Daniel Chong was celebrating April 20th like many other college students-at a party smoking a little cannabis. Unfortunately for Daniel, his 4/20 celebration was cut short by a DEA raid. Told that he would be released, Daniel was forgotten and he spent 5 days in a cell without any food or water. The young college student suffered hallucinations and was certain that he was gonna die, just because he was smoking cannabis at a college party.
From the Los Angeles Times:
When he was discovered by DEA employees, he was covered in his own feces and severely dehydrated. He was rushed to a hospital, close to kidney failure and breathing with difficulty. He spent five days in the hospital.
Days later, a top DEA official apologized to Chong and ordered an “extensive view” of DEA procedures.
“I extend my deepest apologies [to] the young man and want to express that this event is not indicative of the high standards that I hold my employees to,” said William R. Sherman, who was acting special agent in charge of the DEA’s San Diego Division.
Unfortunately, these type of tragedies occur all-too-often in the War on Cannabis. Wrong homes are raided, family pets are killed and innocent people lose their lives. Not to mention, the post-traumatic stress so many non-violent people suffer after undergoing such traumatic events. As so many tragic events unfold, it has become evident that the War on Cannabis hurts and affects our entire country, not just those that use cannabis. Everyone is a potential victim in this tragic war. And all for what? Are we any closer to eradicating cannabis use? How many more dollars are we going to waste and how many more lives need to be harmed before we end the harmful and futile policy of cannabis prohibition?
Source: National Cannabis Coalition – make a donation
