These stories get read, just as when police officers are arrested. This time it is for pot. Common sense is easily surrendered.

According to reports, officers from the Antioch Police Department arrested a 50-year-old man who works as a special education teacher after they said an off-duty police officer nabbed him as he took a quick toke of a marijuana-filled pipe while under the bleachers at a wrestling match, according to the NYDailyNews.com.

The officer smelled the smoke from the marijuana, police reported.
Peter Mulloy, 50, works at Warren Township High School, where his status is uncertain as the school district's leaders follow their procedures in handling his situation.

The district declined to say what his current status is, though he does face misdemeanor charges. He was at the matches as a spectator with family, not working the event, the Daily Herald reports.

The Tennessee man appears to know he's in trouble, as a traffic stop for a plate violation drifted towards a more criminal ending.

The man did not pull over when the Fairview police officer initiated the traffic stop on Interstate 40, the NYDailyNews.com reported. A pursuit, which reached speeds of only 60 mph, started, and the officer told WKRN-TV that he noticed the man was trying to do something.

It turns out the 30-year-old driver was trying to throw marijuana out of the passenger side window. The officers dash camera provided video of the movement. However, the man's passenger side window was rolled up and all the marijuana bounced around and landed on the seats and on the suspect as well.
The officer told the suspect later that he should make sure the window is down next time he wants to eliminate evidence.

"It was almost comical to actually see this," the officer, Shane Dunning, told the television station in a video report.

Sorry, but this is funny:
WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

Last week was a big one in marijuana news in Michigan, which is a story of major national interest. Let's recap: Grand Rapids and Detroit voters approved legalized marijuana use and possession, not just for medicinal purposes but for just plain old good times.

This occurred on same same that voters in Washington and Colorado also approved such measures.

Michigan voters approved a few years ago the use and possession of medical marijuana, which spawned a thriving dispensary business. Last week, a report showed the just with the licensing of users and caregivers, the state has earned about $10 million for a program costing about $3.5 million to run, almost a $3 for $1 ratio. That's just the $100 to get the card. Just think of the taxing possibilities.

Also last week, the state's top court sided with law enforcement about the status of dispensaries. They are not allowed under the law, as it's written. Seems like the law could be tweaked to improve service for users, providers, not just to appease law enforcement.

Today, there is a great story on CrainsDetroit.com about the growth of the businesses supporting Michigan marijuana growers. There's a large industry here waiting for government support and protection.

Considering all that Michigan's government has done for casinos in particular and gambling in general as well as the health and strength of the state's liquor selling and serving, beer-brewing and serving, and wine-making and serving industries, it seems like there should be nothing holding this back.

We had a bit yesterday about a Waterford man, 28, pleading guilty to misdemeanor cases related to his marijuana grow room. Due to the medical marijuana laws, he was not charged with the grow room, despite exceeding the number of allowed plants. Those used to be felony charges.

But he had an alligator and four pit bulls, misdemeanor violations in Waterford Township. Kind of a strange case, with the 2-and-a-half foot alligator, which to me the big news being that the reptile was euthanized. Strange, though, is not unique. We had this today, crossing the wires, which I had added to our Bizarre Blotter piece:

Alligator found guarding California man's marijuana stash
This man's alligator was five-feet long and was inside the Castro Valley home to protect 34 pounds of marijuana, police told The Associated Press. While the Michigan gator was euthanized, Mr. Teeth —  as his 32-year-old owner told police — is at a zoo, being cared for. UPDATE: Sadly, Mr. Teeth passed on overnight as his sickly condition could not be fixed. Officials told the AP that the gator was very sick but was being treated. The owner told police he got the gator to commemorate the death of rapper Tupac Shakur, the AP reported. He is being charged with having marijuana to sell.

He'll end up just squeaky eventually, but for now, the young singer is a national, er, international phenomena, selling song, tickets, a look and whatever event he is brought in to promote.

His handlers now maintain that pictures taken of the star belong to the star, not to whomever took them. This comes after pictures possibly showing him smoking something that may be marijuana. Both of these items come from the celebrity-stalking site, TMZ.com.

The 18-year-old Canadian is now an industry, a PR machine, so any negative news could slow the money machine; however, eventually he will grow up and get wild and turn that into his new persona, much as Miley Cyrus has done. And Elvis Presley long before her.

Today, the New York Post has a report detailing the explanation for the pot smoke smell reported at a hotel where Bieber stayed recently, saying that it was from 'another rock star.' These explanations get good. Keeping in the spirit of talking to the audience, Bieber or someone on his behalf or on his staff tweeted, "I never want to let any of you down. I love u and thank u."

The hunger to stay out there and keep that clean image will give way soon enough to embracing a new image... say, when his sales dip slightly.

When will that happen? Not any time soon and not because of some marijuana. However, it will happen. And all their concerns and overmanagement will not prevent it. But it will take a bit. Why? Because people are freaky about him. How freaky? Well, the NY Daily News has a bit asking if young fans are cutting themselves to get his attention. Yup, even with that love though, he will diminish... no flavor of the month lasts forever. 

People care about the marijuana laws. On our comments section, many vilify medical marijuana and have a grand old time making fun of those who endorse medical marijuana or legalization. Equally passionate, and equally mean-spirited, the proponents of legalization or medical use also comment harshly about the other side.

It's a very adversarial topic, which surprises me.

Today's story about the possible removal of the schedule one classification drew actual comments that consider the issue and not just hate between each side. Sure, you see a bit of the animosity, but this one is a good debate, considering the topic.

I mean if you're against the drug, do you still hate the user? And if you're for the drug's use, do you have to despise those against, considering it's been banned as a schedule 1 drug for decades, or almost a century.

I would think immigration would be a topic like this, and it is, but not medical marijuana. I'd think the pension tax would have people more up in arms, so perhaps these cultural divides are greater than I thought. Is it generational, too? Maybe a bit, but I think it's more where you stand in our culture.

Personally, it's a shame all the money spent fighting a war that will never be won, and this money is very important to a whole society of lawyers, cops, administrators and government people. Yet, teachers are the ones who are hated? If you hate teachers and their money, why not hate all the money spent on this war?

Here's a sample of comments on our latest story, and please note, these comments are the best and most constructive I've seen on a story about marijuana:

BigBoss-Osaurus wrote on Dec 1, 2011 5:18 PM:

" Time for the old guard to ride off into the sunset.
Its coming. "

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rd rge wrote on Dec 1, 2011 5:27 PM:

" trying to find a way to tax it. but as easy as it is to grow, might as well tax the tomato plant in the garden. so changing it to a number 2 drug is a bit away. but the war is over. they lose. "

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greedISbad wrote on Dec 1, 2011 6:19 PM:

" Oh, heck!! There's gotta be a better, quicker way than to wait for the government to OK pot. How about a good ol' fashioned revolution, eh! REVOLT!!!! "

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thoughtful blogger wrote on Dec 1, 2011 6:32 PM:

" The only one hallucinating is Patterson when he doesn't get his required overdose of alcohol. I think they call it the hebee jebees. "

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rd rge wrote on Dec 1, 2011 6:35 PM:

" how about a vote by the people? no,? i suppose that is against our national law. and unconstitutional! "

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TheBoss wrote on Dec 1, 2011 9:39 PM:

" I am here to let you know that we've had multiple votes by the people. Every time a brave and noble warrior for justice like Bouchard, Snyder, or Schuette was elected, the people spoke loud and clear. We don't want this poison in our communities and we will persecute those who traffic in narco-terrorism. "

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OldDog wrote on Dec 1, 2011 9:42 PM:

" Jessica Cooper, the C*** states: "But she said reclassification of marijuana would allow for manufacture by pharmaceutical companies, prescriptions from doctors and dispensing from pharmacies, just like any other medicines.

"Then we have what the people of this county and this state wanted," Cooper said. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> The people of this county and state voted on this and have no need for a change to please you and law enforcement. What the people wanted ?, what an un-flushed toilet you are Jessica. "

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gps wrote on Dec 1, 2011 10:23 PM:

" I have smoked a fair amount of pot in my lifetime and never once have I hallucinated.
Reclassification should also include removing this label. "

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TheBoss wrote on Dec 1, 2011 11:28 PM:

" You just THOUGHT you weren't hallucinating, which in itself is a hallucination. "

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GrEeDiSbAd wrote on Dec 2, 2011 12:02 AM:

" The sign-in is not case-sensitive. Nice! It seems we have another 'Boss' here, spouting the same crap as 'BigBoss', and the same twisted loyalties for stoopid government members. I dunno, what part of "minority" does 'Boss' NOT understand? Democracy, which is what our government is based on, means 'majority rule'. Or, as good ol' Abe Lincoln put it > government of the people, by the people, for the people. Right? "

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Nacho Panza wrote on Dec 2, 2011 6:48 AM:

" A DEA administrative judge already ruled marijuana safe back in 1988- this was the last time the federal government allowed a fair trial in regard to setting marijuana policy.

Legislators are only now catching on to the idea, mainly because the majority of the population has been taking measures into their own hands. L. Brooks Patterson indicates an obvious lack of education on cannabis.

http://www.ccguide.org/young88.php
DEA judge ruling marijuana "safe and therapeutic"

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page3
National Cancer Institute's history of marijuana as medicine

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/11/kalamazoo_marijuana_signs_say.html
Kalamazoo lowers marijuana priority to improve public safety "

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TheBoss wrote on Dec 2, 2011 7:47 AM:

" I support democracy, which is why I believe in what Bill Schuette is doing. He was elected in a democratic election by a majority of the people. His actions are just the manifestation of the will of the citizens of Michigan. It is clear we, the MAJORITY (aka the people who voted for Bill) don't want this dangerous and deadly drug in our communities. Too many kids are killing themselves these days, something that did happen in years past. Is it any coincidence that all these kids started dying right around the time people started flooding our schools and playgrounds with deadly "medical" marijuana? When you have dope dealers who are also coaching football, you know there's something wrong! Thank goodness that problem solved itself. "

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BigBoss-Osaurus wrote on Dec 2, 2011 10:49 AM:

" The voters go duped on your beloved AG.
We won't be duped again. "