Willie Nelson busted for pot (again)

[KBCraig]

I wonder how they divided a pound and a half five ways and came up with only misdemeanor charges? I didn't realize Louisiana was so lax.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyid=2006-09-18T190327Z_01_N18298940_RTRUKOC_0_US-CRIME-NELSON-MARIJUANA.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

Willie Nelson hit with drug charges
Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:03 PM ET

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson and several fellow musicians were charged with misdemeanor drug possession by Louisiana police after a search of their tour bus on Monday turned up marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.

State police spokesman Willie Williams said the bus was stopped early on Monday morning about 7 miles east of Lafayette, Louisiana, for a routine commercial inspection, and a state trooper smelled marijuana inside the bus.

State Police seized about 1-1/2 pounds (0.7 kg) of marijuana and two-tenths of a pound (91 grams) of mushrooms from the bus, Williams said.

Nelson and four other passengers on the bus were cited for possession and released, while the driver had his commercial driving privileges suspended in addition to being cited for possession. Nelson faces possible jail time of up to six months and an unspecified fine, police said.

"There was no trouble whatsoever," Williams said. "They were all cooperative."

A spokesman for Nelson said she had no information about the arrest.

Nelson, 73, has been an advocate for the legalization of marijuana. He became famous in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement that included influences from rock, jazz and folk music.

[aries]

NH:
Possession
Any amount   misdemeanor   1 year   $2,000

Sale or Cultivation
Less than 1 oz (first offense)   felony   3 years   $25,000
1 oz to 5 lbs (first offense)   felony   7 years   $100,000
5 lbs or more (first offense)   felony   20 years   $300,000
Within 1,000 feet of school (first offense)   felony   double penalty   double penalty

Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc...)
Paraphernalia possession or sale   misdemeanor   1 year   $2,000

Persons aged 15 to 18 convicted of possession or use may receive driver's license suspension for 90 days to 1 year.
Persons aged 15 to 18 convicted of possession with intent to sell may receive driver's license suspension for 1 to 5 years.
Persons over 18 convicted of possession with intent to sell may receive driver's license suspension for up to life.

Possession of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor and is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,000.

Manufacture or distribution of less than one ounce of marijuana is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine up to $25,000. For one ounce or more the penalty increases to a possible seven years in prison and fine up to $100,000. Manufacture or distribution of five pounds or more is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $300,000.

Penalties for sale or distribution within 1,000 feet of a school are up to two times the possible prison term and fine.

Upon conviction of a person aged 15 - 18 years for possession with intent to sell, an additional penalty of 1 - 5 year driver's license suspension may be imposed. For persons aged 15 - 18 years convicted of possession or use, the offender's driver's license is suspended for 90 days - one year. For persons over the age of eighteen convicted of possession with intent to sell, the driver's license suspension may be for as long as life.

Sale or manufacture of paraphernalia is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,000.


LA:
Possession
Any amount (first offense)   misdemeanor   6 months   $500
Any amount (second offense)   misdemeanor or felony   5 years   $2,000
Any amount (third or subsequent offense)    felony   20 years   variable
Possession within 1,000 feet of school, church or public housing    felony   MMS* of 1/2 maximum penalty   variable
*Mandatory minimum sentence.

I wonder which offense this was?

Sale or Cultivation (or possession with intent to sale)
Less than 60 lbs   felony   5 - 30 years   $50,000
60 - 2,000 lbs   felony   10 - 60 years   $50,000 - $100,000
2,000 - 10,000 lbs   felony   20 - 80 years   $100,000 - $400,000
More than 10,000 lbs   felony   50 - 80 years   $400,000 - $1,000,000
Sale to minor at least 3 years younger than the seller   felony   double penalty   double penalty
Sale within 1,000 feet of school, or specifed areas   felony   MMS* of 1/2 maximum penalty   variable
*Mandatory minimum sentence.

Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc...)
Paraphernalia possession or sale (first offense)    misdemeanor   6 months   $500
Paraphernalia possession or sale (second offense)   misdemeanor   1 year   $1,000
Paraphernalia possession or sale (third offense)   misdemeanor or felony   5 years   $5,000

Possession of any amount of marijuana is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500 for a first offense. For a second offense the penalties increase to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000. A third or subsequent offense increases the penalty to up to 20 years in prison.

Cultivation or sale, or possession with intent to distribute less than 60 pounds of marijuana is punishable by 5 - 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. For greater than 60 pounds of marijuana the penalty increases to 10 - 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 - $100,000. For greater than 2,000 pounds the punishment ranges from 20 - 80 years in prison and a fine of $100,000 - $400,000. For greater than 10,000 pounds the penalty increases to 50 - 80 years in prison and a fine of $400,000 - $1,000,000.

Any sale to a minor at least three years younger than the seller doubles the possible penalties.

For felony possession or sale within 1,000 feet of a school, religious building or public housing the penalty includes a mandatory minimum sentence of at least one half of the maximum penalty for the offense.

Possession or sale of paraphernalia is punished by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500 for the first offense. For a second offense, the penalty increases to up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. For a third offense, the penalty is up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

[Pat K]

"I Always heard the his herb was top shelf and lord i could not wait to find out for myself.... Don't knock it till you try it and I have tried it my friend...
And I'll never smoke weed with Willie again...."

[KBCraig]

"I Always heard the his herb was top shelf and lord i could not wait to find out for myself.... Don't knock it till you try it and I have tried it my friend...
And I'll never smoke weed with Willie again...."

Willie was touting Arkansas Gold while I was in college. A guy right down the hall had a brother who grew Arkansas Gold (outdoors, as it should be). He came back to the dorm after a weekend at home in Fayetteville. I was in his room when he opened the closet door, and the top shelf was stacked to the ceiling. Several cubic feet of gallon ziploc baggies. He explained that his brother told him to sell enough to pay for it, and enjoy the rest.

It's good to have friends. 

Kevin