David Mayo, a sports columnist for the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan, has been suspended from his job after he was arrested and charged with growing marijuana at his home.Police say Mayo had more than 20 but fewer than 200 marijuana plants, which is a felony charge that could get him up to seven years in prison. He also is charged with maintaining a drug house, which is punishable by up to two years in jail.
Here's how the Grand Rapids Press itself reports the news:
Mayo's lawyer says the marijuana (which police described as more than 10 pounds but less than 100 pounds) was for personal use, adding, "This wasn't heavy drugs or anything like that." An arrest warrant was also issued for Mayo's wife.Press Publisher Dan Gaydou said the newspaper became aware of the allegations Wednesday morning. Mayo has been suspended with pay pending further investigation, he said. ...
David Mayo has been employed at The Press since 1985 and has covered collegiate and professional sports, including the World Series and Super Bowl. He specializes in boxing coverage and has traveled the country to report on the career of Floyd Mayweather. A native of Kirby, Ark., he is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Mayo's most recent column appeared on February 3, and it focused on the Michigan and Michigan State football recruiting classes. It would be nice to know what he thinks about the Michael Phelps story, but his column archive shows that he never addressed that subject.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
2-12-2009 @ 2:19PM
Bobby said...
Suspended WITH pay...what a joke...try taking his pay away and then see if he learns a lesson.
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 9:56PM
obama yo mama said...
obama sucked cocaine and he still has a job
lets fire him
without pay
after all he lied to get millions in contributions and still the poor are getting poorer
2-13-2009 @ 5:03AM
jimmyjdunne said...
He should have been more careful, growing marijuana is fun and can save you a lot of money. Plus somking marijana is less harmfull then drinking, how many people do you know that have died from drinking?
how many have died from pot.......
zero, if you dont belive me, then look it up.
Reply
2-14-2009 @ 3:43PM
steve said...
Look it up? What an Idiot. There has been plenty of people who have been injuried or killed in accidents from people who were driving while high on weed. Pot is probably somewhat safer for a lot of people but not for everyone. Keyword "SAFER", "not safe" to drive while doing, maybe just a little easier on your body
2-13-2009 @ 6:19PM
mrsinstaller said...
Awww the poor guy, he was just trying to save him self some $, while supplying himself w/ some fresh home grown.
Reply
2-14-2009 @ 7:20AM
scorpion said...
Why doesn't our government get smart? Marijuana has been used in diversified ways by people for thousands of years. Why is our ancestors had more common sense than our government does now. Didn't our government learn anything from prohibition??? Does our government not see that crime can be reduced by making marijuana legal. Why let drug cartels profit because of our antiquated laws. Does our government have a clue???
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 10:25PM
Linda said...
I saw a documentary last week on the History Channel that explained why marijuana became an illegal substance. Prior to the Depression, a large population of immigrants from Mexico were living and working in the Southwestern states. Probably much as they do now. They were welcomed into the workforce and economy. They also grew and smoke their own marijuana with some regularity. Once the Depression hit and WHITE men were out of work, the Southwestern states no longer wanted the Mexican immigrants around to compete for work with the white man. They had to find a way to get rid of the Mexicans. Representatives from the states of New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada and I think Arkansas, put tremendous pressure on the Fed Gov't to outlaw marijuana, so they would have an easy way to arrest and charge the Mexicans with a crime, so they could get them out of the country. The US learned nothing from Prohibition, because liquor has always been part of big business, it is an enterprise, like the automobile industry. Marijuana farmers are not big business and lack a strong lobby. The government will never legalize marijuana because it has nothing to gain from it. Since marijuana literally IS a weed, it's too easy for anyone to grow and too difficult for the government to control and tax. It's just politics as usual. If the Fed Gov't could make big bucks from it, they would likely find a way to legalize it!
2-13-2009 @ 6:21PM
champzon said...
you know what, I think too much has been made out of the personal use of marijuana, from rock stars to swimming stars, while I don't condone the use, it still is their private lives. He made a mistake, people do that. I don't see the point in raking him over the coals, when we have much bigger problems to be concernede with.
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 6:27PM
SUE said...
WE NOW HAVE A LAW THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GROW POT FOR MEDCINAL PURPOSE AND FOR PERSONAL USE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
AND DRINKING IS WAY WORSE FOR PEOPLE, DRINKING KILLS!
IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT DRINKING IS DEADLY AND POT ISN'T.
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 6:36PM
undrgrndgirl said...
legalize !
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 7:18PM
tyronefl1 said...
and I'll advertise...
2-13-2009 @ 9:34PM
lbbont said...
And i`ll utilize.
2-14-2009 @ 1:09AM
coolsuperdude said...
As I mesmerize.
2-13-2009 @ 8:31PM
Gary said...
In 1932, the office of Drug & Narcotics Control was manned by a lower-tier Cabinet position. Harry Ansliger, Jr., who was operating with a staff of three and a paltry budget. Early on, Anslinger had no problem with marijuana, which grew freely throughout the country, including along the banks of the Potomac and Hudson Rivers. Marijuana was not classified as a narcotic because it was not opium-based. Nor was it a public health problem. Enter publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, whose papers had long crusaded against cannabis sativa. Hearst fervently believed that the drug fostered a disproportionately large number of African-Americans in New Orleans, and that it created a problem with the influx of Mexican-Americans into four key states: Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. He bankrolled Anslinger's new war on marijuana and it's all been downhill since then. This fine writer is being prosecuted with laws that must be repealed along with the sentencing guidelines that empower our judges to dish out outlandish penalties for personal marijuana use. The sad irone here is that Michigan voted by an overwhelming to legalize medical marijuana under gidelines superior to California's. The growth of a reasonable number of plants for personal medicinal use is really quite generous: a dozen. David Mayo should have seen his doctor and obtained a presription, sad to say.
Reply
2-14-2009 @ 12:27AM
Rick said...
As a Michigan resident, and actually just north of Grand Rapids, I can say that while we did pass Prop 1 with no problems...it's yet to actually be fully put into place. They are still trying to set up the full registry system as far as I know. So, there would have been no way for him yet to obtain his license/permit, whichever they choose to call it come said time. It is indeed a shame though with the timing. Another couple of months, and he likely could have been completely fine...at least until you factor back in Federal Law which still supercedes State Law. Hence the problems with Dispenseries out in California, and the issues they get from the DEA. If you'd like to watch a very interesting documentary on the subject, I highly recommend Super High Me. It's actually quite hilarious too, from comedian Doug Benson...he was on Last Comic Standing a few years ago, and misc other shows these days.
With a little hope, and perhaps some leverage thanks to the recession, the Government will finally give in and legalize marijuana once and for all. As this would give them a greater influx of new money, and at the same time reduce overall spending on that particular facet of the "War on Drugs." Seeing how President Obama is fairly Green on all his other stances for our country, it should only make sense that if anyone would be able to push it through...it would be him.
Regardless, what someone does in the privacy of their own homes, while not bothering anyone else should be completely their own business. Unless you become a detriment to society, and/or a threat to those around you...you should be left alone to your personal pursuit of happiness as promised to us all in our core doctrine. Because once that principle is gone, the entire foundation of our country has been taken with it. Leaving us forever on uneven footing, and constantly wondering what the next sleight of hand will be from on high.
Ok, enough rambling from me...just wanted to point out the Prop 1 clairification, nothing else, haha. Sorry to soapbox ;)
2-13-2009 @ 8:44PM
tmarko1943 said...
The government should now spend millions of dollars investigating this moron. This is just as bad as steroids in sports. He obviously had an advantage in his reporting over the none pot smoking reporters.
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 8:53PM
hap0749 said...
IT IS MY VIEW THAT FARMERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GROW POT AND SELL IT AT A PROFIT TO STORES SET UP JUST FOR THAT. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE IT LEGAL AND TAX IT BIG TIME. IT WOULD STILL BE CHEAPER THEN IT IS TODAY. GOOD AMERICAN FARMERS WOULD HAVE A GOOD EASY CASH CROP. NEW STORES WOULD OPEN THAT ONLY PEOPLE WITHOUT A RECORD COULD RUN. SMALL BIZ. THE GOVERNMENT (STATE AND FEDERAL) COULD HAVE TAX REVENUES THAT TODAY GO TO CROOKS. WE LEARNED WITH WHISKEY AND BEER.
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 8:56PM
Howdy! said...
He broke the law and should pay the price. Bottom line... It is legal in over 25% of our country for medicinal reasons. Go figure why over 800,000 young males, mostly minorities, were put in jail last year for having some mj in their possession. Their lives are now ruined. That is a true shame and it is only going to get worse, thus continuing the overcrowding of our prison system. And then the prison system spits out child molesters, rapists and murderers early due to that overcrowding! It is time to cease this madness, is it not? Just my $.02 worth, fwiw...
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 8:59PM
europlan said...
Fiscally conservative and notoriously hypocritical America should really consider the Dutch sysem. Five times as many Americans -percentage wise - smoked pot last YEAR THAn Dutch people did. America and its municpalites are spending a FORTUNE every year to jail and adjudicate pot smokers. This is ridiculous. The Dutch control the sale of pot, they tax it and issue licenses to the "coffeeshop businesses" who are permitted to sell it in modest amounts. If anybody is caught with hard drugs in a coffeeshop , they will loose their licenses on the spot. Dutch people do not walk around with pot clouds surrounding their heads. To the contrary they have created a beautiful country , with high culture and beautiful cities. Yes theri are some problems andsometimes too many coffeeshopsare located near the borders, but The Dutch are much more likely to go to the Concertgebouw or Muziektheatre or the VanGogh Museum than going to a coffeeshop for "wied" . If they want to hang out with friends they go to charming "brown bar" or jazz caffe for a beer or glass of wine or to a grand cafe to dance-no pot.
We should get off of our high horses, legalize but control and tax pot, tax it like booze or ciggies and stop ruining lives of young people and paying a fortune to unnecessarily clog prisons and courts and to support underworld distribtion. Taxpayers can't afford to contine this silly prohibition. We need to stop heroin, uppers and downers, acid and the rest fo the a hard drug genre. RHS
Reply
2-13-2009 @ 9:21PM
vettech420 said...
As there are functioning alcoholics, there are functioning potheads. And the potheads are not usually out driving home from bars(drunk), they are sitting at home hiding from people because they know it's illegal to smoke weed in public. And if you check statistics locally, more people are arrested for drunk driving, or from more serious use as in pills, or heroin, or coke/crack. I'm not a weed head regardless of my screen name that is my b-day involved in that. But I don't condemn people for their choice to smoke pot. They know the consequences, same as drunk drivers.
Reply