbied the govt and fugured out how to make money. In this case Michigan for example has turned its economy around with its new laws.

    And guess what? Lily corp just laid people off!

    I can take a prscibed medication for my ailment

    (epilepsy) which has side effects that include brain hemmoridges and anal leaking to name a few.

    Can you believe anal leaking is a side effect?

    OMG! or I can eat a small ammount of cannabis (and not be high) and not have seizures.

    So thanks to all you AMERICANS who dont care about fellow americans and there need for SAFE MEDICINE. FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE!

    How are guns (Morally speaking)legal and a plant not?

    -- Posted by Dodger 1 on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 1:55 PM
  • MSBehaving,

    Sorry I thought in this country you were innocent until proven guilty?

    I didnt see any of your "beliefs" about this case in the article so I am just assuming its gossip, which is what makes your town so unbelievable. Anyways what does a gun have to do with a school?

    Do you just assume hes gonna go Columbine some day? That statement alone is the pinnacle of ignorance.

    I own 14 guns..........does that scare you?

    It shouldnt, its a right our boys fought for.

    Why must everything be bad that we are not familiar with............get educated!

    -- Posted by Dodger 1 on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 2:01 PM
  • Oh, and these 3 won't be off the streets: with a charge like maintaining a common nuisance, they'll likely have the opportunity to go through the pretrial diversion program and pay x amount of dollars to the court system and maybe some community service hours without having to go to jail. Cost of buying out the court system these days varies from county to county.

    This also happens more in areas with overpopulated jails so as to make room for actual criminals.

    -- Posted by torninfinity87 on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 2:01 PM
  • To all of you people who feel that there are no negative side effects (even herbal all natural remedies have side effects), please read the information below.

    "Although legalization activists and many marijuana users believe smoking pot has no negative effects, scientific research indicates that marijuana use can cause many different health problems.

    Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. When smoked, it begins to effect users almost immediately and can last for one to three hours. When it is eaten in food, such as baked in brownies and cookies, the effects take longer to begin, but usually last longer.

    Short-Term Effects

    The short-term effects of marijuana include:

    Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)

    Problems with memory and learning

    Loss of coordination

    Trouble with thinking and problem-solving

    Increased heart rate, reduced blood pressure

    Sometimes marijuana use can also produce anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic.

    Effects on the Brain

    The active ingredient in marijuana, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, acts on cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences the activity of those cells. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors, but other areas of the brain have few or none at all. Many cannabinoid receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.

    When high doses of marijuana are used, usually when eaten in food rather than smoked, users can experience the following symptoms:

    Hallucinations

    Delusions

    Impaired memory

    Disorientation

    Effects on the Heart

    Within a few minutes after smoking marijuana, the heart begins beating more rapidly and the blood pressure drops. Marijuana can cause the heart beat to increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute, and can increase even more if other drugs are used at the same time.

    Because of the lower blood pressure and higher heart rate, researchers found that users' risk for a heart attack is four times higher within the first hour after smoking marijuana, compared to their general risk of heart attack when not smoking.

    Effects on the Lungs

    Smoking marijuana, even infrequently, can cause burning and stinging of the mouth and throat, and cause heavy coughing. Scientists have found that regular marijuana smokers can experience the same respiratory problems as tobacco smokers do, including:

    Daily cough and phlegm production

    More frequent acute chest illnesses

    Increased risk of lung infections

    Obstructed airways

    Most marijuana smokers consume a lot less cannabis than cigarette smokers consume tobacco, however the harmful effects of smoking marijuana should not be ignored. Marijuana contains more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke and because marijuana smokers typically inhale deeper and hold the smoke in their lungs longer than tobacco smokers, their lungs are exposed to those carcinogenic properties longer, when smoking.

    What About Cancer?

    Although one study found that marijuana smokers were three times more likely to develop cancer of the head or neck than non-smokers, that study could not be confirmed by further analysis.

    Because marijuana smoke contains three times the amount of tar found in tobacco smoke and 50 percent more carcinogens, it would seem logical to deduce that there is an increased risk of lung cancer for marijuana smokers. However, researchers have not been able to definitively prove such a link because their studies have not been able to adjust for tobacco smoking and other factors that might also increase the risk.

    Studies linking marijuana smoking to lung cancer have also been limited by selection bias and small sample size. For example, the participants in those studies may have been too young to have developed lung cancer yet. Even though researchers have yet to "prove" a link between smoking pot and lung cancer, regular smokers may want to consider the risk.

    Other Health Effects

    Research indicates that THC impairs the body's immune system from fighting disease, which can cause a wide variety of health problems. One study found that marijuana actually inhibited the disease-preventing actions of key immune cells. Another study found that THC increased the risk of developing bacterial infections and tumors.

    Effects of Exposure During Pregnancy

    Several studies have found that children born to mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy exhibit some problems with neurological development. According to those studies, prenatal marijuana exposure can cause:

    Altered responses to visual stimuli

    Increased tremulousness

    Problems with sustained attention and memory

    Poor problem-solving skills"

    Also to the person who said that no one has ever died from smoking it; i'm sure that you are wrong. Marijuana is a gateway drug which does usually lead to bigger and harder drugs..

    -- Posted by girlmd on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 2:52 PM
  • I used to smoke pot and I never went to bigger and harder drugs, so that would make your statement false. You just buy into the hype of what they "government" tell you. Whats next basil and parsley will become illegal? Marijuana is nothing more then a plant and is becoming legal slowly but surely just ask Californa and Montana. Before long all you haters will have to stick your foot in your mouths. The revolution is coming and it won't be televised!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 3:55 PM
  • Yes, there are negative side effects. The short-term effects are similar to the short-term effects of alcohol. As for hallucinations? I have never heard of such a thing from anyone that has every smoke marijuana, regular or first-time users. But of COURSE you're going to have these short-term effects. YOU'RE HIGH!!!

    There are actual long-term effects for someone who smokes on a daily basis for years and years of their lives: you can tell they are pot-heads by how little they go without smiling when talking to you. Sounds weird, but think about how many stoners you know and how much they smile when talking to someone.

    The article that you just plagiarized, however, did a poor job of citing the sources of said studies. I could also go the opposite way and tell you that studies have proven THC and other chemicals found in cannabis to isolate free radicals and prevent cancer. I've heard of this numerous times, though I don't know who did the research and what factors were considered in the research.

    Now just as with any drug, including cigarettes and alcohol, I do not think a pregnant woman should smoke pot.

    Finally, I want to discuss the psychology of why marijuana is a gateway drug.

    After hearing so much negativity from the majority of people who have probably not even seen marijuana (let alone smoked it), those who decide to "spark up a bowl" and get high do so and then afterwards wonder what the hype is all about. "Well if that wasn't as bad as people say, everything else should be alright." That's part one.

    Part two is that those who deal think "well, I'm already dealing with one thing that's illegal and people already come to me, why not try moving a little cocaine/acid?"

    Legalization of marijuana would highly reduce the effects of marijuana as a gateway drug for the reason that many people would go to a business to buy marijuana (where it's likely fresher) than go to a middle-man. These businesses would face losing their licensing, shut down, fined, and jailed (similar to liquor license) should they be found to sell the harder, harmful substances such as cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine, etc.

    -- Posted by torninfinity87 on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 4:38 PM
  • Let me clarify my own statement: I said the effects are similar. The meaning of such should be taken as "they both intoxicate you and can enhance a good time, or make worse a bad time". And the effects wear off when they high wears off. Although, with marijuana, you don't get a hang-over. At all.

    -- Posted by torninfinity87 on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 4:41 PM
  • torninfinity87...

    I'm so sorry I didn't site my sources... for your benefit I am giving you another sight and their facts and I will give you the source as well.

    1stamendrights...if you had read my statement above you would know that I said usally lead to harder drugs,not always and not for everyone so therefore my statement is not false.

    NIDA InfoFacts: Marijuana

    PDF Version [412K]

    Printer-friendly Version

    En Espaņol

    Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. It is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; THC for short.

    How is Marijuana Abused?

    Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint) or in a pipe. It is also smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana. Since the blunt retains the tobacco leaf used to wrap the cigar, this mode of delivery combines marijuana's active ingredients with nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Marijuana can also be mixed in food or brewed as a tea. As a more concentrated, resinous form it is called hashish, and as a sticky black liquid, hash oil.* Marijuana smoke has a pungent and distinctive, usually sweet-and-sour odor.

    How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?

    Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in the brain to produce its many effects. When someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body.

    THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the "high" that users experience when they smoke marijuana. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.1

    Not surprisingly, marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that marijuana's adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off.2 As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.

    Research on the long-term effects of marijuana abuse indicates some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs. For example, cannabinoid withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system3 and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine.4 Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse.

    Addictive Potential

    Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit. These withdrawal symptoms begin within about 1 day following abstinence, peak at 2--3 days, and subside within 1 or 2 weeks following drug cessation.5

    Marijuana and Mental Health

    A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia. Some of these studies have shown age at first use to be a factor, where early use is a marker of vulnerability to later problems. However, at this time, it is not clear whether marijuana use causes mental problems, exacerbates them, or is used in attempt to self-medicate symptoms already in existence. Chronic marijuana use, especially in a very young person, may also be a marker of risk for mental illnesses, including addiction, stemming from genetic or environmental vulnerabilities, such as early exposure to stress or violence. At the present time, the strongest evidence links marijuana use and schizophrenia and/or related disorders.6 High doses of marijuana can produce an acute psychotic reaction; in addition, use of the drug may trigger the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals.

    What Other Adverse Effect Does Marijuana Have on Health?

    Effects on the Heart

    Marijuana increases heart rate by 20--100 percent shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours. In one study, it was estimated that marijuana users have a 4.8-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug.7 This may be due to the increased heart rate as well as effects of marijuana on heart rhythms, causing palpitations and arrhythmias. This risk may be greater in aging populations or those with cardiac vulnerabilities.

    Effects on the Lungs

    Numerous studies have shown marijuana smoke to contain carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50--70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke. Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increase the lungs' exposure to carcinogenic smoke. Marijuana smokers show dysregulated growth of epithelial cells in their lung tissue, which could lead to cancer;8 however, a recent case-controlled study found no positive associations between marijuana use and lung, upper respiratory, or upper digestive tract cancers.9 Thus, the link between marijuana smoking and these cancers remains unsubstantiated at this time.

    Nonetheless, marijuana smokers can have many of the same respiratory problems as tobacco smokers, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illness, and a heightened risk of lung infections. A study of 450 individuals found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than nonsmokers.10 Many of the extra sick days among the marijuana smokers in the study were for respiratory illnesses.

    Effects on Daily Life

    Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life or make a person's existing problems worse. In one study, heavy marijuana abusers reported that the drug impaired several important measures of life achievement including physical and mental health, cognitive abilities, social life, and career status.11 Several studies associate workers' marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers' compensation claims, and job turnover.

    From the National Institute on Drug Abuse (www.nida.nih.gov).

    -- Posted by girlmd on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 5:02 PM
  • torninfinity87,

    What is your definition of "responsible use of marijuana and psilocybin?" The majority of people using these (and other) drugs are to become impaired. What part of impairment on any substance is being "responsible?"

    A person could potentially "use" alcohol in a responsible manner and not become impaired.

    Reference

    http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/pub/Hs809028/Title.htm

    As a matter of fact it takes approximately 70% of all drinkers combined to consume 10% of all alcohol sold in the US.

    Reference

    Greenfield, T. K. & Rogers, J. D. (1999). Who drinks most of the alcohol in the U.S.? The policy implications. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60, 78-89.

    So, with this in mind looks like the majority of alcohol drinkers in the US could be "Responsible" drinkers not becoming impaired when using alcohol. How many people "sparking up a bowl" or "Shrooming" can truly say they are "Responsible" and not becoming impaired?

    Bottom Line.... Impaired is Impaired, and those people that choose to be impaired are potentially risking my wellbeing and setting themselves up for problems; Physical, financial, emotional, judicial, and social.

    If you can't do the time, don't do the crime....

    -- Posted by johnnybunchland on Tue, Jul 13, 2010, at 7:17 PM
  • Dodger 1, I know this because I personally know those involved, but thanks for assuming the worst of me anyway. And, Johnson admitted in court it was his. No, you having a gun doesn't scare me. We own some as well, that are kept locked in a safe. Now, you having a gun as a convicted felon on probation living close to where my children go to school and waving it around to intimidate others? Yes, that would scare me, and it should alarm you as well.

    -- Posted by MsBehaving on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 8:55 AM
  • npgrad2008...I have read several articles however I do not feel that posting all of them will change anyone's opinion since you all seem to think that there are no negative side effects to this. As one of the previous posts states most people that use these drugs are not doing because they are in pain or have a medical condition. they are doing it to get high. And as far as first hand experience being more accurate and unbiased. I can say first hand that I have seen what this drug can do to a person, see examples below:

    Star baseball player (high school) gets high all the time with friends. Still gets an athletic scholarship to Xavier for baseball-full ride. First year on the team smoked pot all the time, missed classes, missed practices, got hooked on harder drugs, lost scholarship, kicked out of college, no one knows where he is now.

    Young girl from a small town used to get high with friends in high school, this led to harder drugs (heroin, cocaine), now she is a shell of a person with no future because she is so burned out.

    Older gentlemen (50's), smoked pot and drank in high school (family has a history of alcoholism-which usually leads to other things and an addictive personality). Started trying harder drugs later in life, married and had kids. Still abused drugs along with his wife and children (physical and mental abuse).

    So yes I have witnessed first hand what these drugs do to you. So I am not just listening to the government propaganda (by the way you sound very paranoid).

    -- Posted by girlmd on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 9:06 AM
  • npgrad,

    You must of past math.. That is my point, not all drinkers abuse alcohol, but anyone using a substance (illegal or legal) for the effects (getting high) are are abusing that substance and irresponsible. Once again "What part of being high or drunk is being responsible?"

    The 30% of the people that it takes to drink 90% of the alcohol are more than likely irresponsible drinkers and abusing alcohol. I would bet money that the majority of them would qualify having a dependence to alcohol. (Social, psychological and/or physical) And from this dependence comes all the problems I talked about above. When these problems happen, they (people with substance abuse problems) will use their psychological defenses to; minimize, rationalize, justify and out right lie about their use, and their problems.

    Many people say "I don't have a problem", yet they abuse drugs and/or alcohol on almost a daily basis?????? OMG, I've figured it out.... being sober is the problem... and that's not a problem!

    -- Posted by johnnybunchland on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 9:58 AM
  • johnnybunchland: it's "passed", not "past".

    Dodger1: "NO ONE HAS EVER DIED FROM SMOKING POT!" Except the person who's in the path of the vehicle that's going the wrong way because the driver's stoned out of his mind. Please refrain from making statements you can't back up. What you wrote is making a very strong assumption.

    1stamendrights: You probably never went to bigger drugs because marijuana makes a lot of people lazy, just too tired to go look for other things... HAHA

    -- Posted by Dagnabbitt on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 10:23 AM
  • Dag,

    You are right.... I must of been stoned in English class.... Or right now.... I don't remember because of the short term memory loss...thanks for the correction...

    You make an excellent point that people don't consider about the marijuana impaired accidents. I'm sure there are many other marijuana related deaths.

    -- Posted by johnnybunchland on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 1:34 PM
  • YORK and FROST with a clean drug test????REALLY? Please, everyone knows how untrue that is....step to the plate York and Frost...letting Mike take the blame for everything??? YOU both knew what was going on there...u live there! U WERE AND ARE AS MUCH TO BLAME AS HE! The law will slab your hands and you will go on to live your oh so "innocent" lives while your friend does yours and his time tsk, tsk!

    -- Posted by mercymercy on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 2:25 PM
  • Dagnabbit,

    Why dont you READ WHAT WAS POSTED?

    In the case you are inventing in your mind the car killed the people not the drug.

    I am stating facts, you are stretching someone elses story to meet your point, which is mute.

    If a guy high on weed is driving a car hes probably only going 5mph.

    My point was from a medical view which was (WAS) the topic at the time. relax dude! smoke a joint and relax. I know its hard being a crazy racist republican and having to wait on your "people" to tell you what to do and what is real and what is not each day. Why dont you go burn a cross and put your hood on? Why do I stray from the point>?

    why am I being rude? SIMPLE! here you go.....

    Why do you have to correct spelling for people?

    Why do you have to so hateful?

    Its called Karma, or maybe its just me trying to let you know what people feel like when you post your BS?

    Peace

    -- Posted by dodger1 on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 2:26 PM
  • It was an overreaction based on police bias in a small town. Yes, these three broke the law, but was a practical SWAT team really necessary? Meanwhile, does the jail or court room take any provisions for the fact that Michael Johnson is deaf? They had a warrant for his arrest, they knew he'd be in there, you'd think they'd arrange a way for him to communicate or at the very least know what his bond is.

    In my experience, the Putnam county legal system lacks professionalism in all of its branches.

    -- Posted by Cricket4 on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 2:35 PM
  • mercymercy - Truly, they did test negative. And they both admit to knowing what was happening in the house... hence the charges they face now (maintaing a public nuisance).

    -- Posted by MsBehaving on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 3:00 PM
  • dodger1...

    because someone feels that the law should be upheld they are a crazy racist republican...well I can say freely that I am neither. I was raised democrat and I am still a democrat and I think for myself thank you. why is dagnnabit being hateful..because he/she is stating their opinion. In that case aren't you being hateful. If you have facts that no one ever in this world has ever died from marijuana, please let us know where these facts come from. You can't call them facts without backing it up. Oh and the car didn't take control of itself and run this person down, the stoned person behind the wheel did so therefore it was the drug.

    -- Posted by girlmd on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 4:32 PM
  • MsBehaving...no way did they test negitive...I was a witness to thier "use" not long ago...hence...they did not test negitive. Cricket4....NO the jail, the court, nor the police or the guards CARE if Mike is deaf...they DO NOT make ANY provisions for Mike...he cant even make a phone call that he has a legal and civil right to do...HE CANT HEAR THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE...they have a legal obligation to provide him with a TTY telephone, yet they have alway refused to in the past. Hopefully with the "new Sheriff" in town he will get treated better.

    -- Posted by mercymercy on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 5:25 PM
  • Cigerettes have killed millions of people and they are perfectly legal maybe its because the goverment and the health care industry makes billions of dollars from smokers. So don't tell me that our government makes the best decisions for us.

    Dagnabitt I'm not going to go back and forth with jabs and play a game of retarded chess with you. I have a family and currently bettering myself by going back to school. I quit smoking because I have better things to spend my money on now but i fully support marijuana and feel that it has plenty of postive uses. How many commercials do you see about lawsuits on prescription drugs for example the use of paxil and pregenant woman? One of the main reasons marijana is still illegal is because our good old governement isn't collecting tax dollars and it would take a chunk of money out the courts pockets!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 5:59 PM
  • AWESOME JOB OFFICERS!

    THANKYOU FOR GETTING SOME MORE DRUG USERS & DEALERS OFF OF OUR STREETS..

    NOW LETS KEEP THEM LOCKED UP...

    -- Posted by takeastand on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 10:40 PM
  • Dodger1: Just from reading one of your comments I am anti marijuana legalization. You spelled every other word wrong and jumped from one line to the next without making any sense. Take your hippie propaganda to someone else, why are you trying so hard to convince the readers of a local paper?

    Facts are facts: Marijuana is illegal in Indiana. Case closed:)

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Wed, Jul 14, 2010, at 11:04 PM
  • Amendment 18: Prohibits the manufacture, sale, transportation, import or export of intoxicating beverages within the US and all the territories falling under its jurisdiction. Ratified on 1/16/1919.

    Amendment 21: Repeals the 18th Amendment. Prohibits the importation of intoxicating beverages. Ratified on 12/5/1933

    WTFRUthinkin so was alcohol at one time and things change. I'm pro marijuana and feel that it should be legalized and one day it will. Case not closed:)

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Thu, Jul 15, 2010, at 2:27 AM
  • Marijuana makes people slow and lazy. The world doesn't need anymore of that:) Get over it people.

    It's ILLEGAL!

    -- Posted by iumcrn on Thu, Jul 15, 2010, at 3:07 AM
  • It's all one huge conspiracy. GPD is in cahoots with the FBI and President Obama. They write and post information on the web and teach teens today everything that is wrong about everything....

    haha c'mon guys...

    You sound ridiculous. Maybe you should have put the bowl down paid attention in high school

    -- Posted by climberguy on Thu, Jul 15, 2010, at 6:37 AM