Berry deserves one more chance
Right: Former Palmetto High School standout Jaamal Berry. (Miami Herald Photo)
As reported by the Miami Herald yesterday, Ohio State recruit Jaamal Berry was arrested early Thursday morning after he was pulled over by Miami-Dade Police (Crockett and Tubbs?) for running a red light, and the officers found roughly 28 grams of marijuana in his car.
Berry, who just turned 18 and was driving a silver Nissan Altima, had bought the cabbage and was going to smoke it up with friends. The question is, how much of the herb did Berry have in his car? Anything more than 28 grams is a felony. Anything less is a misdemeanor. According to the Miami Herald, Berry was charged with felony marijuana possession, though “the report said the bag contained about 28 grams of marijuana.”
Berry was taken to jail and later released after an undisclosed bond was posted.
First of all, I do not want to turn this post into a political debate, but I have felt for some time that marijuana should be legalized. You never hear on the news that someone high on pot robs a Burger King at gunpoint. No, they’re pulling up to the drive-thru ordering up a Whopper and some onion rings.
In fact, marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, yet that’s sold legally at every corner gas station.
In some states, like Massachusetts, if someone is found to be in possession of less than 28 grams (or 1 ounce) of pot, that person has to surrender the weed and pay a $100.00 fine. That’s it. No jail time. No court. Just a fine.
Yes, what Berry did was a stupid, stupid thing. Of course The Columbus Dispatch is full of negative comments on this kid, like this one:
If I were Jim Tressel, I would just cut him loose. This guy looks like a Maurice Clarett clone and will be trouble. #5 prospect in the country or not; the reputation of Ohio State is more important than some brat that has total lack of common sense.”
Nice f-ing comment, moron.
My comment on the Berry situation, which appeared on WBNS-TV, last night.
But Berry deserves one more chance. One more chance to prove himself, to clean up his act. Since he just turned 18, chances are that even if he pleads guilty to any charge, it will likely be a misdemeanor. It’s unlikely that he will serve any more jail time, either, though I am sure probation will be in order.
Of course this isn’t baseball. Two strikes then Berry should be out, though Penn State’s Navarro Bowman seems to get plenty of chances.
One former Buckeye, offensive lineman Jason Winrow, said it best on my Facebook page:
He made a mistake, got caught. He’ll answer to his mistakes and move on. Half of the critics who roast him have smoked before. Some are probably high now.”
After reading all of the comments found on The Dispatch, I wouldn’t doubt that for a minute. But yes, Berry will move on.
At this time, Ohio State nor head coach Jim Tressel have offer any comments of their own.
Stay tuned.
