“When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened; and crime has increased to a level never seen before.”

It’s certainly debatable by an infinite number of rational intelligent people - as to whether marijuana should be legal or not in the first place. Regardless of whether it should be or not - such arguments at the very least bring light to the fact that ………. Marijuana or weed is certainly not a hard core drug. More destroyed lives and more violent crimes are related to crack, powder cocaine, or heroin intra-venous users and yes even alcohol…………….. then plain old mellow weed.

Many people realize there are bad hard core harmful drugs out there - but weed ain’t one of them. Weed has a make love not war effect. Medical marijuana relieves pain and suffering. Even the late night comedy shows goof around with pot jokes - explain the worse crime of taking a few tokes is raiding the cookie jar afterward. The guests on the shows readily admit to use of cannabis and many of the audience likewise. It’s a given that most of the musicians do inhale. It’s abundant everywhere including college campuses and in social settings virtually anywhere there’s a party. Good people, productive citizens literally millions of them - roll a joint, light up, toke, pass it around, relax and enjoy life. They hurt no one. Nowadays weed is socially more acceptable then ever before. Weed gives a relaxing aura of “Peace on earth.” Rachel Hoffman was one of those peace loving people.

Unfortunately, she broke the law - she got caught up in the nonchalant attitude of her peer group. It is after all still against the law. Without the law we’re all in big trouble. Until we change a law that many say is wrong if not ridiculous - our police must enforce such law. Police got a rough job Hindsight is always easy after the fact but; it still seems bizarre that this even happened. It’s just tragic more precautions were not taken beforehand. What crime did Rachel really commit to deserve this? Rachel Hoffman, caught twice with a “baggie” of marijuana. A drug that many feel should be legal; and certainly not punishable with even one day in prison…… let alone 4 years. Ironic, isn’t it ? Now, Rachel is off the streets forever and that’s a long time.

The world lost a fine young lady that was temporarily misguided with her choices. Society needs to re-evaluate our laws.

As for Ms Hoffman “willingly” turning informant, I have to smile. I guess nobody here has ever had a pair of cops - one “good”, one “bad” - rhapsodize them with scenarios of years of violent homosexual rape (and gang-rape) in the joint that awaits all Non-Cooperators. “B-but…but…the Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment!”, you bleat. Yeah, well, the Constitution - like justice itself - is now an avenue restricted to those with the means to buy the best lawyers, I’m afraid. (Hooray for the Patriot Act!) Thus “work with us, Rachel, or you’ll be riding broomsticks the hard way for the next ten years” becomes - you should pardon the word - a “legitimate” tactic for crime fighting.

However, even a public defender beats no lawyer at all. Nothing can bring Ms Hoffman back, but the rest of us should learn from this: never talk to the police - not one word, regardless of what you’re being threatened with - until you’ve talked to a lawyer FIRST. Better judged by 12 than carried by 6.

RIP, Rachel Hoffman.

Big fish?? Bullshit! Wipe out the demand and supply will disappear. In other words, do the job you’re being paid to do. Pretty simple stuff that can be demonstrated by myriad examples. Otherwise what is the value of a law enforcement entity that refuses to enforce the Law, but instead relies on law-breakers to do its job for them, at any cost?

This is America, right? Odd, that it seems like a conversation one might have had in mid-eighties Russia. Is this really America, or is that just the BS the TV is feeding people? Man, wanna talk about apathy?!?

http://www.tallahassee.com

All we have to believe is that Rachel refused to follow instructions not to follow the perps down Gardner Road.

“Pender last saw Hoffman on North Meridian Road south of Forestmeadows. Hoffman called Pender and said she was following Green and Bradshaw in their car down Gardner Road. Pender said he told Hoffman not to follow them, but Hoffman hung up.”

i’m sure this terrified college girl felt like being a hero that night…..

Anyone tried driving down Gardner Road to see what cell phone reception is like in that remote area?

We don’t have the balls to be police? That’s a hoot. Being a police officer isn’t even in the top ten of America’s most dangerous jobs. Fisherman, loggers, farmers, truckers and minners all have more dangerous jobs.

It’s funny how you evoke the policing is a dangerous job so can’t criticize it unless you’re willing to do it line of false reasoning when the police weren’t in any sense acting with bravery. They contracted the most dangerous part of their job out to some poor college girl that thought an arrest for a small amount of illicit drugs would ruin her bright future.

The officers involved are cowards and deserve to be called as such because they are were willing to reckless endanger the life of someone else in order to advance their own careers. Maybe some of the blame lies with Rachel for her past transgressions but the overwhelming majority of the blame falls on the TPD for for recklessly endangering her life by setting such an idiotic buy.

I believe the the police actually loath its citizens. It is incomprehensible the things that LE officers do in the name of fighting crime. Many (not all) LE officers are criminals.

One final comment. It amazes me that you and many others speak of “its a dangerous job” and “if you don’t have the balls to do the job then don’t judge them.” I have seen literally 8 police cars at on traffic stop that becomes a bust. You say these guys are in danger?

I have noticed that when something is missing from our lives - propaganda attempts to convince us that we possess it in huge quantities.

How often do we hear the media or government representitives tell us that we are the land of the free or that we have enormous freedoms. And yet, in reality the fourth amendment has been all but eliminated and LE possess more power in this country than any other time in our very young history. lemom, LE officers have a duty to enforce the law not to arbitrarily write and adjudicate their version of the law. Open your eyes.