cannabisnews.com: Gore's Son Given Probation on Marijuana Charge





Gore's Son Given Probation on Marijuana Charge
Posted by CN Staff on February 02, 2004 at 09:00:56 PT
By Stephen Manning, Associated Press Writer 
Source: Associated Press 
Rockville, Md. -- Albert Gore III will have to complete a substance abuse program under an agreement approved Monday by a judge presiding over a marijuana possession case against the son of former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore. Montgomery County District Court Judge Mary McCormick put Albert Gore III's case on an inactive docket for a year, at which point the case will be dropped if Gore meets certain requirements.
Those include submitting to 12 weeks of urine testing, community service and substance abuse counseling sessions. Gore also can't have a criminal conviction during that year. Gore, who did not comment after the brief hearing, was accompanied by his mother, Tipper Gore, who did not comment other than saying the issue was a "private matter." A student at Harvard University, Gore, 21, was arrested Dec. 19, 2003 in Bethesda after an officer pulled him over for driving a Cadillac without its headlights on. The officer smelled marijuana and noticed the windows of the car were open despite frigid temperatures. A search of the Cadillac turned up a partial marijuana cigarette, a cigarette box with suspected marijuana in it and a crushed soda can that smelled like marijuana. Gore was charged with marijuana possession, as were the two passengers in the car, Yann V. Kumin, 21, and Marc G. Hordon, 22, both of Cambridge, Mass. All three were released before trial. Hordon and Kumin will also have their cases placed on the inactive docket and undergo the same treatment program as Gore, according to Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas Gansler. He said there was no favoritism shown Gore because of his family's political stature. The substance abuse diversion program is standard for first-time drug offenders, he said. "Regardless of who the defendant is ... we treat them in the exact same way," Gansler said. The younger Gore has been pulled over by police two other times in recent years. He was ticketed by military police in September 2002 outside Fort Myer in suburban Virginia for driving under the influence. North Carolina police also cited Gore in the summer of 2000 for driving 97 mph in a 55-mph zone. Charges against him were dropped under an agreement with prosecutors, but he had to pay a $125 ticket and had his driving privileges suspended in the state. Source: Associated Press Author: Stephen Manning, Associated Press Writer Published: Monday, February 2, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Article:Al Gore's Son Arrested for Pot Possessionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18010.shtmlCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on February 03, 2004 at 13:36:38 PT
Yo, Tipper
This is not a "private matter"; your husband supported the policy of incarceration for people caught like your son, and now you all must live with the consequences. If Al had fought against the idea that marijuana smokers should be considered criminals, then this would be a private matter. But not now; when he's dragged into court it becomes a matter of public record. As it should, since the taxpaying citizens of Maryland have to foot the bill for the next twelve months of his ordeal. Have you asked your son what he honestly thinks about all this? Does he feel that the demon weed was leading him astray, or was it a harmless diversion until he got caught?
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 02, 2004 at 22:43:40 PT
The Reliable Source: The Washington Post
 A Little Blunt Justice for Gore III By Richard LeibyTuesday, February 3, 2004; Page C03 A Maryland judge yesterday ordered Albert Gore III, the ex-veep's son, to complete a year-long substance abuse program that includes attending either Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and submitting to urinalysis for 12 weeks, under a pretrial agreement with Montgomery County prosecutors that gives the Harvard student a chance to clear his record of a misdemeanor marijuana charge.  
Busted in Bethesda on Dec. 19, Gore, 21, was driving a Cadillac at a "high rate of speed" with no lights on, according to charging documents. The car smelled of pot when the cops pulled over Gore and two buddies. Police found part of a joint and a small stash of "green leafy substance" inside a cigarette pack. Gore's other run-ins with John Law include a citation in 2000 for driving 97 mph in a 55-mph zone in North Carolina (which cost him his driving privileges in that state) and a ticket in 2002 from military police for driving under the influence of alcohol outside Fort Myer. Sentenced under a first-time drug offenders program in the most recent case, Gore did not admit guilt but acknowledged the state's evidence, said State's Attorney Douglas F. Gansler. Gore can remain in school while he completes the program, which includes 24 hours of community service. Gansler told The Post's David Snyder that Gore "was treated in exactly the same way" as any other first-time drug offender. Gore was mum during his court appearance in Rockville. His mom, Tipper, declined to comment except to say: "This is a personal matter. We don't want any questions." 
Copyright: 2004 Washington Posthttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7375-2004Feb2.html
Freedom To Exhale
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Comment #6 posted by Marc Paquette on February 02, 2004 at 13:13:52 PT
I JUST WONDER IF?
Hi my Friends;I just wonder if his son's treatment would have been the same if he would have been black, middle-class or from a poor family? Can others avoid jail sentences...or you have to be important in life? The law isn't applied the same on ALL..and this is just another proof!Peace,Marc
http://www.medpot.net
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Comment #5 posted by Nuevo Mexican on February 02, 2004 at 12:29:21 PT
500+ people attend Kucinich Rally! Gore: V.P?
Thanks for the article updating us on Gores son!Exhilarating Rally for Dennis Kucinich, who eats his spinach, he's Popeye, the bush slayer MAN!The rally started at 4:30pm, and by 5:30, the hall was packed, and since he didn't arrive til 7pm, standard for these political 'last-minute' affairs, (we only had a weeks notice), a few left, but more came in their place!So as some left for other commitments (dinner, super-bowl, massive snow storm, 10 inches to welcome Dennis to our beautiful oasis on planet Earth, where he is revered like the Dalai Lama, as well as the future President of the U.S.For those who were uncertain of Dennis' ability to draw hundreds of followers on little notice, (Yours truly donned my new Bush mask, and my quart of Pennzoil, for purposes of Drinking, while promoting Dennis appearance.) All are welcome to imitate my purest form of political protest, as most laugh uncontrollably at the sight of a drunken bush drinking oil and promoting his nemisis, Dennis Kucinich. I failed to get called on for my Cannabis question, Wal Marts third try at building a Super Center got alot of discussion, as well as bushes lies for war, and DJKS plan to insure all Americans for health care, schooling etc.Of course, I was able to meet and greet Dennis as he exited the van, to the sounds and sights of the El Rito Marching Band, who perform at all of our Rumsfeld protests, and Dennis couldn't believe his eyes and ears! Of course, the Marching Band does Hip-hop versions of our favorite anthems, and totally ROCK! We had many musical performers, and as some people left, more showed up, and throughout the night as many as 700 people had come and gone through the door!Of course, you will NOT see this on the news, perhaps at his website, but it DOESN"T matter, this is a grassroots, bottom up scenario!My wife did get to meet him AND my Mother in law too, 
They both fell deeper in love with this man who my wife would leave me for! LOL! Most women there had the same opinion! He won't be single long!And i'm looking at the photo she took of him as he approached her and it is the best photo of Dennis i've seen yet! We will send it to National, and hopefully it will replace some of the less flatering shots.His eyes are deep and compassionate, still and warm, his hand shake is 100% and he looks you in the eyes.It was nice he recognized me, he even gave a big smack on the cheek to one of the leaders responsible for his visit, and tears shot from her eyes and she was besides herself.This is just typical for his events, the most passionate supporters of any candidate are for Dennis, as none of the others elicite anything close to this response!Check out Amy Goodmans show today, as she interviews Dennis at length today, just in time for the Caucus!www.Democracynow.orgWhat a high i'm on! 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 02, 2004 at 12:00:34 PT
gloovins 
I read that and it just makes me that more cautious with emails. I barely use my email. I remembering reading that email is as secure from others as a postcard sent to someone. That keeps me cautious. 
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Comment #3 posted by gloovins on February 02, 2004 at 11:53:53 PT
think this would've happened in a President Gore 
Administration?Homeland Security to Offer Free E-mails with Cyber Warnings
By Associated Press
January 28, 2004WASHINGTON (AP) - Aiming to increase Internet security, the government is now offering Americans free cyber alerts and computer advice from the Homeland Security Department. Anyone who signs up with the new National Cyber Alert System will receive e-mails about major virus outbreaks and other Internet attacks as they occur, along with detailed instructions to help computer users protect themselves. The program, which begins Wednesday, represents an ambitious effort by the government to develop a trusted warning system that can help home users and technology experts. The goal of improving the overall security of the Internet has been frustrated by increasingly complex software that can be difficult to secure and by hackers learning to launch sophisticated new attacks. "There is a clear need for this kind of system to be developed,'' said Amit Yoran, the Bush administration's cyber security chief. "Receiving information from the Department of Homeland Security gives people a certain level of confidence.'' The announcement comes 11 months after such an Internet warning system was described in the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, a series of proposals endorsed by the Bush administration and technology industry to improve online security. The alerts will function independently from the Homeland Security Department's well known color-coded system, which reflects the national threat level. The new alert system puts the government in direct competition with dozens of companies and organizations that already transmit similar cyber warnings, and could renew criticisms about earlier, disjointed government efforts that frequently sounded Internet warnings hours or even days after major computer attacks and occasionally included incorrect information. Earlier Internet warnings were distributed by the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center, which moved to Homeland Security when President Bush created the new department. Congressional investigators complained in July 2002 that those earlier warnings were mostly issued after Internet attacks were long under way. They blamed government's inability to analyze imminent Internet attacks, fears about raising false alarms and staff shortages. Yoran acknowledged the difficult balance between providing accurate warnings almost immediately. "I'm sure we'll take some kicks in the shins,'' he said. He indicated the government will focus on distributing information as quickly as possible, correcting any wrong information as U.S. computer investigators learn new details. "In the absence of information, the operator community is going to rely on whatever information is out there,'' he said. "It's better to have our voice heard rather than letting people operate in the dark.'' The new alert system also sets up potentially serious conflicts with leading software companies, including Microsoft Corp., which aggressively discourage any public disclosures about new security flaws in their products until engineers can study the problems and offer repairing software patches for their customers. Yoran said the government will aggressively warn consumers about vulnerabilities, in some cases revealing threats "above and beyond what specific commercial vendors may not wish to disclose.'' "If the disclosure of certain information is deemed in the public interest, we'll move forward,'' he said. Researchers who discover new vulnerabilities commonly work closely with these companies by agreeing not to reveal details about their work until a software patch is available. But some researchers have increasingly complained that companies take too long to verify their discoveries or deliberately seek to minimize their efforts for marketing purposes. On the Net: www.us-cert.govCan you say : more encroachment or Microsoft covering up their monopolistic a$$ against lawsuits cause their recent mydoom fiasco (heard its cost billions so far)? Microsoft 2004 is the year you pay maybe, finally via pocketbook. I dunno, this year is getting better n better or worse n worse as we do, I dunno.This artilce also worrys me because it's like the govt now is actively trying to round up email addy with people & browse freely thru their harddrives or at least track them online. Scary. Vote against Bush in 04 is all I can say...o yeah n visit apublicservice.com by this July & visit wxyz.com N tell them why they havent done a story on apublicservice.com & Bruce Ritchie. 1 more thing write or call your Senator & Congressman and tell them you believe Cannabis should be immediatly re-scheduled to at least Schedule II, probably lower....Oh yes & stay beautiful ;) ps Fom sorry if this rambled, reeeeallly busy these days n can only ck in n browse n read so long per day...bye all!! 
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Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on February 02, 2004 at 10:13:14 PT
It should have happened to his father
I wish Al Gore had been arrested when he was his son's age. It might have taught him something.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 02, 2004 at 10:09:09 PT
Related Article from KABC-TV 
Former V.P.'s Son in Trouble with the LawFebruary 2, 2004The 21-year-old son of former Vice President Al Gore must complete substance abuse counseling as part of a pretrial diversion program to settle a marijuana possession charge. 
The agreement approved by a judge Monday calls for the misdemeanor charge to be dropped after a year if Albert Gore III submits to urine testing, community service and counseling, and steers clear of criminal convictions. The younger Gore, who attends Harvard University, had no comment after the brief hearing. He was accompanied by his mother, Tipper Gore, who did not comment other than saying the issue was a "private matter." Gore did not have to enter a plea and his case was placed on the inactive docket. The son of the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee was arrested Dec. 19, 2003, in Bethesda after an officer stopped him for driving without having his headlights on. The officer smelled marijuana and noticed the windows of the car were open despite frigid temperatures. A search of the car turned up a partial marijuana cigarette, a cigarette box containing suspected marijuana and a crushed soda can that smelled like marijuana. Gore was charged with marijuana possession, as were the two passengers in the car, Yann V. Kumin, 21, and Marc G. Hordon, 22, both of Cambridge, Mass. Hordon and Kumin will undergo the same treatment program as Gore, prosecutor Douglas Gansler said. He said no favoritism was shown Gore because of his family's political stature. "Regardless of who the defendant is ... we treat them in the exact same way," Gansler said. The younger Gore had been stopped by police twice before in recent years. He was ticketed by military police in September 2002 outside Fort Myer in suburban Virginia for driving under the influence. North Carolina police cited Gore in the summer of 2000 for driving 97 mph in a 55 mph zone. Charges were dropped but he had to pay a $125 ticket and his driving privileges were suspended in the state. Copyright: 2004 KABC-TV 
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