NOTE TO CONGRESS

NOTE TO CONGRESS

TODAY’S CANNABIS BUSINESS PLAN IS

YESTERDAY’S MARIJUANA CONSPIRACY

Congress needs to address a great inconsistency in our criminal justice system.  There can be no integrity in the cannabis business community or in Congress as long as there are nonviolent marijuana offenders serving life without parole and other egregious sentences

Thirty – three states have legalized marijuana to some degree.  This has happened at the same time that marijuana has remained on the Controlled Substance Act as a Schedule 1 drug, a position that designates it as a more dangerous drug than Fentanyl and OxyContin.   

In 2017 there were over 650,000 arrests for marijuana and there are nonviolent people serving sentences of life without parole for marijuana. 

Today there are funds investing billions of dollars in emerging cannabis business enterprises while many high profile politicians, entertainers, and business entrepreneurs are also involved in the promotion of these enterprises.   Millions of dollars are being spent for lobbying by these businesses. 

This undeniable conflict between federal law and the current culture invites disrespect for the law and for those who are responsible for the enactment and prosecution of the law.  

There can be no integrity for cannabis business enterprises while people are serving egregious sentences for the same substance and the law supports these sentences. 

Every bill that is introduced to legalize cannabis businesses to any degree needs to have an amendment attached that grants retroactive sentencing relief for nonviolent marijuana offenders serving sentences of life without parole and other egregious sentences for the same substance that is being legalized.

These nonviolent marijuana offenders with sentences of life without parole do not receive one day of sentencing relief from the First Step Act.

CANNABIS BUSINESS ENTERPRISES NEED INTEGRITY

A CATEGORY AND MORE RANTING

TODAY'S CANNABIS BUSINESS PLAN IS YESTERDAY'S MARIJUANA CONSPIRACY

EVERY BILL INTRODUCED TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA TO SOME DEGREE NEEDS TO HAVE AN AMENDMENT ATTACHED FOR RETROACTIVE SENTENCING REFORM / CLEMENCY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SERVING LIFE SENTENCES FOR MARIJUANA.

WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT, CANNABIS BUSINESSES WILL NOT HAVE INTEGRITY

A day after the passage of The First Step Act I began to receive the inquiries I dreaded.  They came from media, advocates, prisoners, friends and followers. 

The questions are:   

1. “Can I interview a nonviolent marijuana offender with a life sentence about how this bill will shorten their sentence and what it means to them.”   
    
 2. “How many marijuana people with life sentences will be released because of this bill?”

Prisoners and their friends and family wanted to know if the bill contained any mercy for them – it did not.  The more peripheral friends and acquaintances simply thought the bill must have relief for those serving life for pot.  Even some in Congress were not aware that The First Step Act had no relief for nonviolent marijuana offenders with life sentences.  Unfortunately there is no relief in The First Step Act for those serving life for pot and only 11 pot lifers received clemency from President Obama.  They are the prisoners left behind.

As these nonviolent people wait behind bars they see the constant movement of marijuana legalization – state by state – country by country -  they agonize about what it can mean for their freedom.  The pain is unbearable watching the country that has locked them in cages for decades while gradually coming to the consensus that marijuana is not more dangerous than fentanyl, OxyContin, and cocaine.   The First Step Act did not include sentencing relief for them.

WHAT DOES MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION MEAN FOR THEIR FREEDOM

The answer is nothing.  Even if marijuana is totally legalized federally, their life sentences will still be intact and they will die behind bars.  They will still need legislation for retroactive sentencing relief and/or clemency to be released from federal prison.

Politicians, entertainment stars, venture capitalists and ordinary citizens are investing billions of dollars and making billions. Congressmen are receiving millions in lobbying money to grease the political skids of hoped for legislation that will facilitate Cannabis Business Enterprises.  

For people serving life sentences for marijuana it’s painful to watch.  The rest of us should recognize that it is wrong and lacks integrity.  This is why we propose this plea for relief.  

Every bill that is introduced to facilitate the emerging cannabis business enterprises must have an amendment attached for retroactive sentencing relief for nonviolent people serving life sentences and de facto life sentences for marijuana offenses.