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Dennis Brownstein's Extreme Court News
March 13, 2013 posted by Steve Brownstein
Just Plain Dumb
A drug defendant stunned an Ohio court by asking if he could have one more joint while haggling over the period during which he would give up marijuana.
Damaine Mitchell, 19, wanted Hamilton County Common Pleas judge Melba Marsh to allow him a final indulgence before he attempted to refrain from using the drug - but she said no.
Mitchell made no secret of his love of the drug - when the judge said she would offer him a deal which would stop him going to jail and would erase the crime from his record, in return for him giving up marijuana for a certain time period, he found it tough to accept.
'That’s going to be hard for me to do, to be honest with you,' said Mitchell.
The judge told him he had to stop taking the drug until April, when he would be drug tested to see if he had lived up to his end of the bargain.
'That’s going to be a challenge,' Mitchell argued. 'I like smoking weed. I have been smoking weed since I was like 10 years old.'
Marsh then began to shorten the period, asking if Mitchell would stop until Easter, even Valentine's Day. 'I won't want to,' replied the defendant.
The bargaining continued - New Years Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving (November 22) were all offered as well, but Mitchell said: 'If I put my mind to it I can (but) I won't want to.'
Eventually he agreed to try stopping smoking the drug but only on one condition.
'I know this is probably not the right question to ask (but) can I get a little time at least (to) get one more joint in?' he asked the judge.
