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Oddly enough, Judge Gray reminds us that the first American law about marijuana, passed by the Virginia Assembly in 1619, required every household to grow it as hemp was considered a valuable commodity.
IN THE COUNTY COURT, IN AND FOR
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
STATE OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 2007MM001698AXX
V.
BERTRAM WILLIAMS
In publishing this verdict, the Court has included commentary that admittedly may not be relevant to the question of whether the Defendant committed a crime. This commentary should not be construed as an indictment of the officers who arrested the Defendant or the state attorney for prosecuting the case. This judge is deeply concerned about the threat that drugs pose to our society, and particularly to our children, and, therefore, appreciates the motivation and good intentions of the police and prosecutors who bring these cases to court. However, as Judge Gray so eloquently writes, “although the war on drugs makes for good politics, it makes for terrible government.”
In this one case, the Court finds the Defendant not guilty. Undoubtedly, the state
will prevail in many other marijuana cases that will come before this Court in the future if the accusation is proven. This judge is sworn to uphold the laws not to write them. The more important questions to be resolved are whether the war on drugs as it is presently being conducted is doing more harm than good and whether it is effective. Those questions can be answered only by the Legislature, not the Courts, and certainly not by this judge.
DONE AND ORDERED in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, this
________ day of ________________, 2007.
____________________________________
BARRY M. COHEN
County Court Judge
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