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Cheech's partner Chong gets 9 months for selling bongs

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by Oski2005, Sep 12, 2003.

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  1. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Member

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    Chong gets 9 months for selling bongs

    PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Tommy Chong, who played one half of the dope-smoking duo in the Cheech and Chong movies, asked for leniency from a judge Thursday but was sentenced to nine months in prison for conspiring to sell drug paraphernalia.

    Chong's attorneys argued for no jail time, saying the actor and comedian would use his celebrity to become a role model against drugs and would dedicate his life to public service.

    The 65-year-old apologized to the court and his family, saying he "got carried away" with his movie character.

    He admitted once having "a drug problem with mar1juana" but said he beat it by redirecting his energy to salsa dancing.

    "It's a Latin American dance that's awesome," Chong told U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab before the judge imposed the sentence, which included a $20,000 fine.

    Chong said he has been working with youth groups, teaching filmmaking and speaking against drug use.

    When they "saw that I was not the character that I played in the movies, they were surprised. Some were disappointed," Chong said.

    But Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Houghton said Chong grew wealthy glamorizing drug use and trivializing law enforcement in his films of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

    Houghton also said Chong used the movie persona to promote his catalog and Internet business.

    Chong admitted that his company, which operated as Chong Glass and employed 25 glass blowers, sold some 7,500 bongs and pipes until February 14, when federal drug agents raided his California home and business. Authorities also seized about a pound of mar1juana.

    Richard G. Hirsch, one of Chong's attorneys, urged Schwab not to punish the actor for his films. "The government is asking you to blur the distinction between reality and satire," he said.

    Chong's attorneys said the actor already has been punished: The case cost him a recurring role on the Fox sitcom "That '70s Show" and a planned reunion movie with Cheech Marin, with whom he co-starred in comedies including "Up in Smoke" and "Nice Dreams."

    Along with the fine, Chong must forfeit more than $103,000. He will also be on probation for a year after his release.

    The business, though defunct, was placed on probation for three years and its Internet domain name must be relinquished to federal authorities, along with any remaining paraphernalia.

    Chong was allowed to remain free until federal prison officials tell him in a few weeks where to report to prison.

    He pleaded guilty May 13 to conspiring to sell drug paraphernalia and pleaded guilty on behalf of his business.

    The plea came after federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents bought his paraphernalia and had the items shipped to an undercover business in Beaver Falls, northwest of Pittsburgh.

    Agents also confiscated his company's wares during raids of "head shops" in several states and confiscated "thousands of mar1juana bongs and pipes" in a raid of his Gardena, California, business.

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    So, who's down with making and selling "Free Chong" t-shirts?
     
    #1 Oski2005, Sep 12, 2003
  2. Friendly Fan

    Friendly Fan PinetreeFM60 Exposed

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    forget Osama and Saddam!

    they GOT Tommy Chong




    the streets will be safe now
     
    #2 Friendly Fan, Sep 12, 2003
  3. Maynard

    Maynard Member

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    #3 Maynard, Sep 12, 2003
  4. SWTsig

    SWTsig Member

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    this administration is a joke - nothing but ultra-conservative nut-jobs. our attorney general actually spoke at Bob Jones University; the uber-religious, racist institution. that's absolutely absurd.

    what is this, nazi germany?
     
    #4 SWTsig, Sep 12, 2003
  5. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Member

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    Whew, the streets of America will be safe from that man's...humor I guess.
     
    #5 GladiatoRowdy, Sep 12, 2003
  6. GreenVegan76

    GreenVegan76 Member

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    They imprisoned a 65-year-old for selling bongs? Glad my tax dollars will be put to good use.
     
    #6 GreenVegan76, Sep 12, 2003
  7. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Member

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    Please, this is the same policy as under Clinton. Get a grip.
     
    #7 Mr. Clutch, Sep 12, 2003
  8. Dubious

    Dubious Member

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    If selling bongs is illegal why aren't they busting every head shop in America? ( OK the pound of doobie was illegal but that doesn't seem to be the focus of the prosecution) (or persecution)
     
    #8 Dubious, Sep 12, 2003
  9. jo mama

    jo mama Member

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    when he was running for president, didnt dubbya speak at bob jones too?

    it seems like they singled chong out just cause who he was. is he really the biggest distributor of "water pipes"? probably not.

    did the makers of graphix "water pipes" get 9 months too?
     
    #9 jo mama, Sep 12, 2003
  10. GreenVegan76

    GreenVegan76 Member

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    Absolutely. This country's drug policy is beyond screwed up.
     
    #10 GreenVegan76, Sep 12, 2003
  11. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"
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    I'm impressed by y'all. Here I was, clicking the thread, thinking "debate and discussion? it's just silly!" (directed his energy to salsa dancing? hilarious! "Oh, dude, I could use
    a long pull from the ol' pipe. ... ... nahhh. I'll just put on some
    tight pants and hit the dancefloor instead. Yeahhh.")

    But now I see I was wrong. We can debate and discuss anything.
     
    #11 B-Bob, Sep 12, 2003
  12. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Atomic Playboy
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    Operation "Pipe Dreams" another smash success from the power duo of Bush - Ashcroft. When will people learn that doing Marihuana is evil, therefore the user of pot is an "evil-doer" and subject to immediate punishment. Up next Zig-Zag rolling papers...
     
    #12 KingCheetah, Sep 12, 2003
  13. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Member

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    The pipe dream is the drug warriors thinking they are going to criminalize their way out of this growing problem. It is absolutely amazing to me that in the wake of 9/11, this type of action is what our tax dollars are being spent for - to lock up a senior citizen for selling water pipes.

    We can have an impact on drug use, it will just take a change in strategy and tactics.
     
    #13 GladiatoRowdy, Sep 12, 2003
  14. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Member

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    I still can't believe this guy is Rae Dawn Chong's father. The woman's mother must be gorgeous.

    What was the topic again?
     
    #14 ROXTXIA, Sep 12, 2003
  15. Major

    Major Member

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    It is absolutely amazing to me that in the wake of 9/11, this type of action is what our tax dollars are being spent for - to lock up a senior citizen for selling water pipes.


    What amazes me is that everytime the government spends money on anything people disagree with (in this case, enforcing the law), people bring in 9/11 as a bizarre rationale for how there are better things to spend money on, as though everything else the government does should just shut down because of the fight against terrorism.
     
    #15 Major, Sep 12, 2003
  16. bnb

    bnb Member

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    Seriously...this is illegal??

    As Jeep pointed out, what about the countless 'head shops?'
     
    #16 bnb, Sep 12, 2003
  17. GreenVegan76

    GreenVegan76 Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #17 GreenVegan76, Sep 12, 2003
  18. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"
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    Hey, what'r'ya doing! Trying to post something interesting in this thread? :mad:
     
    #18 B-Bob, Sep 12, 2003
  19. Maynard

    Maynard Member

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    uh "Operation Pipe Dream" is an Asscroft creation...Not a Clinton thing


    "NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup called the federal raids "extreme" and "absurd" in light of recent terror threats made against the lives of American citizens. "At a time when our nation is at an elevated risk of a terror attack, it is preposterous that the Justice Department would waste limited federal law enforcement resources chasing after sellers of products such as roach clips and rolling papers, products which are legally sold at tobacco stores all across America," he said.

    "These businesses pay taxes and do not in any way contribute to the crime problem in America. In addition, the day-to-day operations of these businesses are arguably a local or state matter, and should not be of concern to the federal government. Federal efforts would undoubtedly be better served keeping a bomb out of the hands of Al Qaeda than keeping a bong out of the hands of a mar1juana smoker."

    Although many of the stores raided by federal law enforcement remain open for business, Attorney General John Ashcroft said that the federal government is seeking legal approval to redirect the websites of some online glass retailers to the DEA¹s own homepage. According to federal policy, the DEA may share information about those who log on to their site with other federal and law enforcement agencies."
    http://norml.com/index.cfm?Group_ID=5568
     
    #19 Maynard, Sep 12, 2003
  20. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Member

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    Maynard, I don't see how Ashcroft could be doing something radically different. The laws on the books are the same.
     
    #20 Mr. Clutch, Sep 12, 2003
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