<p>Here is what the Washington Post reported, as linked upthread:</p>
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<p>Conspicuously absent from the charges is a charge for actually selling controlled substances to minors, or to anyone at all. Unless the “intent to deliver” statute includes sales, which it might, but I’m sorry I’m too lazy to research it. Even if it does, one would expect that there would be a separate statute applicable to sales to minors or on school property, and there is no report of such charges being made, which makes it sound more like they were arrested during the “planning” stage.</p>
<p>I thought it was pretty clear from the reporting that their “distributors” had been selling at all the schools cited. It’s one thing to use pot in a state where it’s been legalized. It’s quite another to import it to a state where it remains illegal and to organize to distribute and sell it (along with cocaine and Ecstasy) to minors on school property and/or “drug-free school zones.” Quite a few laws being broken there!</p>
<p>I agree that their behavior was pretty serious and pretty bad, but it is hardly significant. There are guys on street corners in every big American city thinking what a bunch of lightweights those Haverford guys are. If you want to see some real drug distribution check out the operations run by the bloods and crips.</p>
<p>The real mistake these guys made was to operate in the wrong state. If they had operated in Colorado, they could have gotten venture capital funding for their business, taken the company public and become wealthy while obeying the law. </p>
<p>Yes, there are people selling this stuff on street corners everywhere and of course in gang areas it is worse. </p>
<p>What is significant IMHO is that many kids in the inner city might not see many other paths. They probably know drug dealers who make a good living. They might not have access to jobs or schooling or family support. </p>
<p>The kids who just got busted had every opportunity to be productive and successful, but they squandered it by doing something quite illegal. They had families who could afford great educations for them. They could have been successful in legitimate ways. </p>
<p>IMO the whole “medical marijuana” thing was just the government getting the ball rolling towards a legalization of marijuana. At the end of the day they want (and need) the tax dollars. So is it any surprise that a bunch of kids thought they would just deal themselves in to the game? </p>
<p>Even though I am personally conflicted about the legalization of marijuana, I agree with those who think using and selling marijuana is not a big deal anymore, and the trend toward legalization should be considered when these young men and woman are prosecuted and sentenced, if it happens. It was wrong for them to sell to high school kids if they were underage, but the consequences shouldn’t be much more than procuring alcohol for underage kids, imo.</p>
<p>This wsa more than pouring alcohol. It was more like getting cases of liquor and distributing at a high profit. That doesn’t sound all that innocent to me.</p>
<p>This whole thing sort of reminds me of gambling. As long as the government is doing the gambling through lotteries etc. it’s ok but if a private person gambles, then it’s time to lock 'em up and throw away the keys. If gambling is bad such that individuals shouldn’t do it, it does not somehow get better when the government does it. </p>
<p>This story was in the news here in Richmond, VA because Mr. Brooks dropped out of University of Richmond. In the texts linked by jonri, Mr. Brooks doesn’t seem to know the correct usage of “their and there.” I guess a $35k prep school is what you make of it. I hope they all get the same bail requirements and sentencing that a low income inner city minority gang would receive. </p>
<p>So do you whine when you get a speeding ticket?
It really isn’t about what YOU think with regard to the law. Fortunately our society is not that self-centered.</p>
<p>No one targeted the teens, stop with that BS. They targeted the illegal activities.</p>
<p>Oh, and don’t forget about the most severe laws they broke - the tax laws. All the complainers saying this isn’t an issue are forgetting that they are earning money and not paying taxes. The new 1%er.</p>
<p>Funny! You believe some guy who did 7 years in prison? You do know that there are no guilty people in prison, right? They all will profess their innocence or trumped up charges. LOL.</p>