Rachel Hoffman: A Cautionary Tale
Comments (12)
September 19, 2008
September 19, 2008
This is the story of Rachel Hoffman, a young girl who has now become just one more victim of the government’s war on marijuana users. A casual marijuana user, Rachel became embroiled with the Tallahassee Police Department, forcing her into a dangerous situation as an untrained informant.
Did you know you can help MPP without spending a dime? Sign up for MPP’s free e-mail alerts and you’ll learn about ways to help us spread the word whenever important developments happen. Let’s make sure we never see the need for a video like this again.
The opinions expressed below by our viewers and posters do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Marijuana Policy Project. These views are those of the individual authors alone. MPP does not condone or support the illegal use of marijuana. We do encourage open and frank discussion, but if a comment has been posted that is in some way significantly inappropriate, please e-mail us at socialnetwork@mpp.org to report it. Thank you, and we're looking forward to what you think!
12 Comments, Comment or Ping
Tyler
what a sad way for a young woman to loose her life, it’s about time for a change! vote these old white law makers out of congress. we shouldn’t be afriad of our government,but our government should be afraid of us.
Sep 22nd, 2008
jimmy
This is why we have to keep our own war going,Because it does not matter one bit what the other side says,This war against pot and really other drugs has to end.This is unacceptable and the people that THINK they run this country ,with this war and money problems and alcohol that kills millions over and over,we cannot quit until the battle is won,please rest in peace,and know many many of us will not stop not only in your name but the hundreds who are locked up and are non violent.The only winners in this are cartels and dealers who laugh at the USA and say to themselves how stupid can the USA be?But say thanks to the USA for keeping us in business and hey thanks again because every penny i have taken away from the USA has been tax free,If our government continues this,i have to say why even have one.
Sep 22nd, 2008
Chris
Its not about white or not you racist bastard! Its about doing the right thing and voting for those who actually represent the desires of the people not the desires of the pocketbook!
Sep 22nd, 2008
william (not to be used)
A new low? Poor girl and her family. I personally would have said no, because I am not as nice as this girl was They DEA had her between a rock and hard place. They didn’t care the slightest for her safety. Just have her get them one more bust.
Sep 26th, 2008
CJaye
I did a story on Rachel Hoffman when this first came out. It’s unbelievable to me that Police officers would do something like this. After what happened to a friend of mine in Deland, Florida though I’m really not surprized with the Florida police it’s self. The Police and DA portrayed Rachel as a hard core user and dealer not true, the DA was an jerk. He wouldn’t change his mind he kept saying she was a hard core criminal she had a pound of weed it was only grams that she had. I hope this teaches them the police something now that a beautiful young lady has lost her life over something so minor. There are CHILD MOLESTERS,Habitual SEX OFFENDERS out there that have not registerd with the police, go find them!
Oct 1st, 2008
Troy
Sad.
The government cannot continue to ignore the people they serve.
I’ve written my congressmen, state legislature and governor about 3 times in the last 2 months. I think I’ll go write them again.
Oct 2nd, 2008
LoveAndOnlyLove
Hey, hey, my, my, there’s more to the picture than meets the eye. Our Draconian drug laws are ruining the lives of our families and bankrupting our cities, towns, counties, states and nation. The tragedy of Rachel’s death shall not be forgotten. Further tragedies must be averted. End the unjust war on drugs. Laws based on fear and racism have no place in society. Work for change and understanding.
Peace,
Love And Only Love
Oct 2nd, 2008
BEXi
It’s so sad to see Law Enforcement taking advantage of a young girl and then her death resulting because of it. Sick!
Oct 2nd, 2008
Mary Jo
How sad…An innocent girl is dead. However, the criminilization of marijuana is the result of American citizens’ choices. We have the power to cast our votes and fight for the decriminilization/legalization of marijuana, yet we are still being criminilized. An innocent girl like Rachel is killed as a result. I don’t understand exactly what it is going to take to change this. How will America ever overthrow the laws now and decriminilize marijuana use/posession?
Oct 4th, 2008
Tom
As the poet Allen Ginsberg said, “Marijuana is a benevolent narcotic, but J. Edgar Hoover prefers his deathly scotch!”. Sadly the taboo of marijuana is something that puts money in many politicians and law enforcements pockets but not in our government. With our economy doing so poorly don’t you think it’s time to legalize and tax marijuana instead of wasting the billions we do fighting something that will never disappear.
Oct 6th, 2008
John Keim
CJAYE, first of all, these so called cops are nothing more than nazi stormtroopers with an american flag on their shirts. It’s all about power. Police departments all over the country have conditioned these men and women in such a way that they view the american citizen as their enemy. They don’t view themselves as the american citizen’s public servants anymore. This so-called war on drugs, is nothing short of being one of biggest legalized extortion rackets this country has ever witnessed.
Oct 15th, 2008
TerrierBram
@John Keim
nazi storm troopers … well the whole anti Cannabis law from 1938 has a very profound and clear fascistic character.
Said very said for this human. Another martyr. If this kind of thing would happen here in Holland I think the result would be a lot of window replacement for government buildings, at least. No good.
After seeing all this videos on this internet site I have a lot to pond my head on. Still … Cannabis is the healing of the world. With the powers of the most I we will keep on surfacing, we will win.
Nov 20th, 2008
Reply to “Rachel Hoffman: A Cautionary Tale”