Former champ facing felony charge, Boxing future uncertain
By Jeremy Shapiro
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Because of two prior drug convictions, former heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Morrison may have to serve jail time if found guilty of marijuana possession.
The Kansas Highway Patrol arrested Morrison about 8:40 p.m. Thursday at the Kansas Turnpike service area four miles north of Emporia. A trooper allegedly found eight grams of marijuana and a pipe with marijuana residue in a car driven by Morrison.
He was taken to Lyon County jail and charged with possession of certain hallucinogenic drugs with two prior convictions, which is a felony. He also was charged with a misdemeanor possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.
Morrison was released Friday after paying a $2,500 bond. His first appearance in court is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. March 15.
The situation doesn’t improve Morrison’s already murky chance of continuing a boxing comeback.
Morrison’s boxing match scheduled for Friday against Erik Barrak in Montreal has been canceled over blood test concerns. According to www.boxingnews24.com, Morrison was replaced with another fighter. The governing body in Quebec wanted Morrison to undergo a blood test before being licensed to fight.
An e-mail to Morrison and phone message for him through his publicist seeking comment were not returned Tuesday or Wednesday.
Morrison had previously been convicted for marijuana possession in Fayetteville, Ark. in 2000 and Sioux Falls, S.D. in 2005.
In Kansas, the second or subsequent drug offenses become felonies, which carry more substantial penalties, said Robert Novak, assistant county attorney.
Novak said the amount of potential jail time and fines depend on the criminal history of the defendant. He said he did not want to speculate on penalties if Morrison is convicted.
According to court documents, the highway patrol received a call about a white male drinking inside a parked Blue Ford Taurus Thursday. A trooper located the vehicle and turned on spotlights.
A driver exited the vehicle and began walking away, the court affidavit states. The trooper called him back. The same document states the trooper observed scabs and sores on Morrison’s arm consistent with methamphetamine use. He also noticed decayed teeth. The trooper asked Morrison if he had been drinking and was told no.
According to the affidavit, the trooper noticed a small red container attached under the dashboard under the steering column. Morrison told the trooper he did not know what the container was.
To read complete story see the print edition or the online print edition.
newtoemporia (anonymous) says...
He's busy defending himself, on a different topic, with another news website forum. It seems he's very concerned about clearing his name, with regards to HIV. Such a sad situation.
February 24, 2011 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chevy_Guy (anonymous) says...
House Bill 2330 "The Kansas Compassion and Care Act," was introduced by lawmakers last Monday and is pending approval from the House Health and Human Services Committee.
This is the first step Kansas needs to take before we will be able to stop arresting people for smoking a plant. Unfortunately Kansas is always the last state to join the party, Whoever said "When something happens first, it happens in Kansas" was confused. Taxpayers will continue to pay $21,000 a year per inmate to incarcerate people for smoking weed. Over 6,000 people in Kansas were arrested in 2009 for marijuana and the number grows every year.
You can read HB2330 (PDF) here: http://e-lobbyist.com/gaits/text/1887...
February 24, 2011 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
newtoemporia (anonymous) says...
Chevy_Guy
That bill supports marijuana use for medicinal purposes only.
And, Tommy Morrison denies he has HIV. According to Tommy, HIV does not exist. So, this bill wouldn't cover him because he denies he has HIV and wouldn't take the necessary steps to gain a medical card to legally obtain marijuana.
February 24, 2011 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
"The governing body in Quebec wanted Morrison to undergo a blood test before being licensed to fight."
I'm guessing this blood test relates to the HIV suspicion.
I also wonder, doesn't the U.S. require blood tests for boxers? Of course, if Tommy insists HIV does not exist, then we know for sure it's the weed talking.
Also, if House Bill 2330 passes, the number of "medical" cases in Kansas is going to skyrocket.
February 24, 2011 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
It costs a whole lot more than $21,000 a year to provide medical treatment to an inmate with HIV. Not to mention dental care. Also, by law, the detention facility cannot refuse medical treatment unless they want to be sued by a wealthy has been boxer with nothing better to do.
February 24, 2011 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chevy_Guy (anonymous) says...
I know it is for medicinal use only, and there is a very specific list of diseases that would qualify. My point was legalizing medical marijuana is the first step towards decriminalization, which would have let Tommy walk away with a ticket.
February 24, 2011 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chevy_Guy (anonymous) says...
I don't have a debilitating disease now, but if I were to get one, I would want the right to take whatever medicine my doctor prescribes to me, even if it is marijuana. I hope we can help the people with cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s, MS, and other debilitating diseases receive the pain relief they need by getting this bill passed. And when the world doesn't end because sick people are being treated with marijuana, we can worry about keeping our neighbors out of jail for smoking pot by decriminalization.
February 24, 2011 at 5:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
I broke my back, hips and both knees falling from an airplane with a defective parachute about 33 years ago. As a result, I have chronic pain and medical doctors prescribe powerful opiate drugs that don't relieve pain but knock me silly and prevent me from working. I prefer to puff on some good chronic and still be able to function. Too bad junkies like the boxer go around operating equipment while they aare stoned and making an arse out of themselves in public. It ruins it for the people who really need it for medicinal purposes.
February 24, 2011 at 5:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthinkin (anonymous) says...
I'm confused. When did this occur. I'm reading this at 7:22 pm on THURSDAY, February 24. The article states he was arrested at 8:40 pm Thursday and was released on bond on Friday. Just asking WHEN it happened?
February 24, 2011 at 7:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
newtoemporia (anonymous) says...
Last Thursday.
February 24, 2011 at 7:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lcountyvictim (anonymous) says...
I'm speculating that there will be more government talk about the legalization of marijuana in the near future, as it should. Particularly for the tax revenue it could bring into the economy.
February 24, 2011 at 10:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
I really would prefer that marijuana stay out of the hands of doctors and politicians. It is easy to get right now and it s relatively cheap. Once the crooked pharma corps, self serving politicians and greedy doctors get involved you will have to beg borrow and steal to acquire a little pot.
February 25, 2011 at 6:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chevy_Guy (anonymous) says...
REWBA,
This bill would allow patients to have 12 seedlings, six full grown plants, and 6 ounces of cured marijuana. As long as you are able to grow it, your medicine would be free.
February 25, 2011 at 7:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
americus1987 (anonymous) says...
Good call Chevy. We need the politicians doctors to get involved. We don't want doctors involved because if doctors get involved, then we won't be scarffing down our buffet of pills everyday and smoking pot. People don't have to get killed over 1/10 of ounce of marijuana, which happens all the time because the majority of the people who handle this are thugs. Marijuana is not in the same class as cocaine, meth, or heroin. But our doctors prescribes us "oxycontin", "adderall" and hundreds other drugs that contain the same substances as those hard core drugs.
February 25, 2011 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
I would prefer the law allow farmers to cultivate the medical marijuana on an industrial scale as they are knowledgeable and have the land resourced required to produce marketable quantities for the market. Farmers are hard working, honest and truly deserve the right to supplement their farming income with this marketable plant. When the farmer benefits, the world benefits because the farmer will need seed. That would spark growth in the market for seed production. The farmer will need equipment thus sparking the market for specialized harvesters and cultivators, Once Harvested there will be a need for distribution systems creating millions of jobs across the nation. And finally the retail market will need to be established, licensed and regulated which calls for construction, training, licensing, and enforcement to keep the unauthorized buyers from accessing it allowing a reliable supply for those who need the medicinal properties that the product offers. Licenses, fees, taxes and profits from a well regulated system would benefit every sector in society and leave the greedy foreign outlaws unable to compete in the US Market. jmo
February 25, 2011 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tossedcat (anonymous) says...
Its a sad story any way you go the bottom line is lyon county will get some money. That is why i moved to colorado i got my medical card to smoke.AND IT'S NICE I AM NOT A CRIMINAL ANYMORE!!! hard to belive on one side of the kansas /colorado line. the worst you can get is a TICKET. On the other your freedom can be taken for a long time. No wonder KANSAS IS LAST!!!
February 25, 2011 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chevy_Guy (anonymous) says...
Professionally grown marijuana will cost you $300+ per ounce.
February 25, 2011 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
Good marijuana costs $25 per gram in Emporia. That is $175 per quarter ounce or $700 per ounce. Just so you know. Of course there is always Mexican brick weed for $600 per pound. :-)
February 25, 2011 at 6:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chevy_Guy (anonymous) says...
It's $25 only when you're only buying a gram, and even that seems a little steep,. If someone tries to get $175 per quarter ounce or $700 per ounce off of you, they aren't your friend.
February 25, 2011 at 6:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
It's free if you plant the seeds and wait
February 25, 2011 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
Well I say that if we get DUI if drinking and driving we should let them smoke pot and not drive with the same consequences. It sure beats the hard core pain addicting pain meds. Controlled pain with pot would be great for many and not to mention doesn't make them do crazy things. I am all for pain free, mellow and happy people myself. ITS A NATURAL PAIN MEDICATION people.
February 26, 2011 at 10:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Wow, talk about inflation !
Back in the 70's you could get a kilo for $18.00, if you bought 30 kilos or more. 4 finger, (1oz.) bags went for $10.00.
February 27, 2011 at 7:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
Yeah Steve, those were the days. Too bad Nancy Regan went and started the War on Drugs.
February 27, 2011 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Betcha ole Tommy wishes he could try some biscuits and sausage gravy at the senior center sat morning? Lions Club fundraiser.
March 4, 2011 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )