Unfortunately, pot laws Are still being enforced in many areas. The RW faction that is really big on ‘Control’ HATES the idea of giving up such a useful tool that provides selective control over people by selective enforcement. A large number of arrest and trafficking statistics the DEA trots out to this day are for marijuana. But the person charged May be charged with a misdemeanor, Or, if he is someone who is ‘inconvenient’, or ‘irksome’ to either the police or the power structure, they might Still be charged with a felony, and much more severely penalized.
That was a favorite tactic of the police in some areas, in the 1960’s and ’70’s. A lot of people who were ‘politically active’ had their homes, vehicles, or persons searched, and pot was ‘found’ in the search, and they ended up behind bars… some of whom had never smoked a joint in their life.
Whether this practice still continues today, I cannot say…. but it would not shock me to find that it did still occur once in a while.
Time for the feds to decriminalize marijuana as it is legal across the board in many places and other places it is allowed for medicinal purposes as here in FL. With so many other dangers lurking in society busting people for small amount of weed is simply ridiculous.
Of course, the criminal justice and corrections conglomerate make huge coin from locking up people for possession (companies make huge profits providing substandard food and medical care in many areas as well as the counties and state assign contracts to the highest bidder) and also make money via court costs, probation fees, fines, counseling services and drug testing.
Many young people get dragged into the system on an arrest for possession and find it difficult or even impossible to get out of said system. Decriminalize pot and a lot of those associated with the criminal justice conglomerate will see their gravy train run dry. They will fight tooth and nail to fight this.
I’ve never tried the stuff and don’t really get why Americans are so drug-happy, but treating cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, in the same class as heroin, is just plain stupid. Pot is probably less dangerous than alcohol.
Guns laws are the same. Your state may say its legal but when you fill out the Federal Form 4473, and it asks about drug use (Hunter) marijuana is an illegal drug. So you may consume it legally but you cannot buy a firearm.
So, you can have some marie juana in your pocket and walk across the state border, cycle across the state border, drive over the state border but not fly over the state border with it?
And even though it’s legal in the two adjoining states (CA and AZ in this case), you can’t take it across the state line since that’s Federal jurisdiction.
Cautionary note to those in states where cannabis is legal for recreational use: depending on state law, your employer (current or prospective) might still be able to demand a drug test and fire you (or reject you job application) if the now-legal substance comes up positive.
It’s tricky traveling. Most hotels are now “no smoking,” & laws still say you can’t in public places. Enforcement is selective & tourists are easy, let ‘em slide if they’re otherwise contributing sufficiently to the local economy, or just mail us a check for the fine. Have a relative or make a friend in safe states. A small bag that stays there is cheaper than a hotel.
So what ? The Raiders will always be The Oakland Raiders to me.All them California teams look alike…..yeah yeah I know they’re in Vegas now.Here in Cleveland,we at least held on to our name….at least.
Stephan Pastis had written in the comments section of his past books that he had a hard time getting more adult themes past the censors of his work (AKA editors) because the comics section had to be kept at a children’s level for the kids reading it. Crap… don’t use that word. Butt… nope, and other things. Glad to see the editors are letting him “push the envelope” and he can run strips like this. If you want pure sweetness, stick to Garfield. If you want edgy, Pearls Before Swine is the strip for you!
BE THIS GUY 11 months ago
San Diego won’t miss you. They have the Chargers… Maybe they will miss you.
alasko 11 months ago
Mike in San Diego, “Pass the dutchy on the left hand side, the Giants win the pennant!” IYKYK.
sirbadger 11 months ago
Tell them it’s CBD. In Tennessee, Marijuana is illegal, but CBD is legal.
NavalHistorian 11 months ago
Stephan is an overachiever. Getting arrested by both local and federal law enforcement on the same book tour!
BasilBruce 11 months ago
“I was told it was oregano! Honest!”
hariseldon59 11 months ago
Looks like it’s Stephan’s last dance with Mary Jane.
DennisinSeattle Premium Member 11 months ago
Goat, Stephan writes you, how could he not know that?
Bilan 11 months ago
At least he’s being charitable by signing books for inmates.
Gent 11 months ago
Eh not draws comics on prison wall now. Or you get arrested inside prison also.
drbee 11 months ago
Unfortunately, pot laws Are still being enforced in many areas. The RW faction that is really big on ‘Control’ HATES the idea of giving up such a useful tool that provides selective control over people by selective enforcement. A large number of arrest and trafficking statistics the DEA trots out to this day are for marijuana. But the person charged May be charged with a misdemeanor, Or, if he is someone who is ‘inconvenient’, or ‘irksome’ to either the police or the power structure, they might Still be charged with a felony, and much more severely penalized.
That was a favorite tactic of the police in some areas, in the 1960’s and ’70’s. A lot of people who were ‘politically active’ had their homes, vehicles, or persons searched, and pot was ‘found’ in the search, and they ended up behind bars… some of whom had never smoked a joint in their life.
Whether this practice still continues today, I cannot say…. but it would not shock me to find that it did still occur once in a while.
Robin Harwood 11 months ago
@@hariseldon Thanks for the dates.
TampaFanatic1 11 months ago
Time for the feds to decriminalize marijuana as it is legal across the board in many places and other places it is allowed for medicinal purposes as here in FL. With so many other dangers lurking in society busting people for small amount of weed is simply ridiculous.
Of course, the criminal justice and corrections conglomerate make huge coin from locking up people for possession (companies make huge profits providing substandard food and medical care in many areas as well as the counties and state assign contracts to the highest bidder) and also make money via court costs, probation fees, fines, counseling services and drug testing.
Many young people get dragged into the system on an arrest for possession and find it difficult or even impossible to get out of said system. Decriminalize pot and a lot of those associated with the criminal justice conglomerate will see their gravy train run dry. They will fight tooth and nail to fight this.
Sanspareil 11 months ago
Feds hold the cards, states rights are below the federal statutes!
rasputin's horoscope 11 months ago
I hope this strip was educational for all who were in need of the lesson.
ronaldspence 11 months ago
He was caught by a joint task force!
markkahler52 11 months ago
What’s bail for the bale?!
Anters55 11 months ago
Seems you’re a bit rusty on the law, Counselor.
figuratively speaking 11 months ago
Caught up in the excitement of the moment.
juicebruce 11 months ago
Stephan what would Larry Croc do in this situation ?
iggyman 11 months ago
Stay away from that chit, man!
SALUDADOG 11 months ago
Where’s Guard Duck when you need him?
Squoop 11 months ago
Ha I always knew Pastis was a stoner!
Croc Holliday 11 months ago
I’ve never tried the stuff and don’t really get why Americans are so drug-happy, but treating cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, in the same class as heroin, is just plain stupid. Pot is probably less dangerous than alcohol.
nicholasbonnie3 11 months ago
And that’s why you’re the smart one, Goat.
Goat from PBS 11 months ago
Why does Stephan enjoy throwing himself in jail?
Ellis97 11 months ago
Now you tell him.
Procat Premium Member 11 months ago
To bad he’s not a politician, he could claim it was an honest mistake
chris_o42 11 months ago
No more flyin’ high, Pastis!
Count Olaf Premium Member 11 months ago
…..
Imagine 11 months ago
If he signs as many books as he signs legal paperwork on this trip, he’ll being doing quite well.
DaBump Premium Member 11 months ago
To quote Bugs Bunny: “Oh no! Not again!”
wrd2255 11 months ago
Silly Stephan. Take edibles before you fly. Then stare for hours at that UFO following the plane – that turns out to be a wing light.
Sportymonk 11 months ago
Guns laws are the same. Your state may say its legal but when you fill out the Federal Form 4473, and it asks about drug use (Hunter) marijuana is an illegal drug. So you may consume it legally but you cannot buy a firearm.
HOTLOTUS1 11 months ago
i like to smoke, but i have to say it has ruined Vegas!
Birdman47 11 months ago
Why can’t you have unified laws throughout the whole country?
SNVBD 11 months ago
So, you can have some marie juana in your pocket and walk across the state border, cycle across the state border, drive over the state border but not fly over the state border with it?
JudyAz 11 months ago
And even though it’s legal in the two adjoining states (CA and AZ in this case), you can’t take it across the state line since that’s Federal jurisdiction.
hmofo813 Premium Member 11 months ago
Cautionary note to those in states where cannabis is legal for recreational use: depending on state law, your employer (current or prospective) might still be able to demand a drug test and fire you (or reject you job application) if the now-legal substance comes up positive.
CaveCat87 11 months ago
You really shouldn’t have pushed it, Stephan. The law will always know. Yeah, I feel that this is signaling the end of the strip.
hoffquotes2 11 months ago
Drug jokes never were funny
JohnTheFoole 11 months ago
Steph!! Really!!
dlaemmerhirt999 11 months ago
This book signing is CURSED. And I’m STILL sad I missed Stephen when he came to The Town of Tonawanda! D’X
ChukLitl Premium Member 11 months ago
It’s tricky traveling. Most hotels are now “no smoking,” & laws still say you can’t in public places. Enforcement is selective & tourists are easy, let ‘em slide if they’re otherwise contributing sufficiently to the local economy, or just mail us a check for the fine. Have a relative or make a friend in safe states. A small bag that stays there is cheaper than a hotel.
elgrecousa Premium Member 11 months ago
Another example of the strange way State/City laws/ordinances are related to Federal laws.
Radish the wordsmith 11 months ago
That’s why they call it dope.
_lounger_ 11 months ago
should have organized a signing tour in prisons instead of in bookstores…
christelisbetty 11 months ago
So what ? The Raiders will always be The Oakland Raiders to me.All them California teams look alike…..yeah yeah I know they’re in Vegas now.Here in Cleveland,we at least held on to our name….at least.
zeexenon 11 months ago
Rent a car, Phoenix to San Diego is a nice drive. And 15 pounds is a lot anyway.
David D Smith Premium Member 11 months ago
Stephan Pastis had written in the comments section of his past books that he had a hard time getting more adult themes past the censors of his work (AKA editors) because the comics section had to be kept at a children’s level for the kids reading it. Crap… don’t use that word. Butt… nope, and other things. Glad to see the editors are letting him “push the envelope” and he can run strips like this. If you want pure sweetness, stick to Garfield. If you want edgy, Pearls Before Swine is the strip for you!
SubDude 11 months ago
So is Sacramento and Seattle a bust now? ;-)
timothy6522 11 months ago
TSA agent looks like Jerry Garcia!!
willie_mctell 11 months ago
Next time in your checked luggage. It’s not like you were going to use it on the plane.
eddi-TBH 11 months ago
The TSA just loves to bust hippies. Or anyone else who is too weak to harm them.
einarbt 11 months ago
I wonder if Stephan’s puns will improve or change in some way if he ends up writing from prison?
Aladar30 Premium Member 11 months ago
I wonder if this is really an autobiographical story.
John Jorgensen 11 months ago
Didn’t he just do a Pastis-in-jail story?
Sisyphos 11 months ago
Dumb move, Cartoon-Boy. I hope you enjoy Doing Time and being treated like a boy-toy indifre ths joint….
AtariDragon 11 months ago
Too bad he’s not in the WNBA.
Swirls Before Pine 10 months ago
Remember to tell the judge that you write “Zits”.
Ceeg22 Premium Member 10 months ago
The best part is you don’t have to take it on the plane because you can buy it when you get there, silly