Native-American Peace Pipe Ruled as Drug Paraphernalia at Washington High School

Native-American Peace Pipe Ruled as Drug Paraphernalia at Washington High School

by Todd Wiese toddw@theroc.org

When Michael LaFrenier came to Enumclaw High School in Washington one day wearing an authentic Native-American peace pipe necklace (something he considered only a nice gift from his mom, Denise) he soon found himself being yanked out of class by a school security guard and later charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Although Michael has never used drugs in his life and has passed a drug test to prove it, the school decided to suspend Michael for an entire semester as per the school's "no tolerance" policy against drug paraphernalia.

Michael's mother soon filed a lawsuit against the school in hopes of exonerating her son and clearing his name. "I'm the one who bought the necklace. He hasn't done anything wrong," she said. "Now this is on his record. Kids and teachers are going to see him as a stoner." She's also worried that thanks to this incident on her son's school record, he will now have difficulty getting into college. Although the suspension was deferred, school officials refuse to clear Michael's record.

An Enumclaw detective, Travis Glass, agreed with school officials regarding the peace pipe replica, which symbolizes harmony (according to the clerk at Park Place Market who sold the trinket). Said the detective, "In my opinion, this pipe is designed and intended for the ingestion of drugs such as marijuana."

Michael LaFrenier is yet another victim of the senseless War Against Drugs being waged in the United States. "Peace and harmony" be damned as per the rules of this war where you are guilty of being a dopehead even AFTER proven innocent via drug testing. Greg Miller, LaFrenier's attorney, had this to say, "You have a 14-year-old kid with no history of drug use. I think the district has lost sight of its educational goals and its mission." We at Rock Out Censorship vehemently agree.

Short-sighted drug paranoia is not only overcrowding our nations prisons with "criminals" who have victimized no one, but has also created at least one victim of its own: Michael LaFrenier. If you feel, as we do, that the War Against Drugs has claimed enough victims, please contact Enumclaw High School officials and tell them to clear Michael LaFrenier's record and focus more on teaching instead of harassing kids who believe in "harmony and peace".

Enumclaw High School
226 Semanski Street South
Enumclaw, WA 98022
PH: 360-825-2585

Enumclaw School District
PH: 360-825-2588

To learn more about the War Against the War Against Drugs, contact these fine groups:

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
1001 Connecticut Ave. NW #710
Washington, DC 20036
PH: 202-483-5500 FAX: 202-483-0057
http://www.natlnorml.org
norml@norml.org

The Drug Reform Coordination Network
2000 P Street NW #615
Washington, DC 20036
PH: 202-293-8340 FAX: 202-293-8344
http://www.drcnet.org
drcnet@drcnet.org

Source: Seattle Times