There’s been much debate about whether the evidence should be allowed in the trial, but I am not sure how it can help Zimmerman in his defense.
Marijuana, illegal as it may be, isn't exactly PCP and despite that Miami 'zombie-face eating' case (cannabis was found in the face eater's system), it won't make you go nuts.
In case you missed it, the Florida judge presiding over Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial ruled yesterday that defense attorneys may present evidence to the jury that Martin had marijuana in his system when he was gunned down.
Blah, blah, blah.
This Ohio University graduate has seen many pot heads.
Wacky tobacky users giggle a lot, listen to reggae, keep Taco Bell and White Castle afloat, frequent Parliament Funkadelic concerts and/or mourn Jerry Garcia’s death like it happened yesterday.
There are exceptions to every rule, but I have never seen marijuana give someone superhuman strength.
It generally doesn’t cause people to flip over tables or punch out car windows.
The 1936 classic “Reefer Madness” is a funny because it is a fraud.
You can debate that pot is a gateway drug, but it is not “the torturer that never stops” and it will not take you “through hell," as described on one of Reefer Madness’ movie poster.
Marijuana is, of course, a major component in the so-called War on Drugs.
About 1.5 million drug arrests were made nationwide in 2011, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report.
About half of those arrests (about one every 42 seconds according to come estimates) dealt with Mary Jane.
An argument could be made that those numbers only tell part of the story.
I am betting that those arrest numbers would be much less if marijuana was legalized and regulated and not left to criminals to distribute.
I am not advocating the legalization of marijuana or saying that it is safe to use.
I am just calling a spade a spade and a small amount of something unlikely to turn you into the Incredible Hulk a small amount of something unlikely to turn you into the Incredible Hulk.
Marijuana has very little to do with the Zimmerman trial unless the defense can prove that Martin went after Zimmerman in some sort of pot rage.
“Pot rage” would be a great band name, BTW.
What do you think? Will evidence of Martin's drug user help Zimmerman? Let us know below.
Contact this blogger at arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth
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