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Subscribe to RSSA New Orleans attorney was cited for marijuana possession this week after a joint tumbled out of his pocket in front of police, according to media reports.
Police say Jason Cantrell, who has a private practice but also serves as a part-time assistant city attorney, was in the magistrate section of criminal court chatting with police officers when a marijuana joint fell out of his pocket and onto the floor, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.
Cantrell, 43, was a first-time offender and was cited, issued a summons to appear in court for simple possession of marijuana and let go, according to police spokesman Garry Flot.
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The handling of his case is the result of an effort by city leaders and prosecutors two years ago to unclog a congested system and allow people arrested for having a small amount of marijuana on them to receive a summons and not be taken to jail, according to the Times-Picayune.
Besides being a private practice attorney, Cantrell doubles as a part-time city attorney, handling cases in traffic court. He was not working for the city when the incident occurred.
City Hall spokesman Ryan Berni told WDSU that Cantrell has been suspended without pay, pending an investigation.
Cantrell’s wife, LaToya, is a candidate for a district seat on the City Council. She released a statement apologizing for her husband and saying, “I absolutely do not condone his actions,” the New York Daily News reported.
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“I love my husband unconditionally and am very concerned for his health and well-being, and for that of our family,” LaToya said. “I hope that this incident will encourage Jason to seek the professional help.”
Cantrell has practiced civil and criminal law in New Orleans for 17 years, including six as a public defender in juvenile court.
He ran for a position as a judge in juvenile court in 2009 but lost.
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This story is funny, and it points out that it's really easy to catch dopers. After all, they call it "dope" for a reason.
Actually, they only call it that to give it a bad name; a little something called propaganda. I believe someone is trying to ransack your lair under the bridge. You better hurry before they take your Kool-aid and Zoloft.
Wife says “I hope that this incident will encourage Jason to seek the [sic] professional help.”
Why would you seek professional help for smoking a joint every now and then? [Disclaimer: I do not smoke but I do believe that it should be legal and that it's safer than alcohol.]
With that said if there was an inane law that said you can't wear blue shoes in a court room I probably wouldn't wear blue shoes in a court room while talking to cops.
I assumed the "professional help" referred to getting a competent lawyer to defend him on these charges (being as you have to question the competence of a lawyer that drops joints in front of cops)
He would have been okay to bring in an unopened bottle of whiskey but having a little grass is way out of line, beyond the pale, a total disregard for safety, and a personal failure....start reading sarcasm any time. Lastly, what about the children?
Thur 10/4/12 LMAO ! "Don't Bogart that Joint My Friend Pass It Over to Me"
Light that Dubbie Up Everybody lets Get Stoned !
Weed makes Ya Hungry, Horny & Sleepy & Stupid in that order No Violence involved
Booze Makes Ya 6ft 9 & Bullet Proof, Mean, Ugly & Stupid All sorts of Violence involved here.
Don't know that I would want my criminal defense Lawyer Stoned while representing me in Court.
Now that was a Dumb & Dumber Mistake by the Lawyer. SPW "Airborne"
His wife says he needs 'help' for his pot smoking??? LOL She is totally clueless if she believes that he's addicted. But I also understand she has to say something PC to defend his reputation and appeal to the sympathys of his constiuents and employer. The only thing truly wrong with him is he is blatantly STUPID. Nobody with half a brain, even longtime pot smokers like myself, would even THINK of sensing myself as so entitled that I would walk into a court of law with a joint in my pocket!! Hahahahaha!!
Here's a question for everyone, How long do you think it'll take for him to claim the joint belonged to one of his client and he took it away from him/her? Anyone?
He can lie all he wants, it doesn't matter. He wasn't charged with drug ownership, he was charged with drug possession.
Public defender for juvinelle delinquents for 17 YEARS....nuff said. Who can blame him? Professional help? The only professional help he will need is a divorce attorney.
I guess leaving it at home wasn't an option, LaToya probably would have smoked it without him.
Maybe the "professional help" is a therapist to help him square his conscience on putting kids in jail and arguing they are a hazard for a habit he's indulged for years without harming himself or anyone else?
Finally a lawyer I can trust! If I were to ever get in trouble with the law (busted) I want him as an attorney, the rest suck air.
The wife said the right and proper thing, that's what you do. Her husband works for the city do you want her to say its a stupid law and he should be allowed to break it?
You want to see something that will change your mind about legalization? A documentary called "The Union: The Business of Getting High" Trust me, WATCH THIS! I was a fence sitter for 30 years on MJ legalization----NOT ANYMORE! This doc is packed with facts and information like crazy. It's fairly entertaining also. You watch this=you are now massively pro-legalization--guaranteed. It's on Youtube also.
ALCOHOL kills over 10,000 people a year in drunk driving wrecks. Pot is nothing -but those southern states -and like Arizona, N.M., TX etc. act like it's a bad drug or something. It should be decriminalized - but not made legal. Those tight wad stiff necked hella weird nazi type 'law' authorities should stop being gestapo and leave the pot smokers alone.
joint falls out of pocket in court-priceless!!!!
uh..oops!
Reminds me of the defense attorney who's client couldn't pay, so he gave the atty. an ounce of "China White" Heroin. The atty. then passed it to another client who couldn't pay and said "You sell it. Then pay me for the dope and use the profit to pay your fees." ... Yes, it was good dope not bunk!, lol...
Thank God it wasn't a pint of vodka!
To wife LaToya, either you knew and lied to protect your career and didnt back your man Id not vote for you or your to stupid to know whats going on at your own home and Ill pass on voting for you as well.
Pot should have never been illegal, do some real research people.
This guy is just dumb for doing this, pot legal or not this was a dumb move. Pot should be legal for use in your own home or cafe/bar but not in the work place. I sure wouldnt want my lawyer stoned on the job but once he gets home that is his bussiness.
What a stupid thing for the wife to say - I hope he divorces her.
I wonder, was it a high court?
Boom Baby, Boom...!
Thank you, make sure you try the fish, and tip your waitress... G'Night!!!
Could we just legalize marijuana and stop wasting billions on it each year? We have better things we could be doing with those tax dollars.
Bailiff..... Whack his pee pee !
"...seek the professional help"... It's a joint. Come on already, haven't we all had enough of these bull@!$%# pot laws?
Although I think this is hilarious, I don't think I'd be laughing if I had to depend on this guy in court. I'm all for legalizing marijuana, but there is a time and a place.
Time to end the charade and legalize it?
Only dumb rednecks are against it. Oh.. wait... dumb rednecks are growing it now.
Time to end the charade and legalize it. Only the synthetic pharmaceutical industry is against it. You know... like the people who brought you fungal meningitis?