Cass County drug bust turns deadly

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Posted: 11:19 PM Jul 28, 2008
Last Updated: 7:48 AM Jul 29, 2008
Reporter: Erin Logan
Email Address: erin.logan@wndu.com

151 comments

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A routine marijuana check in Cass County, Michigan, turns deadly.

Michigan State Police say 51-year-old Niles Wilson shot himself when he realized he had been caught growing nearly 130 marijuana plants on his property.

Police estimate the value of his marijuana crop at roughly $195,000.

Several police agencies spent the day Monday investigating the area near Wilson's home on Jefferson Center Road.

Surrounding streets were blocked off for hours.

All of the day's events were a shock for police, but especially for Wilson's neighbors.

It started out with state police helicopters running a hemp operation. When they thought they discovered some fields near Wilson's home, they knocked on the door, but they never got to speak to Wilson.

It was a scene very few neighborhoods experience -- more than 130 marijuana plants dragged out of a home by police.

"I'm locking my doors tonight," said neighbor Larry Washburn.

Washburn prays that it is a scene he never experiences again -- police cars blocking the roads, a sound of a gunshot, and terrible news about a next-door neighbor he thought he knew for about 15 years.

"You don't know who lives next door to you anymore," says Washburn. "I never expected that of him."

He says there were never any signs of drugs at that house.

Michigan State Police say they saw a sign, though. That's why they knocked on Wilson's door.

"Usually, the officers can determine that marijuana is associated with the house by a trail -- there are hoses going to the marijuana for watering and things like that -- and that's what they observed in this case, and that's why they went to that particular house," explains Lieutenant Mike Brown.

That is when a shot was fired. Police say when they went back with a search warrant, they found Wilson had taken his own life.

"I would note that there was some indication from family history that we've obtained since the investigation began that he did have some history of depression which may have contributed to the tragic results," says Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. "This is just another sober example that marijuana brings nothing but tragedy."

"It wasn't worth taking your life," says Washburn solemnly.

Fitz says Wilson was arrested in the 80's for running marijuana across state lines.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Hemperor Location: Earth, U$ually on Jan 17, 2009 at 06:32 PM
REFUSING TO GROW HEMP in America during 17th & 18th Centuries WAS AGAINST OUR LAW! You could be jailed in Virginia for refusing to grow hemp from 1763 to 1769; Hemp in Colonial Virginia, G. M. Herdon

Posted by: william Location: in on Nov 29, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I myself suffer from depression and self medicate loss of mother who was my best friend this is an outrage never killed anyone like drunk drivers do everyday yet they act like marijuana is the problem but in fact they are the problem they just need to legalize it so there greedy hands can touch the money it would generate

Posted by: NUNYA Location: EDWARDSBURG on Sep 25, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I HATE EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THE CASS COUNTY JUDICIAL SYSTEM.PATHETIC,UNFAIR,STUCK UP,RICH,AND RUNNING OUR LIVES. AMERICA, HOME OF THE DEPRESSED,OVERWHELLMED,DYING SOCIETY. WORK HARD,DO GOOD,BE HONEST,CARING,LOVING,FOR WHAT? TO GET PULLED OVER BY SOME CROOKED EDWARDSBURG/CASS COUNTY COP!YEP YOU JUST MADE THEIR DAY,AND NOW YOUR LIFE IS RUINED! LAND OF THE FREE, AND HOME OF THE BRAVE!! HAHAHAHAHHA YEA RIGHT.

Posted by: a friend Location: Indiana on Sep 18, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Only our Heavenly Father understands what happened and why. For those of us left behind, let's not be so hasty to judge this man. It's easy to take a few facts; maybe even half-truths or lies, and piece them together haphazardly, and form unfair opinions. There is always more to the story than meets the eye. Please know that this was a good man, and he loved the Lord with all his heart. I can assure you that as you judge, so shall you be judged. Leave the judgement to God - it's more responsibility than any of us are ready to assume. I ask God to forgive me where I have failed to be a good friend to someone who needed my friendship. I pray that I will take something positive from this, and that it will make me a better person. One day, we will be able to reunite in Heaven. Until then, my friend... I love you! "Me"

Posted by: Debbie Location: Mich, on Aug 17, 2008 at 01:00 AM
OK...i have been reading argument after silly argument on this story..Who can say if pot is good or bad? But we all know if it is illegal or not in "this state". It may be excellent for medical purposes {I had a great chuckle over the menstral pain comment". But can anyone really try to say this man was growing that much weed for his own medical purposes? Come on..he was growing and selling. So the whole medical argument shouldnt even come up. Yes, I think pot is safer on society than alcohol. But until it is legalized, anyone committing the crime knows they are wrong. A man died...shouldnt you post about that instead of arguing over "he may be alive if only it were legal"...he isnt alive, pot isnt legal, What is called for is prayers for this mans loved ones.

Posted by: Tommy Location: Warsaw on Aug 5, 2008 at 02:39 PM
I find it encouraging that there has been this many people commenting on here regarding legalization. More people realize how ridiculous marijuana prohibition is than I thought.

Posted by: Myrt on Aug 4, 2008 at 07:32 PM
A retired MSP once told me that he would rather pot be legal and alcohol outlawed. The reason: drunks can get violent and beligerent, pot heads go with the flow. Also, isn't it funny that pot is illegal, but tobacco isn't? How many of you blasting people that smoke pot, smoke cigarettes?

Posted by: Mike Location: Elkhart on Aug 4, 2008 at 03:34 PM
That's funny stuff right there!!!

Posted by: Mr. Sarcasm on Aug 4, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Wow, kc9ixv. I had you pegged as a high school dropout, but it's obvious you must be a SBCSC graduate.

Posted by: kc9ixv Location: the late great u.s.a. on Aug 3, 2008 at 10:59 PM
i dont smoke marijuana but i dont see anything wrong with it. it's not addictive like most drug's "fact". it's natural. if it's bad then obviously god is bad also cause he made it for us to use. it's ok for the government to deal drug"s but we cant have marijuana? this is messed up. the government import's cocaine to deal on the streets then they bust you for having a joint good god. legalize it already. if you eat marijuana alot in brownies etc it is good for you and it will keep cancer at bay this has been proven by scientist's but you wont see this on mainstream media. smoking it in moderation isnt that bad but smoking like its going out of style well that's bad for the lung's but not as bad as cigarettes. remember the fact that big brother doesnt want you and me to be healthy that's why it's illegal and it's illegal due to the fact anyone can grow it unlike medication and alcahol. think outside the box then you can see the truth.

Posted by: MJ Location: Elkhart on Aug 3, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Very unfortunate- my prayers are with the family...this man obviously felt backed into a corner and he took his own life for no reason. I am supportive of decriminalizing marijuana- I have endometriosis and MUCH prefer smoking to relieve the pain associated with this disease rather than remain doped up on Vicodin (talk about being stoned!!) And in these days when health care costs are outrageous and skyrocketing steadily, good ole pot is still a reasonable price:) Self-medication wins again!

Posted by: what! Location: all over on Aug 3, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Man shoots himself and its the cops fault. Marijuana not legal cops fault. You marijuana people need to educate yourselves about the real harm that marijuana does. It does not cure cancer if it did then no one would die of cancer. If there was any medical value to marijuana don't you think the multi billion dollar a year drug industory would have already marketed it. Another thing that I find funny that most of the Anti tobbaco people are also the marijuana supporters. Smoke tobbaco bad Smoke marijuana good. Get out of your parents basement let your brain unclog from the bong residue and look at the world with some commen sence. I pray for this mans family that they find peace, his death was by his own hand.

Posted by: get real Location: elkhart on Aug 3, 2008 at 12:52 PM
you can tell there are alot of hippies still out there. the man broke the law. its a LAW. you dont have like them but still have fallow them. i hate all of you cop haters. with out them we would have no order. would you like your 10 year old smoking? no!! people need laws because people are stupid like most of you. get real. grow up. get out of the 70s!!!!!

Posted by: Linda Location: Dayton, Ohio on Aug 3, 2008 at 07:45 AM
C'mon lets put your money to better use....the reason it is illegal is because they (being the government) labeled it a schedule 1 drug, and the way a drug becomes a schedule 1 drug is that it serves no medical purpose and it is addictive.....this includes cocaine, crack, meth, and many other. I see no comparison chemical or herb. And I also know of many states that have legalized it for medicinal purposes, and I also know that people dont kill or steel from their families to get it, and as far as being addictive...I know plenty of pot heads that stoped smoking it with ease.(because of government regulations) and I also have heard from many pot heads that the biggest anti pot people are the meth, coke, crack and pill heads. imagine that. as it realy worth taking a life?

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 2, 2008 at 05:31 PM
I support the use of Marijuana. I support it being Govt regulated and taxed like liquor and cigarettes. The USA could grow some good stuff and export it. This would create more jobs, increase tax revenues, and keep the bad stuff off the streets.

Posted by: ElectroPig Location: WIndsor/Detroit on Aug 2, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Proscecutor Victor Fritz obviously is not intelligent enough to understand the real problem here. If the ridiculous laws were never in place, noone would have EVER had a problem with marijuana. The plain truth is that marijuana laws serve only to protect the pulp and paper industry, the alcohol industry (to a lesser extent, as many people do not prefer the "recreational effects" of marijuana over alcohol), the logging industry, the cotton industry, the textile industry, and most of all, the pharmaceutical industry. All of the above industries will suffer very little if marijuana were once again legalized, as it was for nearly 10,000 DOCUMENTED years, until approximately 1883. The fact that it has been proven that natural compounds in marijuana/hemp are able to cure many forms of cancer, among other things that the many thousands of dangerous and toxic pharmaceutical drugs can not should give the thinking person reason to consider what is really going on with "The War On Drugs."

Posted by: any Location: elk on Aug 1, 2008 at 08:37 AM
my challenge to the Michigan State Police is this (i know you read this) - why did you LIE about this unfortunate incident? Why have you not felt it was your duty to the citizens to tell the truth about this horrible event? When do you plan to finish cleaning out the rest of the 'plots'? i pray that your so called 'hemp' operation or 'routine' knock doesn't cause that neighborhood any more pain as we know it will only be twisted into ugly LIES! you have shamed us all! may God bless your souls upon the time when you will need Him most! you destroyed all creditability your badge stands for! this man, a human, was buried yesterday by all that love him, bravo to a job done terribly wrong. do the state of MI justice by telling the truth!

Posted by: Willie Location: Niles on Jul 31, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Actually Mike, I must say that my move to Michigan, albeit only to Niles, has been a relatively pleasant experience. And I'm certainly better off than the poor saps still living in SB/SJC. Now if Granholm would just go away....

Posted by: Richard J, Rawlings Location: USMJParty HQ on Jul 31, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Lucy, you could not be more wrong. If marijuana was legal it would lose most of its value. We could grow it in are gardens, and in spare rooms in our house. We could give it away, or use it to trade with. Yes, there would be a market for it in the big cities where it's harder to grow your own, and most med users would need care-takers to grow for them. Think about it...would marijuana be cheaper for you, if Legal? I know it would for me! The all mighty dollar is behind marijuana prohibition. Legalize, Regulate, Educate! Richard J. Rawlings United States Marijuana Party

Posted by: lucy Location: south bend on Jul 31, 2008 at 03:14 PM
If they would just make it legal...think about all the money the government could make. This whole country's budget would be awesome..we wouldn't be in the hole!

Posted by: Chuck Location: Michigan on Jul 31, 2008 at 02:16 PM
This is terrible. My heart goes out to the family. When will this War on the Citizens of The United States finally end. It is not a war on drugs, it is a war on taxpayers just like you,and me.

Posted by: Jenna Location: SB on Jul 31, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Drugs are bad, m'K? Marijuana's bad, m'K? No one needs that much pot. He was probably selling it, which is also illegal... see a theme? Good job, cops, for doing your JOB and UPHOLDING THE LAW.

Posted by: xSmoker Location: elkhart on Jul 31, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Seriosly, MJ doesn't hurt any one? Maybe it's not the most dangerous drug in the world, but it's not harmless. It stole a lot of years from me. I, and everyone else I knew that smoked it had no ambition at all. It makes you stupid and lazy. It also raped my mother!

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 31, 2008 at 11:52 AM
In 1937, Dupont patented the processes to make plastics from oil and coal. Dupont's Annual Report urged stockholders to invest in its new petrochemical division. Synthetics such as plastics, cellophane, celluloid, methanol, nylon, rayon, Dacron, etc., could now be made from oil. Natural hemp industrialization would have ruined over 80% of Dupont's business. Andrew Mellon became Hoover's Secretary of the Treasury and Dupont's primary investor. He appointed his future nephew-in-law, Harry J. Anslinger, to head the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Secret meetings were held by these financial tycoons. Hemp was declared dangerous and a threat to their billion dollar enterprises. For their dynasties to remain intact, hemp had to go. These men took an obscure Mexican slang word: 'marihuana' and pushed it into the consciousness of America.

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 31, 2008 at 11:49 AM
http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/print.asp?ID=3774 t was LEGAL TO PAY TAXES WITH HEMP in America from 1631 until the early 1800s; LA Times, Aug. 12, 1981. * REFUSING TO GROW HEMP in America during the 17th and 18th Centuries WAS AGAINST THE LAW! You could be jailed in Virginia for refusing to grow hemp from 1763 to 1769; Hemp in Colonial Virginia, G. M. Herdon. * George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers GREW HEMP; Washington and Jefferson Diaries. Jefferson smuggled hemp seeds from China to France then to America.The first Bibles, maps, charts, Betsy Ross's flag, the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were made from hemp; U.S. Government Archives.In 1916, the U.S. Government predicted that by the 1940s all paper would come from hemp and that no more trees need to be cut down. Government studies report that 1 acre of hemp equals 4.1 acres of trees. Plans were in the works to implement such programs; Department of Agriculture. In the 1930s, innovations in farm machinery would have caused an industrial revolution when applied to hemp. This single resource could have created millions of new jobs generating thousands of quality products. Hemp, if not made illegal, would have brought America out of the Great Depression.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 31, 2008 at 10:25 AM
"Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz reported Tuesday that the cause of death of a former Dowagiac resident found by the Michigan State Police appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.On Monday, July 28, Nels Wilson, 51, of 25560 Jefferson Center St., Jefferson Township, was found dead in his home." So let me get this straight, Prosecutor Victor Fitz, who made the statement "This is just another sober example that marijuana brings nothing but tragedy." Is also the person reporting "resident found by the Michigan State Police APPEARS to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound"????? Why did they not refer to the "Dowagiac resident" as Niles Wilson?? Sounds cold don't you think? He was human, a person, like you and me. Also, what the hell do they mean by it "APPEARS" to be a gun shot wound? This "opinion" is coming from a Prosecutor who very is anti-marijuana. This case needs investigation by an outside source, independant of law enforcement or government.

Posted by: Franky Location: Cass on Jul 31, 2008 at 05:02 AM
Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz reported Tuesday that the cause of death of a former Dowagiac resident found by the Michigan State Police appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.On Monday, July 28, Nels Wilson, 51, of 25560 Jefferson Center St., Jefferson Township, was found dead in his home. Earlier in the day, Fitz said, state police and members of the South West Enforcement Team (SWET) conducted an "Operation HEMP (Help Eradicate Marijuana Plants) flyover of southwest Michigan. During the exercise, authorities located multiple marijuana plots in Cass County, Fitz said, including one plot adjacent to Wilson's trailer and garage.More than 130 mature plants were found at the address. Fitz reported some of the plants towered more than eight feet tall. The manufacturing also included a growing and processing area in Wilson's garage, the prosecutor stated.Officers on the ground confirmed that the plants in the field adjacent to the trailer and garage were marijuana.

Posted by: Bill Location: Michigan on Jul 31, 2008 at 04:24 AM
Mike (in Elkhart)--when I posted at 10:49 a.m., an 'error' flag appeared, possibly because I hadn't included my 'optional' email address. Only when I re-posted at 10:50, and included that address, did a 'thank you for submitting your comment' flag appear. As your rebuttals seem largely limited to complaints regarding punctuation, it's worth noting that you've mistakenly given us "your" instead of "you're" twice now, and "points is" rather than "points are" once. I'm reminded of a young man who tried to harass me when I gathered signatures for the upcoming ballot initiative. He didn't want to hear about the tumor-shrinking, anti-carcinogenic properties of cannabis, much less read the Washington Post's article on UCLA's related research. He ranted and shouted and shook his head in denial, puffing all the while on a coffin-nail from a package labeled with a "Surgeon General's Warning". People who are misinformed and unwilling to consider history or research are living in a world of fear.

Posted by: Richard J, Rawlings Location: USMJParty HQ on Jul 31, 2008 at 12:12 AM
I have to say it's really nice seeing all these orgs, and names here. Fighting righteously against the prohibitionists, but I wonder how much good WE are really doing here? I also wonder why we are not coming together on the streets demanding a end to the madness? How many more will WE let be incarcerated, die, or have a family ripped apart, over a plant that has never hurt anyone, but helped many! When will WE march together on Capital Hill, and demand the end of marijuana prohibition? Richard J. Rawlings United States Marijuana Party

Posted by: Becky Location: Sterling Heights on Jul 31, 2008 at 12:08 AM
It is not marijuana that brings tragedy, but prohibition and the war on drugs. The marijuana was there in his home all along, but it wasn't until police officers came to investigate that Wilson took his life. If there was no reason for officers to investigate or come to Wilson's house to begin with, then perhaps this tragedy would not have happened.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Cassopolis on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Man, this makes me so sad, everyone has their opnion and it will change nothing. I use to smoke weed and found that it did more harm to my bodie then good! Please do not speak about God unless it is to glorify His Kingdom. I use to think that it was ok to smoke weed, that is until i begain a personal relationship with Him! The reason it is not Christ like to smoke is because God say's that we are to be of a SOBER MIND! When i use to smoke it did nothing but cloud my MIND! GOD also said to follow the Law of the Land and since our Law says that it is illegal then that is what we must live by. JESUS did not need anything but faith to heal the sick, He had Faith and was Anointed by our Creator. We also have that same power as long as we have faith in the BLOOD! God say's over 17 times that we are to be of a SOBER MIND in His Word so, Read it for yourself and only speak the truth because the blood will be on your hands! God created all kinds of plants and they all have their own purpose!

Posted by: Jason Location: ND on Jul 30, 2008 at 09:48 PM
It's very sad that a man that was causing no one harm was driven to suicide. All because the government decides an herb that has medicinal benefits is illegal. It is slowly changing though, people are realizing how wrong the government actually is. The only problem is that we still have too many closed minded people that refuse to see the facts and will stand by their propaganda to the death. Scientific evidence means nothing to them. If it wasn't for prohibition of cannabis then he might have been able to grow his plants in peace. Never harming anyone (which he didn't do anyways) and never harming himself. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I used to be very against cannabis. Then I researched it. It is a very beneficial plant. Please everyone, please help spread the truth. norml.org is one of many great places to obtain knowledge instead of ignorance.

Posted by: Alex Location: Niles on Jul 30, 2008 at 09:09 PM
You people would be shocked to know who uses marijuana. It is kind of funny to think about. You people walk by marijuana users in your office, at the grocery store, at the gas pumps, and you would never know it. You have probably even had a conversation with a marijuana user and walked away thinking "what a nice person!" People that use marijuana are doctors, lawyers, construction workers, and just about every other type of employee on the planet. It isn't like being drunk people! I love that you live life with blinders on!

Do not spam the comments board with multiple comments with different user names. Spamming the boards will get your other comments deleted and your IP address flagged which will slows down your approval process. Thank you. -WNDU.com

Posted by: jw Location: elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Mike....stick 2 your guns. Marijuana causes no rise in crime? Seriously? If pot makes you so smart and open-minded, why do all these users keep getting busted? Obviously they should be smart enough to not get caught by the police. Try living life by the rules and maybe you won't have to look over your shoulders all the time....makes it a little more enjoyable.

Posted by: blueberry Location: the patch on Jul 30, 2008 at 07:17 PM
Mike is just a troll that thinks he knows it all a keyboard commando at best...just ignore him, he thinks he knows everything already so let him drift away in his ignorance and Enzite....Amen John!

Posted by: D Location: Michigan on Jul 30, 2008 at 07:02 PM
I am tired of people "preaching" about the use of marijuana. I have never used the stuff in my life, but I will say this..I am not going to bash anyone who chooses to use. I don't believe that it is anymore harmful than lets say..alcohol. Let's do some research on this matter. How many people are killed each year due to alcohol related incidents compared to those related to the use of marijuana!

Posted by: Mike Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Coming from someone as well punctuated as you John, I rest my case!!! Willie, I truly feel sorry for you living in Michigan. I think your the only sane one up there.

Posted by: vote in Location: november 4 MJ on Jul 30, 2008 at 05:43 PM
MIKE WHY DONT YOU ACTUALLY LOOK INTO THE LINKS PEOPLE HAVE LEFT ON HERE AND THEN POST ANOTHER COMMENT, OR ARE YOU TOO CLOSED MINDED AND IGNORANT TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND LEARN SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY MIGHT BENEFIT YOU IN THE LONG RUN???? yes marijuana may be illegal but it shouldnt be and the research that is being done has proven that. its only a matter of time before people like you see that. my prayers go out to mr. wilson and his family... i hope the truth comes out soon.

Posted by: blueberry Location: the patch on Jul 30, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Wow, this story is just a little over 24 hrs. old and over 100 responses! There is some very good information here! It is good to see that people are finally standing up to tyranny and unjust laws (marijuana prohibition). Hopefully this tragedy will bring about significant change and open some new eyes to see the truth. It is a shame all 130 plants were confiscated by the MSP, there are many medical patients out there that could have used that medicine, that in itself should be a crime. Very few people have medical insurance anymore, nor can they afford prescription drugs, think about that next time you bust another marijuana grower MSP & DEA along with other agencies that still uphold unjust, inhumane laws.

Posted by: john Location: buchanan on Jul 30, 2008 at 05:14 PM
we should all be as perfect as Mike. we are truly blessed with the abundance of knowledge you have graced us with. must be one heck of a business you have if you've got all day to play online. your parents should have practiced birth control. let me guess. middle aged, bald, divorced.thats what I thought.

Do not spam the comments board with multiple comments with different user names and answer your own post like you are a different user. All of your other comments have been deleted. Thank you. -WNDU.com

Posted by: Willie Location: Niles on Jul 30, 2008 at 05:01 PM
There is no Constitutionally protected "right to privacy". Quit perpetuating the myth.

Posted by: A friend of the family Location: Some where on Jul 30, 2008 at 05:00 PM
I am a friend of the family....and reading some of the comments are very heart breaking to me. I agree what he did wasnt a good thing. But he was still a person. A person who makes mistakes, a person who has had a rough life, and a person who did in fact have mental problems. My heart goes out to his family! They are having a hard time dealing with this and all you people want to sit around and do is talk bad about someone. What if this man were your dad, brother, family memeber? Shame on all of you! Please pray for his sons! I pray that they dont have to see all this crap you people are talking!

Posted by: Alan Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Now your just hurting my feelings. So being environmentally friendly is bad too?

Posted by: Blutnick on Jul 30, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Mike on 7-30 at 11:22 AM, since you brought up grammar and used that in your argument I am now a little suspicious of what you're putting your brownies. "The mispelled words, the lack of articulation" is an incomplete sentence. Your use of effect is wrong, I believe you mean affect. The last sentence in your post is choppy, poorly constructed, and you finished up a plural "we" out of nowhere while skipping one in sentence one with "post". You're a wild man Mike, I want to party with you.

Posted by: Mike Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 03:54 PM
You guys are really scraping the bottom of the barrel.I'll remember not to hire anyone named Alan!

Posted by: danut on Jul 30, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Jack Cole! It's very good to see you here! It is very clear that officers are responsible for what they choose to enforce. That was well established after the end of WW2 when there were several people hanged for "just doing their job." marijuana cures cancer. the government knows it. At that point it is a crime against humanity. It's one thing when they don't know. It's entirely something else when they do.

Posted by: Alan Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Mike... along with your drug screening. Which is fine. Do you also make sure you are not hiring illegals taking a job from an honest law abiding American citizen that passes your drug screen? Life is best taken in moderation. I hardly think any individual that smokes weed is demanding the right to have a doobie hanging out of their mouth 24 hours a day seven days a week. You don't get any higher just lower on weed. Hemp can be made into hundreds if not thousands of products that we now make out of our nation's dwindling forest. In Europe they are making entire wall forms for homes out of hemp. It does not rot, it insulates incredibly well against heat and cold, termites will not eat it, and you don't cut down trees. The list goes on to all kinds of paper products and even a type of fuel being developed. It grows incredibly fast. Requires no chemical fertilization and one more time we could quit chopping down our nations forest. How is that for being green and stopping global warming?

Posted by: Mike Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Your right. It opens the neuro pathways so your brain can fall out of your head! I feel so sorry that you didn't grow up in the '60s. As far as drug screening goes, I'll be sure to tell my lawyer that some druggie on a post said that it's unconstitutional!!!! That's probably why you don't have one!!!

Posted by: Greg Location: Paw Paw on Jul 30, 2008 at 02:28 PM
The point is NOT whether or not marijuana is "good" for people. The real issue is whether Prohibition is the best way to respond to the dangers--real or imagined--of marijuana. Even IF marijuana is harmful only in the minds of sheeple and the intellectually lazy does it automatically follow, well then, by golly, Prohibition must be good.

Posted by: Greg Location: Paw Paw on Jul 30, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Yes, Mike, it does fall to you--and your masters--to explain why Marijuana Prohibition should be the law of the land. That's what living in a free country is all about. On the other hand, if you are so gung-ho to live in a country of arbitrary regulations, nanny state government and lack of accountablility by those who govern us, I would suggest there are any number of nations where you would feel more at home--Iran, China and Paraguay spring to mind. NO, Mike, you can not have my freedoms. I'm not done using them yet. Sheesh, and they say USING marijuana makes people stupid. Oh, and btw, drug tests are notoriously unreliable and easy to beat. The only people drug tests "catch" are the careless and the innocent. A man as smart as you claim to be surely knows that 1 in 1000 drug tests come up false positive. No big deal? Would you eat in a restaurant where 1 in 1,000 meals was contaminated with salmonella? Ride in a car where one wheel fell off every 1,000 miles?

Posted by: Mike Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 02:00 PM
This is how stoned you are! Why do I need to come up with a reason on why it's illegal?! The points that everyone else comes up with is talking points in "High Times"! I don't need to do research on why it should be illegal. All you have to do is read the posts here and know the reason that it's illegal! Oh, and by the way, God made bears real cuddly and cute too! There's all kinds of things that God made that will kill you! Arsenic is a natural element. Why don't you smoke some of that?! You can try and justify it anyway your puny little brains see fit, but as for me, thank God we drug screen before we hire someone!!!

Posted by: College Educated Location: cass county on Jul 30, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Hey mike why don't you try to do some research and come up with a valid reason why marijuana should be illegal. All the "dopers" seem to back there points with valid arguments to why prohibition does not work and all you say is stupid stoners can't remember what they wrote and can't spell blah blah. Marijuana has been around since the creation of man and in the bible it states. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. GOOD hum so anybody who disagrees with this is basicly taking a stance against what God intended. Our government is the one who demonized marijuana for politcal and racial reasons in the 1930's. There have been dozens of federal studies showing that the prohibition of marijuana is more destructive then the use of the plant itslef. God made pot and man made beer so what do you trust....OVERGROW THE GOVERNMENT!

Posted by: jackacole Location: Medford, MA on Jul 30, 2008 at 01:12 PM
The real problem here is drug prohibition not drug pharmacology. But you should not be blaming the police. They swear to uphold all the laws, not just those with which they agree. If you don't want things like this to continue happening do something besides simply commenting on this article. Join Law Enforcement against Prohibition, www.leap.cc, a 10,000 member educational organization for everyone. It was created by law-enforcers who know the war on drugs is not only a failure but a self-perpetuating, constantly expanding, policy disaster. We believe the system of legalized regulation of drugs is a much more efficient and ethical policy for preventing drug abuse. When we ended alcohol prohibition, the next morning Al Capone and his smuggling buddies were all out of business; no longer killing each other, cops, or kids caught in crossfire. If you want to reduce death, disease, crime, and addiction, while saving billions of tax dollars, help us end drug prohibition.

Posted by: FrankD Location: Canada on Jul 30, 2008 at 01:08 PM
--- "This is just another sober example that marijuana brings nothing but tragedy," says Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. --- What an absolutely stupid thing to say!! Either that or a reprehensible act of opportunism in unjustly vilifying cannabis.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 30, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Mike, you wrote "thank god this stuff is illegal"? Marijuana is in the bible, it is called Kaneh Bosem, Jesus himself used it as a holy annointing oil to heal the sick. Why is it that people don't learn this in church? Don't take my word for it, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH! It is time the truth comes out, no more cover ups!

Posted by: Mike Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I sit here and read these post and say to myself thank god this stuff is illegal! You guys are a bunch of loony bins! The misspelled words,the lack of articulation. Bill is so stoned he forgot he wrote the first time so he posted twice. Try to remember that it does effect short term memory! So you guys can sit home and play your video games and stay out of the work place, because we don't want you!!!

Posted by: nunya b Location: Cass on Jul 30, 2008 at 12:00 PM
you ALL need to know that the report made by Erin at WNDU that was provided to her from the MSP has more FALSE then truth!(not your fault Erin)We have not been able to determine the entire truth, probably never will, nor will it change anything. us neighbors saw,heard,and know much more of the details of this day and are very sorry that the MSP don't have enough respect for their badge to report the truth!MSP you have disrespected his family, friends, and neighbors.regardless of Nels intent with the plants, he had a purpose that day too and it was just hurried along by the MSP.This is a sad event that unfortunately is still haunting the neighborhood.can we expect to see more of this type of invasion or can you take your helicopters home? BTW,what do you do with the plants? big burn party?

Posted by: Alan Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I have seen first hand the benefits of a doobie versus ten pills that cost $1,200.00 that your insurance wont cover to treat the gut wrenching effects of chemotherapy and radiation. I do not condone being a pothead. What I find interesting is that you can be a raging alcholic and it is perfectly legal. You can be a pill head junkie and thats legal because you have prescriptions. God forbid you want to smoke a doobie in the privacy of your own home on a Saturday night. The police were serving a warrant. What happened was not their fault. Mr. Wilson obviously had some mental issues. His disposition was not created from smoking weed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Posted by: Bill Location: Michigan on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Research at UCLA has confirmed that smoking cannabis does not cause cancer. Studies in Spain have revealed that cannabis shrinks brain tumors, confirming earlier American research in Virginia, which was suppressed in 1974. And Canadian studies have revealed that, unlike nicotine, alcohol, heroin, and cocaine, cannabis encourages brain cell growth. In 1936, Polish etymologist Sula Benet revealed that, in the original Hebrew text for the Old Testament, "kaneh-bosm", or 'aromatic reed', described therein as the Tree of Life and the healer of nations, is in fact cannabis. . . . Niles Wilson was another victim of Nixon's so-called War on Drugs, which is actually a cultural war. . . . Do you believe that you have the right to "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? How happy, how free, how alive can we be--and for how long--if we cannot pursue our health?

Posted by: Bill Location: Michigan on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Research at UCLA has confirmed that smoking cannabis does not cause cancer. Studies in Spain have revealed that cannabis shrinks brain tumors, confirming earlier American research in Virginia, which was suppressed in 1974. And Canadian studies have revealed that, unlike nicotine, alcohol, heroin, and cocaine, cannabis encourages brain cell growth. In 1936, Polish etymologist Sula Benet revealed that, in the original Hebrew text for the Old Testament, "kaneh-bosm", or 'aromatic reed', described therein as the Tree of Life and the healer of nations, is in fact cannabis. . . . Niles Wilson was another victim of Nixon's so-called War on Drugs, which is actually a cultural war. . . . Do you believe that you have the right to "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? How happy, how free, how alive can we be--and for how long--if we cannot pursue our health?

Posted by: don Location: midwest on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Yes, automatons are perfect tools for oppressive governments. They do not really want individuals with capacity for critical thought.

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Plymouth, uphold what law? Border Patrol agents allow illegals to bring in up to 600 lbs of marijuana without prosecution, yet American citizens get busted for a joint? The people are the government, we elect officials to REPRESENT "US", local, state and federal. The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GROWS AND SUPPLIES Americans with marijuana, should we all not be allowed to do so by proxy?? The drug war mafia kingpins (CIA,DEA,FED GOV.) are knocking out homegrowers and replacing them with imported pot crossing the border, in turn, illegals are buying weapons to protect their own drug cartel on the border. If pot was legal in the U.S. there would be no market for imported pot and the drug war kingpins (CIA,DEA) would lose money, except that they still bring cocaine into the U.S., yes, it is all by design and set up by our own government! DO THE RESEARCH! Maybe Carrie would like to join LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition: http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php Meanwhile, taxpayers are fed B.S.

Posted by: to Carrie Location: Plymouth on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:01 AM
I have a degree in Law Enforcement, work as a dispatcher and am engaged to a officer. I know for a fact, that the statement " I will never bother working class weed smokers" will come out in your pshyc test and you will be discarded with all the other cop wanna be's. Whether you agree with pot smoking or not, the fact remains it is against the law and as a police officer, you pledge to uphold the law. Personal feelings do not come into play, in anyway, shape or form.

Posted by: don Location: midwest on Jul 30, 2008 at 10:51 AM
These laws are ridiculous. The man was growing some plants. Just because a stupid law may exist does not make it just, or even Constitutional. This compares very much to Prohibition of alcohol some 70 years ago. One difference is cannabis is far less harmful than alcohol and then people were shocked by the violence and corruption caused by Prohibition. So shocked and outraged that they repealed the puritanical high jacking of the Constitution. Now Prohibition is a big cash cow for the government, trading on the backs of otherwise law abiding and peaceful people. If you want to keep raising the violence levels, keep cannabis illegal. You'll be keeping organized crime and law enforcement happy. They both profit.

Posted by: Mike on Jul 30, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Another life taken by cannabis prohibition. Stop this madness, vote locally to place marijuana enforcement to the BOTTOM of police priority lists. This is 2008, educate yourselves! www.marijuanasaveslives.com www.stoparrestingpatients.org

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 30, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Anon~ Mr. Washburn also said "I never expected that of him." He says there were never any signs of drugs at that house. Washburn was neighbors with Wilson for 15 yrs.!! He obviously never felt the need to lock his doors UNTIL, police traumatized the area with helicopters, road blocks, search warrants, and the tragedy of the man that shot himself AFTER POLICE ARRIVED AT HIS HOUSE! Pharmaceutical companies have patents on marijuana, the government grows it, illegals bring in hundreds of pounds without prosecution, it is LEGAL in Several states!! The "drug war" is on AMERICANS! It is a money making biz, courts, jails, prisons, judges, cops, attorneys, rehab programs, AND YOU ARE BEING SCAMMED AND PAYING FOR IT! THEY LOVE BLIND SHEEP LIKE YOU & TAX PAYING SLAVES, EXPECT TO PAY MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR TOO! BAAAHHH BAAAHHHH THE FLOCK IS GROWING! EDUCATE YOURSELVES SHEEPLE!

Posted by: danut on Jul 30, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Law enforcemtnt officers and officers of the court. You now know you are the enforcement arm of a program that is killing innocent Americans. You now have a moral obligation to stop enforceing these laws right now. Just doing my job didn't cut it after WW2 and it doesn't cut it now. Stop helping the forced deaths of innocent Americans. It is your duty before God and the people.

Posted by: danut on Jul 30, 2008 at 09:45 AM
They force the deaths of thousands of innocent people every year. They take our houses. They take our cars. They take our bank accounts. They even steal our children from us. Forcing them into an already overloaded child foster care system. All justified by those two lame words "it's illegal." Is it any wonder the guy took his own life?

Posted by: danut Location: the internet on Jul 30, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Just look at all the justification people leave here for our own elected officials program that kills hundreds of thousands innocent US citiaens every year. Just look at it! Is killing innocent people a right wing Christian value? Not according to my Bible.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 30, 2008 at 08:31 AM
You potheads kill me.(no offense to the guy who offed himself). Not the police fault he committed suicide. Some of you need to stop typing while your using. Its distorting your judgment.

Posted by: Mike Location: Elkhart on Jul 30, 2008 at 08:12 AM
I guess what I can't get about you dope smokers is you guys are defending someone who took his own life because he knew what he was doing was ILLEGAL! If he really believed in what he was doing was right, WHY DID HE KILL HIMSELF?!! You are all speculating on weather or not he was using this for medicinal purposes. WHO CARES! IT'S ILLEGAL! With the fact that he killed himself answers that question. And for the fact that the neighbor locked his door that night was not that he was afraid of the cops, HE WAS AFRAID OF WHO WAS ALSO A DOPE SMOKING NEIGHBOR! All of you idiots blame this on the police, but there is no report in the story that the cops pulled the trigger. All they were doing was knocking at the door. They were just doing their job.And if you really want to know the truth, I would say that most of the people who are rapist, murders or child molesters,start off smoking dope because it's such an innocent drug. At least it didn't make it to the street for some 12 or 13 year old!

Posted by: Anon Location: Here on Jul 30, 2008 at 08:07 AM
Patricia- maybe the people who are locking their doors are locking them because, as the neighbor SAID, "You don't know who lives next door to you anymore," says Washburn. "I never expected that of him." So stop trying to twist/edit the statement to suit your own agenda. Nice try, but some of us are not high right now and can read the article without a conspiracy theory attached. Boy, I bet you have the munchies right about now... want some White Castle?

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 30, 2008 at 07:41 AM
Is it any wonder the state of Michigan went bankrupt? Look at all the money and resources wasted on this bust. Marijuana is just a plant that is now LEGAL to posess in many states in the U.S. Most marijuana users are non-violent and yet they get locked up, properties seized, killed, and some take their own lives. When is the last time you heard about a real big cocaine bust people? Or numerous crack houses getting busted? Ask the state police why they don't like to do those! They know going after pot growers is like beating up on a little kid, they are easy targets to be used an manipulated. They inflate the value of plants found to make it look like a bigger problem than it is and ask for more money from tax payers the next year because "x" amount of so called "drugs" were in the county the previous year. Most of it, marijuana, not the real killers like cocaine & heroin, cops don't want to cut off the fed supply line because the feds give them grants. Follow the money trail http://www.usmjparty.com/

Posted by: You Location: Cass County on Jul 30, 2008 at 02:20 AM
Plain and simple, the drug team does a fly over, spots marijuana, gets a warrant, attempts a knock and talk, they heard a gunshot, back out, call SWAT, SWAT enters later and finds the guy dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound. How is this the cops fault? Guy had previously been a drug runner over state lines so you can't tell me this was for his personal or as you stoners call it "medical" use. Not to mention that it is against the law in Michigan to possess marijuana period. Sad that he killed himself but he chose that the cops didn't choose that for him.

Posted by: Adam Location: Bay City on Jul 30, 2008 at 12:07 AM
God Bless Mr. Wilson and his family. Some of you have left some disgustingly disrespectful comments that leave you looking classless. Marijuana prohibition doesn't work as is shown by the story above. Cannabis is one of the most versatile and useful plants known to mankind. It is non-toxic and has been given to us by the Lord, OUR GOD. That's something we can't say about nearly all of the pharmaceutical garbage that is killing and destroying our nation. When was the last time you heard about somebody passing away from the use of cannabis? Never. Open up your minds a little bit and do some real, non-bias research.

Posted by: Bob Location: Traverse City on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:28 PM
"Marijuana brings nothing but tragedy"? How silly! It's the PROHIBITION of marijuana that brought about this tragedy. Learn the simple truth about this drug at norml.org or at mpp.org and work to avoid this kind of senseless tragedy in the future.

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:04 PM
"It was a scene very few neighborhoods experience -- more than 130 marijuana plants dragged out of a home by police. "I'm locking my doors tonight," said neighbor Larry Washburn." This paragraph in the story tells me that both Wilson and his neighbors were traumatized by police action, to the point they feel they need to lock their doors. Police wages come from the public, Police "are" PUBLIC SERVANTS, sworn to protect and serve "us", sworn in under constitutional oath. The Police have submitted to federal tyranny and unjust laws that harm the public. Mr. Wilson caused the public no harm, the TRAGEDY HAPPENED UPON POLICE ARRIVAL "Washburn prays that it is a scene he never experiences again -- police cars blocking the roads, a sound of a gunshot, and terrible news about a next-door neighbor he thought he knew for about 15 years. "You don't know who lives next door to you anymore," says Washburn. "I never expected that of him. He says there were never any signs of drugs at that house"

Posted by: danut Location: the internet on Jul 29, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Marijuana cures cancer. Our federal government knows it. This is the news story of the century. Why isn't the media reporting it?

Posted by: K Brewer Location: Lapaz on Jul 29, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Jason, people are merely trying to point out that marijuana does have a valid use. While the guy may have been in the wrong, this entire issue has been completely blown out of proportion by the law, the media, and everyone of us here. Be educated. http://www.norml.com

Posted by: FormerMarijuanaSmoker Location: Osceola on Jul 29, 2008 at 07:12 PM
This is sad. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this. I will admit from personal experience that nothing relieves the pain of menstrual cramps better than marijuana.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Mish on Jul 29, 2008 at 06:57 PM
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. this is sad..drugs

Posted by: Richard J. Rawlings Location: Peoria, IL. on Jul 29, 2008 at 06:49 PM
James, Michigan has one grow season, and 130 plants might get a medical marijuana patient through the year. 130 plants don't make him a dealer and it is not even close to being worth $195.000. Where did they get that dollar value? As stated before it was not marijuana that killed him, marijuana prohibition killed this man. To the marijuana prohibitionist here, Marijuana doesn’t kill! Why do we have all these laws on a plant? Because marijuana will make you go crazy, and you will beat you family? Black men rape white women? Too stop Mexicans from crossing the border? No, Marijuana lets us think for ourselves, and that scares the prohibitionists. All this over a plant that don’t kill, when we have drunks that wipeout a whole family in a car, or the person that ODs on some pharmaceutical pills, and this happens everyday. Why won't the Government just be honest about marijuana? Richard J. Rawlings United States Marijuana Party

Posted by: danut Location: the internet on Jul 29, 2008 at 06:13 PM
Jason you obviously have no idea how much is required for proper treatments. To cure a cancer typically you start with one pound of starting material. To treat diabetes that same amount would probably last about six months. To treat alzheimers would take about the same as for diabetes. To treat Lou Gearigs (sp?) also called ALS .. I have no idea. However one of five people on the federal program suffers from it. She has been on that program for twenty-five years. People with ALS aren't supposed to live that long. She receives thirteen ounces every month. It is the only medicine she takes for ALS. The list goes on and on. Each plant may only yeild a few grams of usable material. So if someone is getting 10 grams per plant then those 130 plants would have produced 1300 grams or 2.8 pounds of workable material. It is NOT as obvious as you think.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 29, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Jason, educate yourself, it takes one 1 lb. of cannabis to make this medicinal paste. Mr. Wilson was growing outdoors, you have to allow for so many plants to be eaten by deer, insect damage, theft, (that's where the feds come in) here's the link: Save a Life! Share the Link! http://www.youtube.com/chrychek

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 29, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Mel, sorry to hear about your father, however, the police had EVERYTHING to do with this man taking his own life. It was NOT until THEY SHOWED UP AT HIS DOOR, THAT THEY HEARD THE "SHOT" He was fine prior to them showing up. Those of us, like myself, that live this nightmare everyday can understand Mr. Wilson's predicament. Here is a very educational and interesting link to some medical marijuana videos, please educate yourselves. Save a Life! Share the Link! http://www.youtube.com/chrychek

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 29, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Save a Life! Share the Link! http://www.youtube.com/chrychek Educate yourselves!

Posted by: Jason Location: Elkhart on Jul 29, 2008 at 04:58 PM
By the way, maybe you guys should wake up a little bit and realize that your stupid medical marijuana argument has absolutely no relevance here. If you are growing weed for personal consumption you are not going to have anywhere near the number of plants that this guy had. There is no question that he was selling it.

Posted by: saddened Location: indiana on Jul 29, 2008 at 04:50 PM
'says Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. "This is just another sober example that marijuana brings nothing but tragedy."' So sad that some one in a position of authority makes such ignorant statements, as if this gentlemens suicide was related to his use of marijuana. People; read some statistics, do some research. The ONLY thing negative brought on by marijuana use is the reprocussions forced by a flawed legal system, laws made to benefit big Pharma and put non violent "crimnals" behind bars at the tax payers expense.

Posted by: mel Location: michigan city on Jul 29, 2008 at 04:46 PM
This man did this to himself. It is very tragic. My father committed suicide. The police had nothing to do with it, he was doing something illega

Posted by: rachael Location: sb on Jul 29, 2008 at 04:40 PM
why surrender for a life sentence for the bs charges that awaited him? kids are missing all over this country and all the cops there have to do is go on these gung-ho commando missions in search of peoples' property? no wonder they couldn't solve a crime if their jobs and families depended on it.

Posted by: Jason Location: Elkhart on Jul 29, 2008 at 04:27 PM
There seems to be a lot of stoners here; standing up for this guy and blaming the cops for what happened. Whether this guy seemed to be a decent person or not; he was breaking the law and contributing to something that does nothing but drag down society. I won't miss this guy and am happy to hear that he's gone!

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 29, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Mr.Wilson's death will not be in vain. There are hundreds of thousands, possibly millions right here in America who will carry the torch! It is sad for his family that the prosecutor made such cruel remarks about marijuana and the story surrounding his death. Many people who suffer from depression chose to treat themselves with marijuana over flouride based pharmaceutical drugs. The human body has cannabinoid receptors for a reason, to receive "cannabinoids" from the cannabis plant! Look at all the previous medical marijuana patients that have went before the courts and have been denied the right to use because of federal law, even though, the feds themselves are GROWING IT AND SUPPLYING IT to a handful of people that they have chosen to let into their program. The federal gov. is not god, law enforcement & prosecutors do as they are told like good little sheep for fear of losing their jobs. It's time to take a stand and do what is right, educate yourself on medical marijuana!

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 29, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I am 1 in 100,000 people with a rare spinal cord glioma that is inoperable. Marijuana is a medicine "proven" to reduce size and symptoms of gliomas like mine. Federal and state law make it illegal for me to obtain the medicine I need for treatment of my tumor/glioma. I know how Mr. Wilson must have felt, it is a tragedy so much TAX MONEY is being wasted looking for marijuana when we have criminals running our government, rapists & murderers running the streets. Mr. Wilson was not a bad man, his neighbors never even knew. The real tragedy is the stupidity and ignorance of law enforcement officials who do as they are told and not what is "right" Federal law allows a hanful of federal med. marijuana patients to receive marijuana from the fed. gov. that the gov. grows and supplies them, by proxy, all americans who can benefit medicinally, should be allowed to do so as well. Law Enforcement is a Public Service, hired to protect and serve, they should have protected Wilson from unjust laws.

Posted by: Dana Location: South Bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 03:41 PM
What a sad waste of life, public money, and police resources, all for a headline grabbing drug bust. All you idiots taking the facts of this case and spinning them into 'what ifs' such as DUI's, cocaine and heroin cultivation, and congratulating the police for a "good job" should be ashamed of yourselves. Carrie can work for me anytime providing she is customer friendly and a hard, concientious worker. If she enjoys a little herb in the privacy of her home on the weekend, well that's her business.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 29, 2008 at 03:39 PM
it's funny that people think it is so bad but yet in november it will be on the ballet to pass it for medical purposes in michigan!!!!

Posted by: Brian Location: hutchings on Jul 29, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Just because he grows pot he is evil a bad man.. That is a bunch of propaganda.. He must have been a good neighbor.Never expected that he had a green thumb.. He could be a great guy that chooses to smoke pot rather than be a drinker.. A number of lives are wrecked because of unfair outdated laws and a venue for local government to make money. has nothing to do with morals.. A man killed himself over a weed. Other offenders of real crimes don't do all the time they should unless you Treat all to the max..You are just picking the one that are convictable..Financhaly Weak/so the D.A get high convictions rates..Looks good when they go into the private sector.But if you have money or publisist/connections you are above the law.Rush Limbaugh comes to mind..Hemp is natural God given and requiers no prosecess to enjoy.Maybe the government has no way to make money off it. And that is the real reason the common man gets hammered or killed for this created b.s law

Posted by: danut Location: internet on Jul 29, 2008 at 03:12 PM
The war against marijuana has now escalated to the point of being a crime agains humanity. The federal has good reason to believe that marijuana saves lives. By denying access to lifesaving medicine they are causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of US citizens every year. Here is what the federal government admits to knowing in this NIH 2006 report: http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/cgi/reprint/58/3/389.pdf

Posted by: K Brewer Location: Lapaz on Jul 29, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Carrie, Greg, excellent points. I myself do not smoke marijuana, but I support the decriminalization of said substance. Since the 1970s, more than a dozen government-appointed commissions have examined the effects of marijuana, and made public policy recommendations regarding its use. Overwhelmingly, the conclusions of these expert panels have been the same: marijuana prohibition causes more social damage than marijuana use, and the possession of marijuana for personal use should no longer be a criminal offense. How much money is wasted putting these non-violent offenders into prisons with rapists, child molesters, and other violent criminals? Wake up people.

Posted by: kristie Location: plymouth on Jul 29, 2008 at 02:40 PM
It is sad that this gentleman had to end his life. Israel, we're saving all the hatred and comments for the next batch of illegals rounded up at local workplaces. So stay tuned.

Posted by: Me Location: South Bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 02:37 PM
This guy saved us thousands of tax dollars by taking his own life, that is the only positive that comes out of this story. I angers me that he took the easy way out, he should rot in prison just like everyone else caught doing illegal things!

Posted by: Nic on Jul 29, 2008 at 02:24 PM
I certainly was not saying marijuana doesn't have health benefits. Process it, and you get THC pills. Process opium poppies and you get morphine. Love morphine. Glad I had it last time I was taken to the ER. Not a big fan of herion though. It's just the flippant comments of - oh, it just grows in the ground so it's okay - that come off ignorant. People are not afraid to take that extra step and process things into drugs. Already so many are trying really hard to build their own little meth labs and end up blowing up their houses.

Posted by: Z Location: Indiana on Jul 29, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. All are dangerous and can kill, directly or indirectly. They can also tear families apart, cause people to lose their jobs, etc... But somehow the government can regulate all three and many people are able to use them responsibly. Why is marijuana any different? Think of the crime that would be ELIMINATED by decriminalizing pot. Thousands of drug dealers instantly out of a job and off the street. Think of the tax revenue. I'm not saying the stuff is good for people and it is definitely not for those who are unable to use it responsibly, but neither are the other 3 vices I started this post with. The fact is marijuana is less harmful than many other things that are legal. It's only a matter of time before enough people realize it and policies are passed that end this nonsense.

Posted by: Patricia Location: summerville on Jul 29, 2008 at 02:04 PM
This guy was obviously trying to self medicate, as he had depression. He was fine until the criminals showed up at his door, that "is" the real tragedy. People should be allowed to grow their own medicine, the federal gov. grows it for medical marijuana patients, why is illegal for us? Interesting spin the Cass County Prosecutor (criminal)put on this Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. "This is just another sober example that marijuana brings nothing but tragedy." Mr. Fitz, you are ignorant beyond belief, please educate yourself on medical marijuana. This man probably felt it better to take his own life than to be labeled a criminal by you and your ilk and be held hostage and subject to rape and torture under your unjust and the federal government's unjust laws. You sir, are less than an animal, even an animal shows more compassion. How arrogant of you to even suggest it is "marijuana" that brings tragedy, when you sir, are the source as well as the feds.

Posted by: WrongNic Location: Cass county on Jul 29, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Nic ...it's your logic that is faulty buddy. You see, poppies & coca leaves must be run through an elaborate process with many harsh chemicals (such as benzene) to create yet another chemical (drug), either cocaine or heroin. Cannabis grows naturally and has for 1000's of years, and has been used for many positive things, aside from whether people smoking it or not. Unfortunately, that aspect of this plant (and the development of nylon) have led to cannabis being outlawed forever more. Heck, most people don't even know that "marijauna" was a bastardized term made up by the gov't to link the plant to mexican immigrants ...which aided in getting it banned.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 29, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Hey nic cocaine and heroin have to be manufactured into the drug,marijuana does not!So carrie is right in that respect.

Posted by: mike Location: south bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 01:27 PM
not Mexican ok people skip story he was just misunderstood Christian man.

Posted by: To Cindy. Location: Some people at MHS aren't stupid. on Jul 29, 2008 at 01:22 PM
It's LIAR, not lier. Just thought you should know. You can look at it this way - another drug dealer off the street. However, it is sad how he died.

Posted by: eric Location: south bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 01:18 PM
carrie, you know how many thousands of plants grow that are deadly? so if a wife grows wolfsbane then uses it as a spice in pasta and intentionally kills her family should she not be charged since wolfsbane is a plant? this was not someoen growing it for "medicinal" purposes, he was a drug runner. if he would have not been breaking the law, he would still be alive. did you not read about his time in the 80's?

Posted by: larry Bonner Lippert Location: Eugene, Oregon on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I was a part of the Rainbow Farm family where Tom and Rollie were killed in 2001. More people have been killed since then and it seems that there is no end. All because of a plant that causes no harm to the people that use it, does not increase crime. People who smoke Cannabis have less spousal, child abuse, and causes less problems on the job. Deaths caused by FDA approval are in the thousands, yet the FDA says that Cannabis has no medical value, even though research has shown that Cannabis has in fact medical value. The US Government along with the big pharma, has been getting patents on Cannabis extracts since 2003. It is time to use some common sense and end the killing of people for growing a plant, for personal use. Larry Bonner Lippert, Director, American Cannabis

Posted by: Haley Location: Elkhart on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:44 PM
And no I dont Use!!!

Posted by: Haley Location: Elkhart on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I totaly agree with Carrie!! You all need to read it twice!! If it was legal our world would be so much better in alot of ways!! Really think about it!!

Posted by: Greg Location: Paw Paw on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Marijuana did not kill this man, nor did it "bring him tragedy." Marijuana Prohibition did. Marijuana is indeed "illegal for a reason." Marijuana Prohibition is a cash cow that guarantees life time employment for those doing the prohibiting and at the same time makes a few very bad people, very rich. It does not stop anyone who wants marijuana from buying, possessing, cultivating or using marijuana. When our grandparents wisely abandoned alcohol prohibition it wasn't because they decided booze wasn't so dangerous after all. They just had the courage to face the truth--Prohibition is the cure that is worse than the disease, making a bad situation worse. The police should spend their (supposedly) scarce resources chasing down rapists, child molesters and armed robbers, not gardeners. Jails should be reserved for those who wish to harm us, not people we don't like. I am by the way a former federal law enforcement officer, a school counselor and most important, a parent.

Posted by: Jenny Location: Mishawaka on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Carrie - obviously with 130 plants it wasn't for medical use. It sucks for his family that he killed himself, but it saving the taxpayers some money. Now we don't have to pay for him to be in jail.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:13 PM
hey reality are that close to the investigation that you can actually reveal inside information. must be the pride in blue

Posted by: The truth Location: Clounty on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:12 PM
"This is just another sober example that marijuana brings nothing but tragedy." Marijuana didn't bring tragedy, the cops sticking their noses in his business did. Who owns you....the government, God, or no one?

Posted by: d$krill Location: sbi on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:07 PM
you can kill your baby and thow it in a field but u can grow weed!! god help us all!!

Posted by: Alex Location: South Bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:57 AM
This is sad. Police should be catching actual criminals and not people like this. Our drug laws are completely out of whack. We spend billions in this country picking on pot smokers when there are bigger fish to fry. This man's blood is on THEIR hands. This is just crazy. If we stopped prosecuting people for pot our courts and police would be free to go after REAL criminals. People are just ignorant when it comes to pot. This man did nothing wrong.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
THE MSP SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE CIA AND F.B.I WHO THEN WOULD HAVE LET THE ATF OR THE IRS KNOW THAT THE SITUATION NEEDED TO BE HANDLE ASAP.

Posted by: Islander Location: South Bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
So Carrie. In your rationale that is like saying cocaine is a great vasoconstrictor and great for stopping a bloody nose. It comes from the coca tree leaves. It's natural just like a vegetable. Same with heroin...comes from a poppy plant. I guess cocaine, heroin, and marijuana just have a bad public relations department.

Posted by: Joe schmoe Location: South Bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:53 AM
DJ, your rambling is on the verge of incoherent just like the alleged drug users. Carrie, all medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicine. With that said, I think all drugs should be legalized. Most illegal drugs are not anymore damaging to people or society than alcohol. Alcohol is just socially acceptable. I believe that alcohol and “illegal drugs” should be regulate the same because in the past 50 or so years that these drugs have been illegal, the drug war has been as big of a waist of tax payers dollars as the “Iraq War (parts 1 and 2)”. Then maybe we can focus our resources on remedying the causes of drug and alcohol use not the end result.

Posted by: mike m Location: elkhart on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I agree with Carrie, all you other people are too brainwashed to see the real facts. It is a weed that grows in the ground and unlike poppy or cocoa leaves it doesnt have to be processed. That is the difference, cocaine has to be processed, heroin has to be processed, marijuana does not. Do you know how much marijuana you have to ingest to OD? It is something like 1500 pounds in under 15 minutes, pretty much impossible to do. You people have taken the propaganda hook line and sinker, it isnt refer madness folks. Alcohol does way more damage then marijuana, it destroys more lives, it is more addicting. I have heard people say, well I know people that drink a couple drinks and dont get drunk, but everyone smokes to get high. I am sorry but that is a lame statement, you may not be gettin drunk, but you are still getting the effects from alcohol. The worst thing that can happen from pot, is getting caught. wake up people, you sleepy sheep.

Posted by: anon Location: south bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM
First off.. driving while high is called a DUI. Second-Nic- opium and cocaine are processed drugs.. which marijuana is not. And, also, marijuana is prescribed for illness.. they are called THC pills... if any of you read MSNBC they recently just had an article explaining benefits of THC including pain management and anti inflamatory... why don't you research before you start blabbing off at the mouth.

Posted by: Anon Location: Here on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Carrie, really? I could have sworn the idiot growing the pot was the one who pulled the trigger. Wake up Carrie!!!

Posted by: laurie Location: mishawaka indiana on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:18 AM
it was only marijuana...crazy...why take your own life...???

Posted by: The Truth Location: cass county on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Congrats carrie on standing up for what u believe in and for all you tough on crime posters check out leap or law enforcement against prohibition and you will find how many other officers disagree with our country spending so much money on marijuana. Its is amazing that we have been fighting the war against mj for over 30 years and yet the arrest rate continues to climb to all time highs every year and now we clog the judical system with non violent drug offenders. If the war was working we would see the arrest rates go done but too many people see through the governments smoke screen about the harm associated with mj. The only people against mj are the courts and jail people because they would be out a job if we only locked up real criminals. Check webmd on marijuana and cancer or it killing brain cells and you will find that it causes neither so what are the harms associated with pot smoking,,,,,GETTING ARRESTED. THAT ITS. HMM BEER KILLS BRAIN CELLS, MAKE THE HEATH CHOICE

Posted by: jls Location: michigan on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:10 AM
It is always disturbing to hear tragic endings in stories like this. My sympathy goes out the family. Despite the fact that he was doing an illegal activity, he was still someones, son, brother, or father. I do not agree with what he was doing, though. Growing Marijuana is illegal and if you get caught you should do the time. Meaning, Jail or fines, etc... The comment comparing Marijuana to Penicillin is not an educated or accurate comparison. Since Penicillin is an antibiotic, not a controlled subtance, of course people would NOT have gotten trouble for taking Penicillin. The police are here do their job, some of which entails busting drug houses. They are trained to this job and never know what is going to happen. They uphold the law to the best of their ability, and should be shown some respect.

Posted by: Brittany Location: Mishawaka on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:07 AM
This guy was 51 years old and doing illegal activity and didn't was to face the fact he got busted. That is why he killed himself not for the fact he has mental problems or that the police did anything wrong. We are always so quick to blame things on the cops or claim mental problems but can't take responsibility for our actions. This guy shouldn't have killed himself that is sad but lets not blame the ones who clean up our streets and keep us safe every day and night by putting their own lives at risk.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Double that for weed?!? What an idiot.

Posted by: LRW Location: Cass on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:38 AM
reality you speak with very little truth. i have no desire to share information with anyone, but the guy was a neighbor and friend, and this is very sad. unfortunately for his family he is gone, but for him he no longer suffers. RIP Nells.

Posted by: KR Location: Elkhart on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:32 AM
I love the potheads who get on here and try to make the rest of us believe that its the governments fault. These people contribute nothing to society and then complain. I don't think taking your own life is funny, but I do think its funny that someone is willing to do illegal things, then is too afraid to face the consequences for his actions.

Posted by: Concerned Location: Cass on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Thank God that the ES team was there to save us all!! What would we do without them, I'll tell you, we would all be better off. Perhaps there wasn't 50 cars parked in front of his house but it was like a training ground for cops all day. Just to save us from a single man that they knew had problems! The war on durgs hasn't worked since it began 20 years ago. It fills the prisions and cost everyone money. It's like the war on terror, we see that is paying off for us. It makes for good press and sounds like they are doing something. How about a war on the lack of jobs or a war on ignorance or a war on poverty, but instead we have just regular wars! I have an idea, How about a little understanding or compasion or maybe...even..love?

Posted by: Mr. Obvious Location: South Bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:11 AM
He was doing something illegal. The police did there job. It was his decision to take his own life. End of story. I say "great job" to the police and keep up the good work. You stoners can rationalize all you want by calling it politically motivated or whatever excuse you want. Fact is, they did their job and I'm proud of them. I am not happy that he felt the need to take his own life but he and only he made that decision.

Posted by: sheryl Location: winimac on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:09 AM
What you have prayers for the victim's family Israel right after bad-mouthing this poor gentleman? You are sick and that's why people want you and your illegals out of the country.

Posted by: trudy Location: goshen on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Israel from Goshen, stop playing the race card. People are sick of your rants, plain and simple. People don't like your kind because they're crooks and thieves and have no regard for this great country.

Posted by: Cindy Location: Mishawaka on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Carrie, with the comment you made, I would hope that whatever agency you end up with does a lie detector test on you first. Question 1: Do you believe in the selling, growing or using of Marijuana? Carrie's answer. No. Lier...You failed......Not Hired!!!

Posted by: DJ Location: South Bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:41 AM
This Man shot himself because he was dealing an illegal drug. Nothing was said about him using it for medical purposes, just that he was guilty of selling it back in the 80's. You guys say if it was legal to use people wouldn't die. You can buy TV's and cars legal, but nooooo... they STEAL THEM to suport a drug habit that keeps them so incoherint they cann't hold down a real job and be responsible. Don't give me that " for medical use " excuse. All they would do is find a doctor to give them fake illness to smoke more. The police did their job keeping it off the street. GOOD JOB!!

Posted by: tom Location: south bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:31 AM
gee carrie in that case lets let everyboby smoke. then we can have dwh "driving while high" and kill some more innocent people. or better yet someone goes to work high and makes a mistake and blows up the plant. Did you ever think it was prohibited for a reason? itys idiotological thinking like that that is part of the problem with this country. Look at all the problems that alochol has brought to society, not double that for weed..there ya go enuff said.

Posted by: Dale Location: sb on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:18 AM
Carrie, I hope you dont come work for my agency if you feel that way about Marijuana.

Posted by: Reality Location: Michigan on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Let's be real here people. I love how people exaggerate and mislead on their comments. There was no SWAT team or 50 cop cars. There was an ES team that made entry after the shot was heard for everyone's safety. He didn't just shoot himself over weed, he had mental issues. Don't blame the cops. He's the idiot growing weed out in the open w/hoses running from his house to water them. Whether you like it or not, weed is illegal and what he was doing was wrong. "At Risk" seems like the only reasonable person on here!

Posted by: Nic Location: Indiana on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:08 AM
carrie - Your logic about the "weed grows in the ground, much like vegetables" is very faulty. Seriously? That means that I can grow opium poppies or coca leaves because they are plants too. But I don't think you would turn a blind eye to cocaine or heroin.

Posted by: Israel Location: Goshen on Jul 29, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Well looks like not all the drug runners are 'illegals' like many like to say. Where are all the hatred comments? if it was a spanish name this comment board would of been 100 full of hatred comments. HIPOCRITES!! Oh and its terrible that a human life had to end this way, I guess this person wasnt prepared for prison time. I hope the family recovers well, my Prayers are for the willsons family...

Posted by: DH Location: SBI on Jul 29, 2008 at 08:52 AM
This is a tragedy. The police over reacted which caused the man to over react. "Marijuana brings nothing but tragedy"? That is a dumb statement. "Legal" alcohol brings more tragedy then marijuana ever has, BUT it is much easier to tax. It will always be illegal but widely accepted even by police like the guy who wrote in. Yes, I do use

Posted by: Trent on Jul 29, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Carrie, could you tell us your last name so we can remember it in the future as a person we will never vote for and make sure you never make it as a cop.

Posted by: Steve-O on Jul 29, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Why would you kill yourself over plants???

Posted by: The Amazing Steve on Jul 29, 2008 at 07:57 AM
This is just another sober example that our drug laws bring nothing but tragedy.

Posted by: annoyed Location: south bend on Jul 29, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Well at least the police in cass county can estamate the worth with out drying the plants out to weigh them like in kos county we all know where that is going ummm

Posted by: Concerned Location: Cassopolis on Jul 29, 2008 at 07:50 AM
When I heard there were 50 cop cars & helicoptors & SWAT I knew this wouldn't end well. Whould someone tell me why this has to end this way when the gistoppo of Cass country are involved? All for drugs. During the last armed invasion in Cass Countty, two died. Why escalate things, just because they can! That is so they can get reelected bucause they are tough on crime. I say No, they are tough on drugs but nothing else that happens in this "sleepy" county. When you call the police for anthing else they might drive by in an hour or two. But mention drugs & by GOD the SWAT and everyone they can find is there in an istant. Please dont let this happen again! Please pray for Neil's family!

Posted by: At Risk Location: SB IN on Jul 29, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Very sad. Often those that use drugs and alcohol are trying to self medicate for a reason that they often don't understnad. The state of mental health care in America is sad.

Posted by: OMG Location: CASS on Jul 29, 2008 at 01:49 AM
That is less than a mile from my house!!!! Dang it! I was not home to see all the action. Poor guy...I feel terrible for him.

Posted by: carrie Location: Indiana on Jul 29, 2008 at 01:37 AM
The fact that this man shot himself over weed is so disturbing! He may have turned the gun on himself, but ignorant government officials who know absolutely nothing about marijuana, pulled the trigger. This is another case of marijuana that caused death. Not from overdose but ignorance. Marijuana is medicine!!! Wake up people! I hope that someday society will accept that weed grows in the ground, much like the vegetables you eat everyday and medicates many illnesses! Not only would the crime rate decrease, but money would be made from this natural growing medicine. It makes me wonder if ancients did the same with penicillan! Can you imagine going to jail for taking penicillan? Marijuana is no different! I am pursuing a career in law enforcement and I am making a vow now that I will NEVER bother working class weed smokers. I think we have bigger problems, like child molestors, meth manufacterors, you know, crimes that hurt other human beings!! And just for the record, NO, I do not use!!

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