Watch Out for That Violent Money

Jacob Sullum | December 12, 2007

In an interview with WCCO, a CBS affiliate in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek makes the case for drug legalization:

More people are finding ways to make big money growing high-grade marijuana. Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek is concerned about the violence that goes with it.

"Easy money. Violent money," he said....

"These are bad guys who use those firearms—rifles, shotguns, automatic weapons, handguns—to protect their assets, to protect property, to protect their marijuana trade, and that's violence," said Stanek...."Violence associated with drug-dealing happens day in and day out, and that's something I'm concerned about as Sheriff."

WCCO matter-of-factly states that "high-grade marijuana [defined as...?] is four times more addictive [measured by...?] than commercial grade" and suggests that good citizens rat out neighbors who have "people going in and out" of their homes.

[Thanks to NORML's Allen St. Pierre for the tip.]