Cannabis and Castonias

[XLFD]

Back in 2012, the Ludington City Council made a medical marijuana ordinance (MMO) after the initiated law passed easily in 2008 had given those who required medical marijuana (MM) a way to get their 'medicine'.  This occurred after many long years of high-paid city officials (the LPD chief, the city manager, various city attorneys, etc.) working out the details of the MMO after many moratoriums were placed on such transactions. 

Since that time, the courts have ruled that local ordinances setting their own rules for MM are effectively meaningless and unenforceable.  The Ludington MMO itself (read the five reasons in the link) was exceptionally Draconian and in violation of state law.  Nevertheless, six of the seven city councilors passed the MMO, the only one voting against was Gary Castonia, who explained his deviation by unclearly stating that the Federal laws should supercede the state laws.  Federal rules do not allow for MM, but declare all marijuana possession as unlawful. 

Since then he has exclusively advocated for 'local control' in his votes and signed a petition to repeal Federal civil rights law, so his Federalism seems to be only on the topic of Marijuana laws.

Shortly after his 2012 vote, Castonia's grandson, Devin Castonia, was arrested by the Michigan State Police for marijuana possession as pointed out in Karma Castonia.  At the time I considered it ironic that despite his strong position on marijuana, a frequent guest to his house, was caught with non-medicinal marijuana.  I was also concerned that the house was used as a daycare facility for school-age children, and that its clients should be aware of the potential for exposure to illegal drugs.

Councilor Castonia at the next council meeting after this article appeared said: 

"When I first ran for office I knew I would be scrutinized and I'd be held accountable for any statements I made.  But the only way I can say this now is by quoting Mr. Rotta, I'm absolutely disgusted that you dragged my family, my grandson (breaks down), and my wife, and her business into this.  And I want the whole city to know how you treat people.  And the last comment I want to make is:  People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks."

Despite saying he was quoting me, which he never did, all I reported was what the other local media did, with the familial connection made to him and a caveat emptor for his daycare business.  He was disgusted and mortified not for his grandson being held accountable for his illegal acts, but for him and his business being held accountable, along with his own apparent hypocrisy being exposed and highlighted.  Councilor Castonia, if you don't know, used to be a former LPD officer who had his fair share of drug busts before his retirement; having an arrest in his immediate family is not good for his image.

Early this year, Gary Castonia's old house on Sixth Street burned down under mysterious circumstances.  His son, Tim Castonia, had an evolving story of the early morning fire's genesis and his fortune in being able to escape from what turned into a raging inferno.  Fire officials claim it was the old house's balloon construction that led to the fire spread, but they never had the fire investigated because of the structure being effectively decimated. 

But Tim Castonia had put out several suspicious Facebook posts preceding the fire by a couple of days dealing with legalizing marijuana and memes showing an acceptance of marijuana.  The quick spread of the fire and the early story out of Tim's mouth, could easily lead to some suspicions as to whether he was involved with indoor marijuana growing, which would stress the old electrical system of the house, or maybe even into processing something more potent than marijuana, a process which causes fires behaving remarkably similar to this one.    

This, of course, can only be speculative being that the officials mysteriously called off any fire investigation of this fire with a mysterious cause and effect and Tim Castonia has not been forthcoming with his habits and operations. 

But recently over this last weekend, the COLDNews and Mason County Press has reported that another of Gary Castonia's grandkids, Tre, has been caught in possession of marijuana at the tender age of 17, just like Devin was.  Unlike in Devin's case, the address he lives at is Gary Castonia's residence at 809 E Danaher which just happens to be the home to K K's Licensed Day Care.   

http://www.masoncountypress.com/2016/07/01/79th-district-court-arra...

Which also happened to be the same address at where Tre threw his open house after his graduation earlier in the month before he was caught 'in the tall grass':

While the three incidences are all tragedies in their own right, they all have a common element that should lead one to wonder what is going on in Gary "Ganja" Castonia's family, and to be rightly concerned about what their child may be exposed to if they use this homestead as a daycare.

[XLFD]

Welcome to the Ludington Torch, Mike.   I know that you misspelt the word "know" in your post three times; please tighten up your reasoning, grammar and spelling in the future so I don't misunderstand what you are trying to convey.

Seeing that you declare to know a bit about the family, please elaborate on how these minor Castonia children, Tre and Devin, are getting their supply of illegal marijuana, and why the family is more concerned about the reputation of their parents and grandparents rather than why these kids are doing weed at their tender ages.

[Rotta's a idiot]

Yeah Mike you need to put it into simple term's for the idiot!!!!

[XLFD]

Welcome to the Ludington Torch, "Rotta's a idiot".  You may wish to change your name to "Rotta's an idiot" to be more grammatically correct, and still put forth your point. 

[Rotta's a idiot]

I know cause grammar is your speciality so that's why I like to not use it cause it gives you something to try and be correct about cause you never will about anything else you moron!!!!!!

[Mike pilon]

Well it goes like this, when I was a kid drugs were not available like it is. Today kids Rob steal lie cheat and what ever else they can get away with. If u think for a second that the parents or grandparents are giving the kids the marijuana u r sadly mistaken. Why are u going after catatonia family?

[XLFD]

Mike pilon said:  "Why are u going after catatonia family?"

Catatonia is a state of neurogenic motor immobility and behavioral abnormality manifested by stupor.  Are you saying that the family is catatonic?  Sounds like you have something against this family, not me, when you call those boys liars and robbers, then say they are in a state of catatonia.

[mad mike]

X is this not your site, I have to ask why you would tolerate the likes of RAI (I can't even type his name out of respect) and Mike pilon, the two of them are quite should I say unique to be polite, perhaps a literacy test should be required to obtain membership to the "Torch", or do you keep them around for entertainment purposes.

[XLFD]

If I am to become a city councilor, I have to learn to talk and deal with fools along with their foolish talk and deals at council meetings to accomplish anything.  I apologize to those who come here and expect a higher level of discourse, but I need some additional training and entertaining at times.

[Wonder Woman]

Gary Castonia has voluntarily entered public life.  As such, he and his family are subject to scrutiny whether it is true or not.  Politics can be a very cruel game, but it's something you accept when you decide to run for office.  If the President's nephew were arrested for something, it would be news.  Not because the President did anything wrong, but merely because of guilt by association.  I highly doubt Councilor Castonia grew wacky weed, rolled it and gave it to his grandkids....heck, I doubt he knew anything about what they were doing.  But because of his status in the community, it is newsworthy.  And because he operates a daycare out of the same home where his grandkids are living, it could be a public safety concern as daycares are regulated by the State. 

[XLFD]

Great points.  I must add that whenever information crosses my desk that not only have political or public safety concerns, but also more personal concerns, I investigate and weigh the factors involved before bringing it out publicly here on the LT.  One thing that makes me fall on the side of disclosure here is that Councilor Castonia repeatedly thumbs his nose at the city charter and state laws, while unapologetically voting on ordinances and resolutions to make more things illegal for you, me, and your kids (if they decide to live in a police state within a city) while taking more money away from our pockets.  It's irony, karma, and hypocrisy all wrapped into one story, backed up by public records.

[Willy]

[AQUAMAN]

Funny Willy. Wth happened to the trolls we used to have around here? LOL. I think the Shyster has an off-record employment of these types, to harass, and be like himself, immature, rude, and boring. RIA + MP = XLFD Comedy Central, lol.