Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2011
Source: Montana Standard (Butte, MT)
Copyright: 2011 Montana Standard
Contact:  http://www.mtstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/609
Author: Keith L. Williams
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n172/a08.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n178/a05.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n178/a06.html

'POT' REFERENCE IN STANDARD HEADLINE UPSETS READER

I strongly object to March 15 Montana Standard headline, "Feds raid
pot shops."

The headline was extremely inflammatory and libelous. They are medical
marijuana dispensaries and should be referred to as such.

Perhaps the editor was thinking more of a way to sell papers by
attention-getting tactics and lost track of his duties to bring the
unvarnished truth to the public.

Maybe Lee Enterprise newspapers are sort of the unofficial and unpaid
spokesmen for the FBI and DEA.

God knows that there is no such thing as investigative reporting these
days. If there was, one could ask questions like. "Why are there
sealed warrants anyway as it denies due process? When do they plan to
unseal said warrants and on what evidence were they based?"

I think the defendants as well the public are entitled to know. I,
personally, think that the FBI, DEA and the U.S. Attorneys office are
looking for a way to replace the funds they will lose in next year's
budget and are raping Montana medical marijuana is an easy target.

All you need do is drop a couple of hints of money laundering and a
protected witness to a biased judge and you have a warrant and the
right to plunder. If there was any wrong done at these locations I
think it would be the duty of Montana law enforcement to investigate
and act accordingly.

Keith L. Williams

Butte
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.