Reefer Madness

Yesterday, January 12th 2007, the Natick police department arrested Boey Bertold of Belmont under the charge of illegal drug possesion, drug trafficking in marijuana and drug violation near a school or park. The Natick police working off of an anonymous tip had trailed Bertold for two days prior to the arrest. The authorities made the arrest when Bertold recieved 300 pounds of marijuana with a $500,000 dollar estimated street value. Currently Bertold is being held at Middlesex Country Jail in Cambridge in lieu for a $50,000 dollar bail. Although officials say that Bertold was merely a middle man in the operation, he made for an excellent crack at the system which he was a part of.
Since the ban of it's use in the 1950's Marijuana has been a topic of hot debate whether or not to legalize the drug, whether or not it has any severe effects on the body and mind. In the 1960's marijuana became merely a way for counterculture to stress points and ideals, yet by the 1970's with very lenient laws regarding marijuana, it became an illegal enterprise rather than a business. In 1986, Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which harshened the sentencing of offenders. The constant struggle has meant millions of dollars spent on it to keep citizens away from it by paying lawyers, authorities, anti drug associations. Where if the United States went back to it's stance in 1937 by taxing marijuana. It has the potential to solve many of the countries financial problems. Simply with placing a heavy tariff on marijuana, for example Mr. Bertolds $500,000/300 lbs. marijuana.