"busting people for selling bongs is the equivalent
of the cops stopping someone for running a stop sign
while there are rival gangs having a shoot-out in the
intersection."

This is like the cops being afraid to raid meth labe
for fear of the armed , "under the influence" culprits,
bad dogs, etc, so pester peaceful gardeners instead
because it is less dangerous, therfore safer for the cops.

Sounds like what is going on on a world wide scale:
Harrass the Iraqis although meanwhile North Korea
is testing weapons which might have the capability
of reaching our shores.