While the legalization of marijuana is still a highly controversial issue; a recent incident suggests that some police departments actually believe that harsher punishment should be administered to offenders.
20-year-old Grand Valley State Univ. Student, Derek Copp, was shot after being suspected of smoking marijuana in his off-campus apartment. Five West Michigan Enforcement Team Officers, who obtained a warrant to search for narcotics, raided the apartment last week at 9pm. An unnamed, 12-year-veteran deputy, shot the young man upon entering the apartment's sliding door.
According to his parents, Copp was shot when he raised his arm, shielding his eyes from a flashlight, unaware that it was an officer. Only one shot was fired but it left a life-threatening wound.
Neither the victim nor the shooter were arrested. Police have not revealed what drugs were searched for (or found, if any), nor have they explained the deputy's reasoning for opening fire on the unarmed man. The deputy is currently on paid leave.
Copp's parents stated, "From what I understand, half the kids in the school may smoke pot..." "but he's not a drug dealer. He's a good kid and he shouldn't have been shot for that." While it is unlikely that smoking marijuana in the U.S. will be legalized anytime soon, taking a bullet is far too severe a punishment.
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