DOCUMENT: Celebrity, Crime

One More Reason To Love Bill Murray

Comedian tomorrow celebrates two milestones

Bill Murray

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Bill Murray Bombs

SEPTEMBER 20--There are a million reasons to love the great Bill Murray.

Here’s just one:

Tomorrow marks two milestones in the comedian’s life: His 60th birthday, and the 40th anniversary of his arrest for marijuana trafficking.

On September 21, 1970, Murray celebrated his 20th birthday by getting arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Murray was waiting to board a plane to Denver when he “jokingly told another passenger that he was carrying two bombs in his luggage.”

Murray’s comment was apparently overheard by a ticket agent who, missing the humor, summoned federal agents. While a subsequent search of Murray’s luggage did not turn up any explosive devices, United States marshals instead found five bricks of marijuana. The pot totaled ten pounds and was valued at $20,000.

A Tribune news brief indicated that cops had actually been aware of Murray’s attempt to transport the marijuana: “Chicago vice detectives had been waiting at the airport to arrest Murray because they had received a tip.” At the time, Murray was a pre-med student at Regis University, a Jesuit college in Denver.

Charged with possession of cannabis, Murray pleaded guilty to the drug count in Cook County Circuit Court, according to an Illinois State Police rap sheet. He was sentenced to five years probation on the misdemeanor conviction. (3 pages)

Comments (6)

Bill's choice of pot is usually a blend of Kentucky Bluegrass, Featherbed Bent and Northern California Sensemilia. The amazing stuff about this is, that you can play 36 holes of golf on it in the afternoon, take it home and just get stoned to the bejeezus-belt that night on this stuff....
I'm amazed that, in 1970, ten pounds was a misdemeanor! If it were fifteen years later he'd have had his ass in a sling.
I think the cops calculate value as "street value" - meaning if you sold all 10 pounds as individual joints. 50 j's per ounce- 800 per pound, 8000's j's at 2.50 a piece. Give or take a J.
I think a pound was selling for about $400 then. I know in 1975 we were getting quarters for about $130.
I thought that amount was kinda high too, but that's what the newspaper reported. Primo, I suppose
Legendary pothead! Nice.