Introducing Ed and Lara (a drug policy thread) [View All]

[mdmc]

Hello DU. Today I would like to introduce you to two of my friends, Ed and Lara.

Ed works for his family's oil company. His company delivers oil to local homes. Lara works for the NYS Department of Corrections. She is a "felony victim mediator". It is her job to help victims of felony crimes deal with the truama of the crime that was committed against them.

Ed and Lara are not political people. However, Lara's dad is an elected county legislator, and he is also a retired County Court Judge. Ed and Lara are both registered Republcans. Both actually belong to the County GOP committiee, and are essientially proxy votes for Lara's dad.

In the area that I live in, most elections are decided in the GOP primary - whoever wins the GOP primary is elected in the genreal election. Ed and Lara always vote for the non-conservative candidate in the primary. With all "public" votes, they vote as Lara's father instructs them to.

Both generally vote for the Green party candidate, unless a Democrat has a chance of winning. They are very liberal republicans.

Ed and Lara have never been arrested. They have clean driving and criminal records.

Lara and Ed generally buy and smoke an ounce of herb per month. They purchase this herb from a friend of the family that lives in their neighborhood. They generally only smoke at this neighbors house. They don't smoke at home or in front of their children.

On night, their drug dealing friend had a new girlfriend over when Ed and Lara showed up. Ed and Lara felt like they were intruding on this new couple's date, and decided to leave after dinner. Generally, they smoke and watch tv after dinner.

While driving home, Lara decides to smoke a joint. Ed is driving and is not at all smoking. A police man pulls them over.

The cop informs Ed that he was pulled over because a stolen car was reported that matched the vehicle that Ed was driving. The police officer had run Ed's license plate, and determined that Ed was not driving a stolen car. As the police officer approached Ed's car to inform Ed that he was free to go, he noticed the smell of pot burning. He asked them about it, and Lara admitted to having a joint.

How do you think that this situation should be resolved? The DRUG WAR is not only about what should be legal or illeagal, but also how these laws should by enforced. How do you think this situation was resolved and how should it have been resolved? How would it have been resolved in the area that you live in?
on edit -
1) What do you think happened in this situation (how do you think it was resolved)?
2) How do you think this should have been resolved?
3) How would this event played out in your home town?