tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77548666069485522682024-03-15T18:11:09.200-07:00Life for Pot LIFE FOR POT
Release Nonviolent Drug Offendersbeth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-69119274536737898712023-09-22T10:14:00.003-07:002023-10-26T10:31:48.825-07:00JUST ANOTHER PLEA FOR MERCY AND COMPASSION FROM BIDEN<p> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>WHERE IS THE MERCY AND COMPASSION </b></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_nG8CLG_tq1M17LXTLE9WCcVvrZxdqscO2vdQwTMZRMkXTTGfoVD-TFQL0orCpkAUOdLHDps72SYg_CMCnVvzFIgqs2e_oDQFsyGft6Q6ff1H_7__HGJXgqPjp6-iDNdKP7G5cvmRImNy-BgclDhdN2ngQOMotBr-RWWoe0IcLjorGnDqmP9SAkFO0IU/s1060/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31%20-%20Copy%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1060" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_nG8CLG_tq1M17LXTLE9WCcVvrZxdqscO2vdQwTMZRMkXTTGfoVD-TFQL0orCpkAUOdLHDps72SYg_CMCnVvzFIgqs2e_oDQFsyGft6Q6ff1H_7__HGJXgqPjp6-iDNdKP7G5cvmRImNy-BgclDhdN2ngQOMotBr-RWWoe0IcLjorGnDqmP9SAkFO0IU/w126-h120/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31%20-%20Copy%20(2).JPG" width="126" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Today the Office of the Pardon Attorney hosted an event - The Case for Second Chances. There were powerful stories of redemption from those who had received mercy and compassion. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">There was an irony that was palpable throughout the event. Where is the mercy and compassion of the Biden administration. Presently there are over 17,000 petitions in the Pardon Attorney's office asking for clemency and pardons. Additionally, the population of the the Bureau of Prisons has increased every year of the Biden Administration. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The time for action is now. </span></p><p>https://www.justice.gov/opa/video/case-second-chances-conversation-about-criminal-justice-collateral-consequences-and</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-4327122839873164082023-07-18T14:02:00.005-07:002023-07-18T14:06:59.094-07:00WHERE IS BIDEN'S MERCY?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYLztBZ7FCENiXvzLz4p_HJ3bHgU-NdZ-Qn7XG57Wr83Ya1qSYpKR8YIRha7xdv_wTfzl1mWF1qUTUgfacgvQEQfjk4_ojPHxnu2r7821pDSKToKgm661Q1iph4_fV1WC0z6vJ5FTjhyaU_NRSJQp0Jt0u-IRu8Po1Iqmdy50P5OkiVHtB9k1o5CBMjJg/s1060/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31%20-%20Copy%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1060" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYLztBZ7FCENiXvzLz4p_HJ3bHgU-NdZ-Qn7XG57Wr83Ya1qSYpKR8YIRha7xdv_wTfzl1mWF1qUTUgfacgvQEQfjk4_ojPHxnu2r7821pDSKToKgm661Q1iph4_fV1WC0z6vJ5FTjhyaU_NRSJQp0Jt0u-IRu8Po1Iqmdy50P5OkiVHtB9k1o5CBMjJg/w152-h155/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31%20-%20Copy%20(2).JPG" width="152" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The best way to evaluate the state of mercy and
compassion in our criminal justice system is to look at the number of people
who are incarcerated. I will look at
this from the perspective of people incarcerated in <b>Federal Prison</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is an abundance of commentary and literature
comparing the level of mercy by presidential administration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which administration was most responsible for
sentencing reform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>This is an attempt
to look at the prison population of various administrations.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">During the Nixon administration the number of people
in Federal Prison was around <b>25,000.</b> It
remained there throughout the Ford and Carter administration. In the 1980s the federal prison population began to rise and did not stop till the 5th year of the Obama administration when it reached over <b>219,000</b>. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The question that should be asked is – was
there less crime or was the criminal code simpler and more straight
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The implications are obvious,
the criminal justice system is a very large part of the national budget. This
discussion has nothing to do with interpretation of the law or case law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's about the expansion of the criminal justice system and the impact it has had on freedom. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is about the governments power to take freedom and
assets from citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is about an
expansion of government expenditures, it is about a larger and larger per cent of
the population being paid to arrest, investigate, prosecute and house citizens
for breaking the law, paying enormous amounts to multiple industries that now
depend on government contracts that supply the BOP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It is about the expansion of the criminal code. </span>It is about nonviolent people who find
themselves in an 8x10 cell for decades that has cost tax payers billions of
dollars.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">To be continued.</span></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-3086320804851091512023-04-23T14:33:00.002-07:002023-04-29T10:16:06.090-07:00THE PARDON ATTORNEY AND SECOND CHANCES <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMVc2dQjwBWHyxhtv7KpCU2bzytf4_2UiR3sWaM1-F34-6DIAptEgmd6aq8OFAIf5M7zAU2N7WnWqcrskJ3mbJewRTQPndsFMyilgYNNBoWcQeyv2kMevldQqbayW0FZdLA2wVE31zySyw1Q-Mlqsa_Q7scELhHbTvAiBW82U5VGVOH5slfce2GZtOw/s1060/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31%20-%20Copy%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1060" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMVc2dQjwBWHyxhtv7KpCU2bzytf4_2UiR3sWaM1-F34-6DIAptEgmd6aq8OFAIf5M7zAU2N7WnWqcrskJ3mbJewRTQPndsFMyilgYNNBoWcQeyv2kMevldQqbayW0FZdLA2wVE31zySyw1Q-Mlqsa_Q7scELhHbTvAiBW82U5VGVOH5slfce2GZtOw/w101-h111/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31%20-%20Copy%20(2).JPG" width="101" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;">There are <b>14,039 commutation petitions</b> waiting in the pardon attorney's office</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">. There are <b>3,557 petitions for pardons</b> waiting for the president's signature. This means over <b>17,000 </b>people are waiting for the compassion and mercy of the Biden Administration. Granting pardons to people who have never been incarcerated and clemency to those already on home confinement is not bold and is not mercy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is true that President Biden made a pardon announcement for 6,000 people with charges of marijuana possession only. It needs to be noted that this announcement of Pardon's did <b>not release one person from Federal Prison. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">He also granted commutations to around 80 people. Most all of these people had previously been released to home confinement.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Since the end of 2020 the federal prison population has been steadily increasing and now there are over 159,000 people in the BOP. Where are the grants of clemency to people who are actually living behind bars?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">This is from Doug Berman's blog - <u><a href="https://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_law_and_policy/2023/04/office-of-the-pardon-attorney-hostong-a-celebration-of-second-chance-in-honor-of-second-chance-month.html#comments" target="_blank"><b>Sentencing Law and Policy</b></a></u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"> A helpful reader altered me to an event, called "A Celebration of Second Chances," that the Office of the Pardon Attorney is hosting in honor of Second Chance month. This program will be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XMAUg5B2h0" style="color: #336699;" target="_blank"><b>livestreamed at this link</b></a> tomorrow, Friday, April 21, 2023, at 10:00 am EDT. The email I received flagging the celebration event described it this way: </span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">The event will feature opening remarks by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and a panel of speakers who will discuss the impact of second chances through clemency. Speakers will include Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite, Jr., former Deputy Attorney General David Ogden, and the Honorable Alexander Williams, Jr., and clemency recipients Danielle Metz, Norman Brown, and Evans Ray. The event will also honor special guests who have received clemency from President Biden and his predecessors or who have received other forms of second-chance relief.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-66134335784617852842023-01-25T09:36:00.003-08:002023-01-25T09:39:12.783-08:00BIDEN'S PARDONS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFeW1e66u3NumMx20ktDjf4oc2ndeTwS0mWdM8Rp7trS1-fqV4ktm7Xlysgc8j0Ba3fVA5uHgqAZ9bjQnLbshur_Ibljc9PABHL-GGuPAnpus1rU2v7hch3Po37N0InOO62rCvvPfyD7CzZggfyyX-cTa8P94U1jY4L5Nu3K6QSMRjJ1cum_4nsqjFw/s1060/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31%20-%20Copy%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1060" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFeW1e66u3NumMx20ktDjf4oc2ndeTwS0mWdM8Rp7trS1-fqV4ktm7Xlysgc8j0Ba3fVA5uHgqAZ9bjQnLbshur_Ibljc9PABHL-GGuPAnpus1rU2v7hch3Po37N0InOO62rCvvPfyD7CzZggfyyX-cTa8P94U1jY4L5Nu3K6QSMRjJ1cum_4nsqjFw/w123-h130/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31%20-%20Copy%20(2).JPG" width="123" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>PARDONS THAT RELEASE NO ONE FROM PRISON ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE TO ANYONE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's time for President Biden to act on his promise. That would be granting the pardons he announced. In the interest of mercy, compassion and integrity he needs to grant clemency to all nonviolent marijuana offenders serving egregious sentences in Federal Prison. This should be an easy call. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1a18; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 0pt 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's time for the Department of Justice to deliver the pardon certificates that President Biden promised last fall.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1a18; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 0pt 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1a18; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 0pt 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The President announced the issuance of marijuana-specific pardons on October 6, 2022 as part of a widely supported set of actions recognizing the folly of federal cannabis prohibition. </span><a href="https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/c511-KAjM3jU_4OIFtitbcInXQpp2_eqy7p7bfqNRZARZmT6HLW4RvJ8XI2QR-Y5JDItFaWkGDv6cxobcT_49Rq0LQ22jDFInZ24HFwNfSp91G19prUluIEY95VN78WF4DWGvUclKTXK8A7UKZpW2ITVqNkMZpyA881paE0dvOljZAqirAbMykCXHCv4stj5vA5HZoApJc9__a-7c9lX97Z7H1SJ3VKwH8WRvkvdSvAyG-8_gydIuvB5gsoJI4Q2D2cO46IS6Cmvcb1PFA3sboxr8_TopIGkTpLwuXb2HQV3XhUlV9_imLo1tNSB0dTszOwkQp1zPOxP-LLkuXbZpWDtz6DF6_JN9QwhPHXfClFCXbXrCqnJJZifwWNRzcP1k-aXRb5JJ2O8nVtlqmIMoUAOJ8udY5xNblipX6gM_-YKTYziE0gARpcG1hIKb0haGfKfCRVFt6N2SijiMm2ayo0QRtIPV5GLq4DBqDs9652D29iHkRhE5QPCljkSbrep/3t5/Hskujr1vRqmIHMfehoUsJQ/h1/hIYAvEq_A_YMnaYlFi4DSasd89dnPQNaHN_5sVvLG8I" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #308a42; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thousands of people</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with federal criminal records for simple marijuana possession are eligible for a pardon that would help them obtain employment, housing, education, and more.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1a18; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 0pt 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1a18; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 0pt 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, more than three months later, the </span><a href="https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/atcYNHk4Eh2YdGnwBh-YDIpVWmZP7A1_BuD6xGLqRieICDPtPmFhvY8Q9WA1yV2HmX0DyYpVrAtzcmDTk5gUe4Dw0EFrQNe7tXi7Uj42IRaQckoICffX0NUrRE3J3QRazlBZczikUuTvUFbX5ApMcCbr3mnx8bDppz5HV2zTOvFs-49JXHwwhm6jiKalKKguOIBWDw2JFOyQJrHf1fSX0y5WLxEXu2myuwNMFye4HNE7v_RBCfbWb6UIPVk2Q7qQ4RSOMkX5Obu80K_9Y8cD5_KALQv0PetwsxyytDuA0DQInTdVRt9FssRVCjFHUHTv9cI9Zk_fsG_0nQk4FTt_bw/3t5/Hskujr1vRqmIHMfehoUsJQ/h2/GCIMIGcSkHIa0cV3Kr_UylC7k2qHaZtacCYG5VBb8_U" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #308a42; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Department of Justice</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> pardon website indicates that the applications to obtain a pardon certificate are still unavailable.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1a18; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 0pt 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1a18; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.6px; margin: 0pt 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 19.6px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/343079?.lang=en-US" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Norml's discussion of this Presidential authority. </span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-5211975075532162412023-01-19T10:05:00.002-08:002023-01-19T10:13:31.636-08:00RULE OF LAW - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">I wrote this many years ago and put it on the web site for my brother, <a href="http://www.johnknock.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0051ff;">John Knock</span></a>. I just came across it and decided that my feelings about the sentiment are the same. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki_Ov2KjeuYSdZXrLxZlZwBGbzxpLJny_OLMhRlgTy7RLBBzF5-2HLGFA3WzC4jYQGzh-8Y0f5Yb95mQWPMStTHoMIa8AQHOgzNtqWbZKpb5O8j7WMxfm8uLPOngvGfwGOfZeCF0w-fd01d9WB1osWMRJbCw_sXgQAwmZJJGiwHsUn8QX7B9vV6ghhw/s1012/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki_Ov2KjeuYSdZXrLxZlZwBGbzxpLJny_OLMhRlgTy7RLBBzF5-2HLGFA3WzC4jYQGzh-8Y0f5Yb95mQWPMStTHoMIa8AQHOgzNtqWbZKpb5O8j7WMxfm8uLPOngvGfwGOfZeCF0w-fd01d9WB1osWMRJbCw_sXgQAwmZJJGiwHsUn8QX7B9vV6ghhw/w134-h178/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" width="134" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">In 1965, I was an idealistic graduate student. It was an
exciting time with Michael Harrington's culture of poverty, the beginning of
the Welfare Rights Movement, the civil Rights Movement and the dark cloud of
Viet Nam as a back drop. The rights of the individual were magnified by these
MOVEMENTS AND CHILDREN OF THE 60S looked to the Federal Government to define,
bestow and preserve the same. An activist court was cheered and legislation to
regulate human behavior was warmly welcomed. Bobby Kennedy's pursuit of the
scoundrels of organized crime would remove a cancer from our country. Rico,
conspiracy and mandatory minimums were on their way.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">
<br />
Forty years later I still strive to understand the individual's relationship to
the state and how there can be a relationship that maintains freedom through
the "Rule of Law". Waves of nausea now overcome me when I hear the
phrase.<br />
<br />
We now have one in every 30 citizens interfacing with the criminal justice
complex. Rural communities hope there will be a need for more prisons and vie
for them to be built in their community. Prisons are considered economic
development. Many federal, State and Local Government jobs are dependent on the
growth of our prison population. As more and more men and women are interfacing
with the court system, the rule of law is a labyrinth of conflict and
contradiction.<br />
<br />
This contract between the governed and the state becomes unfathomable. Just as
unfathomable is some consensus about what individual rights are. Case law piles
on in volumes, and contradictory and minutely parsed decisions leave defendants
without a clear understanding of process. Additionally they are required to use
the services of an army of attorneys and advocates of various abilities and
ethics. The financial resources of their families are sucked into the black
hole of our criminal justice system.<br />
<br />
If forfeitable assets are part of the bounty of the state, defense attorneys
must defend their clients by walking on eggs, fearful that they may also be
prosecuted. This further compromises the rights of the defendant. Many
defendants must make plea agreements to things they knew little or nothing
about because they have no resources. Even those with ample resources plea to
avoid the almost certain conviction, and harsher sentence. Grand Juries are now
used to investigate, rather than to decide if there is probable cause to
indict.<br />
<br />
Split decisions with carefully parsed nuances send hopes and money into this
abys.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">It must
be noted that each individual caught in this web has children, parents,
brothers and sisters who love them and are also disillusioned, confounded, and
perhaps bitter about resources expended on a system that is so confounding yet
has the power to take away the future of so many families.<br />
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">How did
we become so fearful of freedom that we have insisted on laws that criminalize
so much human behavior and even thought? We now routinely convict people of
crimes that never took place, in places the defendant has never been, with
people they do not know and incidentally, the criminal act was instigated by
law enforcement. The rest of the world disdains us and developing countries
reject our rule of law. We investigate people who have not broken the law to
prevent lawlessness. Our law enforcement is becoming lawless. Our rule of law
is too voluminous and therefore arbitrary. Even the language, War on Crime,
belies the rule of law. Our justice system uses the metaphors of war, and the
object is the citizens whose part of the covenant is to give consent.<br />
<br />
Brilliant trial and appellate attorneys arguing cases and judges deciding them
are thrilling to read and even more so to watch. Their memory and critical
thought is as sharp and shining as a mirror shattering. To me it is also as
frightening as it would be to walk bare foot across the broken glass.<br />
<br />
As I watch Justice Bryer and Justice Scalia have conversations about decisions
and interpretations, I long for something more absolute. Something more
absolute would-be language that is clear, simple and true. How can a man's life
and liberty depend on nuances culled from thousands and thousands of pages of
case law with the reasonable possibility of a single sentence or concept on one
of those pages becoming determinative. Too much law turns "Rule of
Law" into rule of men.<br />
<br />
What would Aristotle think of our rule of law? What would our founding fathers
see? We have constant imposition and enforcement of arbitrary and restrictive
values imposed on us by an over active legislative branch. These are
interpreted and judged by a judiciary system that seems to be well aware of the
fact that the governed can no longer know the rules of the covenant they are
part of. I just fear for our freedoms.<br />
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">I know
there is logic and order in the process, but the sheer magnitude and complexity
of the possibilities invites subjectivity.<br />
<br />
Beth Cutis</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-86263570291593211962022-12-16T11:25:00.013-08:002022-12-22T10:40:37.765-08:00VALUABLE PRO BONO LEGAL REPRESENTATION<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTY__na9GDt2BJhvvCHRyYxzHR0r-nI8uWLOe6SY5JybnEaRSkXIAZjz2jPbWJleRdE25pRH_4lw7ce75boczbG7M81eusC6FLSNX707OUy90pM3gWN80mADyQqzxUYbDIHUyagrQqhBVYU--fHCPcy7MeYgR6wZBSnViuOCizqpVKCm2TPyrsLszNQ/s1012/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTY__na9GDt2BJhvvCHRyYxzHR0r-nI8uWLOe6SY5JybnEaRSkXIAZjz2jPbWJleRdE25pRH_4lw7ce75boczbG7M81eusC6FLSNX707OUy90pM3gWN80mADyQqzxUYbDIHUyagrQqhBVYU--fHCPcy7MeYgR6wZBSnViuOCizqpVKCm2TPyrsLszNQ/w90-h120/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" width="90" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is a reminder that PERFECT should not be the enemy of THE GOOD</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A perfect Clemency Petition that is not at the Pardon Attorney's office and/or the White House will not be granted.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">A prisoner whose clemency petition is not at the White House and / or the DOJ when the President decides to grant clemencies will not receive clemency no matter how worthy a candidate he or she is. </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Many of the nonviolent marijuana prisoners serving life for pot and other egregious sentences have been released through clemency and compassionate release. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How does clemency happen? Clemency is simply an act of mercy and compassion exercised by the President. It can be granted to anyone for any reason at any time, however it is generally granted in spurts and sometimes for a specific category of inmate. At the present time, the category of nonviolent marijuana offenders is a perfect category for this compassionate act by President Biden. This is not just the opinion of Life for Pot, but is also a category supported by many groups of Americans lobbying for sentencing relief. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As we have previously discussed - it is the Elephant in the Room. Pro Bono attorneys have been solicited to assist nonviolent marijuana offenders with their clemency petitions. Law firms that provide Pro Bono attorneys do so to fulfill a stated value of social responsibility and receive recognition for this valuable service to their community. It is admirable and provides a service that would be denied to a large number of vulnerable people.<br /></span></span></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We salute them. There is however a problem that sometimes raises it's disturbing head. That is that pro bono work is sometimes put off past the deadline for asking for sentencing relief. In order to actually receive clemency, the person must have a clemency petition somewhere at the DOJ or the White House. </span></span></span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">That is the only way clemency will be granted when an administration decides to exercise this very important function. <b>If there is no petition or request, there is no clemency granted. </b></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">As readers may know, Life for Pot does not believe that any nonviolent marijuana offenders should be incarcerated as the reason for this sentence has long been mute. This sentence is based on marijuana being scheduled as a drug more dangerous than oxycontin and fentanyl. The fact that marijuana is legal to some degree in the majority of states and that legislators are receiving tens of millions of lobbying dollars from the marijuana industry makes these sentences particularly obscene. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">During the Obama administration a clemency initiative was instituted called CP - 14. Pro Bono Attorney's were recruited and were assigned inmates who fit the criteria that had been established by the administration. Of course there was a deadline that had to be met for clemency petitions to be considered. This was very important and at the end of CP - 14 around 1,700 inmates were granted clemency. Around 66 of those were nonviolent marijuana offenders and 11 were nonviolent marijuana offenders with life sentences. This was far short of the hoped for number. Tragically, there were nonviolent marijuana inmates whose petitions had not been completed by their assigned pro bono attorney's. Pro bono work is sometimes not considered a priority. We are hopeful that clemency petitions for these inmates will be completed before this president decides to grant mercy and compassion to this category. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Again we are hopeful for clemency for marijuana inmates - and especially those serving life sentences. This sentence means that they will live in a cage with a concrete floor until death. It is not a sentence that should be given for a substance that is legal to some degree in most states. It is not a sentence that should be given in a country that claims to have a fair and just legal system </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-58973137912438411282022-10-20T19:40:00.002-07:002022-10-20T19:49:26.034-07:00<p> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 184.9pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">LIFE FOR POT
http://www.lifeforpot.com<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 184.9pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">THESE PEOPLE WERE ALL
SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR NONVIOLENT MARIJUANA OFFENCES</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 184.9pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3iUHeyqHOvycwty4wITSSgyt6-ABgQ9yuDXDICaxdsCZORp4XGF4NznZixtKZxo8I8Zjt-NIRzWUXFDJZ_1hJjOmIcj-EdeoDPl_bl8_y9mER2Kyg32OYLhk_PSKxkB9VB0SYALy4hRORs240TU7p45AwUVzMUW-vd_gM9OQOjb2NkeCDrW2LcGkeA/s1050/COLLAGE%202018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1050" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3iUHeyqHOvycwty4wITSSgyt6-ABgQ9yuDXDICaxdsCZORp4XGF4NznZixtKZxo8I8Zjt-NIRzWUXFDJZ_1hJjOmIcj-EdeoDPl_bl8_y9mER2Kyg32OYLhk_PSKxkB9VB0SYALy4hRORs240TU7p45AwUVzMUW-vd_gM9OQOjb2NkeCDrW2LcGkeA/w402-h288/COLLAGE%202018.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><a name="_Hlk116823066"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></a><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 184.9pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk116823066;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk116823066;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Life for Pot has not received any donations or financial
support from:</span></span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-large; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Government Agencies, Educational Institutions, Advocacy Groups,
Foundations or the Cannabis Industry.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We are Free to Rant</span><o:p style="font-size: 18pt;"></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt;">The criminal justice system and the
cannabis industry will not have integrity as long as nonviolent marijuana
offenders are still serving egregious sentences for cannabis. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Scrolling through social
media each morning has become uncomfortable, disturbing and dare I say
enraging. Algorithms have found my niche
and feed me their hook.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">There are the usual legal
and sentencing feeds. Next come the more hopeful advocacy sites and champions
for freedom. Ultimately the cannabis
industry research, ads and promotions speak their newfound voice imploring me
to buy, promote, invest and lobby for their investment. This niche of social
media now asks for lobbying to oil the skids for a business plan. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">My mind quickly shifts to
<b>Hector McGurk, Ismael Lira, Pedro Moreno and Parker Coleman. </b> These are four individuals – and there are
many more – who are destined to die in Federal Prison for a nonviolent
marijuana only offense; how does this compute?
Not one nonviolent marijuana
offender in Federal Prison will be released by Biden’s recent announcement
about pardoning simple marijuana possession.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">They will not receive
freedom from bills that ask for expungement of records for marijuana offenses
for those already released. They will
not be released by bills that request that they are able to go back to the
court. <a name="_Hlk108610589">They need
clemency as a category from President Biden.
</a>Perhaps they will have some relief if Congress puts language in a
bill that retroactively reduces their sentence, but the process will be
messy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">My runway is short, and I
know the landscape has changed in the last 30 years. In 1994 my brother, John Knock, was indicted
for a marijuana conspiracy. It was
nonviolent and he was a first-time offender. Although there were no victims and
there was not a single physical piece of marijuana presented as evidence, in
2000 he was sentenced to two life terms plus twenty years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I immediately began
looking for other nonviolent marijuana only offenders who were labeled
“marijuana kingpins” and were given life without parole. In the late 80s there were a few, but these
sentences began to soar in the 90s.
After the 1994 Clinton Crime Bill there were many. This bill was 365 pages long and included
money for 100,000 more police and almost 10 billion dollars for more
prisons. They had to be filled. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2008 John’s appeals
had all been denied and I began contacting the people in prison who fit the
criteria of nonviolent marijuana only serving life without parole. I put their stories on a web site Life for
Pot. There were many – <b>John Knock,
Larry Duke, Eugene Fischer, Paul Free, Randy Lanier, Billy Dekle, Leopoldo
Hernandez-Miranda, Charles Cundiff </b>and the list goes on. There were also people in State Prisons like <b>Jeff
Mizanskey</b> and <b>Richard DeLisi</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I needed to advocate for
the category: marijuana only with no
violent charges. The web site went up
and I received messages that I was wrong, they could not be nonviolent
marijuana only. Everyone believed there
was a dead body somewhere. Other
messages from sentencing reform advocates said that the category was too exclusive. Others objected to the words pot and
marijuana. I was told that I should only
refer to it as cannabis. I responded:
“If you are locked in an 8X10 cage with another person you don’t care what it
is called.” They know the strength of
the current and it is not language. Watching this evolution of the legal
cannabis business while serving life without parole and other egregious
sentences for the same product has to enrage you. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve purchased cannabis
stocks and watched as they thrive and also disappear. Tens of millions of dollars are spent
lobbying for the industry and protecting the turf that is the product – medical
and recreational. Lobbyists for the industry can be found in the halls of
Congressional Office Buildings hoping to help craft the hundreds of bills that
are introduced<b>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Congress and advocacy groups have selected many
categories for advocating and legislating sentencing relief e.g., crack cocaine
disparity, juveniles, women, disadvantaged minorities etc. but the category of
marijuana has not been addressed. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Beth Curtis MSW<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Life for Pot </span></b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.lifeforpot.com/"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">http://www.lifeforpot.com</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"> http://lifeforpot.blogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></p><p></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-7039995081533226602022-08-28T11:44:00.002-07:002022-08-28T11:51:19.771-07:00Time in Cell<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU6DGqkVf3DSt_2nynpqmfMnLWmO1JrEw3pu0NChzrW3rXHZ3oDF2Bu4GhVU0vAkgrrRZoomO6gR8TABEwAPoX_8mrK7SKH-RPVcGnNDH4NPuUHR4jM1ogNk2XgK4ALp0XWIJyxDUiJw3xzVGoi8FqHwc9Zo1qZ_RkD91JPHEu3q2C07G8L99agO2tA/s1012/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU6DGqkVf3DSt_2nynpqmfMnLWmO1JrEw3pu0NChzrW3rXHZ3oDF2Bu4GhVU0vAkgrrRZoomO6gR8TABEwAPoX_8mrK7SKH-RPVcGnNDH4NPuUHR4jM1ogNk2XgK4ALp0XWIJyxDUiJw3xzVGoi8FqHwc9Zo1qZ_RkD91JPHEu3q2C07G8L99agO2tA/w120-h147/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" width="120" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_law_and_policy/2022/08/latest-time-in-cell-.html#comments" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">This post Time in Cell is from Douglas Berman's Blog Sentencing Law and Policy. It is worth the read. </span></a></p><h3 style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 204, 51); line-height: 20.7px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 3px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Latest "Time-in-Cell" report estimates that, as of July 2021, "between 41,000 and 48,000 people were held in isolation in U.S. prison cells"</span></h3><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="dcr-xry7m2" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">In a <a data-link-name="in body link" href="http://law.yale.edu/liman/solitary" style="color: #336699;">new report</a> spearheaded by Yale Law School, the number of prisoners subjected to “restrictive housing”, as solitary is officially known, stood at between 41,000 and 48,000 in the summer of 2021. They were being held alone in cells the size of parking spaces, for 22 hours a day on average and for at least 15 days.</span></p><p class="dcr-xry7m2" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Within that number, more than 6,000 prisoners have been held in isolation for over a year. They include almost a thousand people who have been <a href="https://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_law_and_policy/2022/08/latest-time-in-cell-.html#comments" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">held on their own in potentially damaging confined spaces for a decade or longer....</span></a></span></p><p class="dcr-xry7m2" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /></p><p class="dcr-xry7m2" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">When I saw this report I immediately thought of the nonviolent marijuana offenders I have known who have been sent to the SHU over the years. The reasons always seemed capricious and random. I have heard some say that it was a relief to be taken to a place where there was no danger -they would be alone and safe. This feeling only lasted for a short period of time. Having cold food passed into your cell was always a drawback as well as not being unable to see the sun or exercise. There was some comfort in not being confined in an 8X10 cell with another human being. Regular cells are essentially a bathroom as they contain a toilet. </span></p><p class="dcr-xry7m2" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">I was introduced to this isolation years ago when John Knock was kept in isolation for the year prior to his trial. In order to do this, it was necessary to claim that there was no space in a federal facility to hold him. A county jail was the facility that was chosen. They could set their own rules. Those rules were that he would be held in a cell with a board over the window. There was limited reading material and the temperature was set on an uncomfortable cool. He was awakened every two hours with a flash light shining in his face. Calories were limited. </span></p><p class="dcr-xry7m2" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Although all his family lived hundreds of miles away, visits had to be approved at the beginning of each shift. This meant that family had to travel hundreds of miles and then call to see if they could visit. The jail could then say no not on that shift - call back in 8 hours. If they were fortunate enough to be approved for a visit - it lasted 15 minutes. There was not a visiting room. Family sat in front of Plexiglas, there was a 4 inch slit at the bottom so it was necessary to bend over to talk. John was brought in to sit on the other side. His hands were shackled to a chain around his waist. His feet were shackled so he could only shuffle. Throughout the visit an armed guard stood behind him. He still had a smile on his face. </span></p></div>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-67353656925795509232022-05-15T10:57:00.001-07:002022-05-15T10:57:37.142-07:00MARIJUANA LAW AND POLICY - Douglas Berman<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIiQGvRh2iCNcHFUD4RjiXvtwROT2e3810JAvwrC4Qxf4r4cTviWO7sGoRveo2JP4AqUenXqGSkK5uwvuOe6BB7EaHr8xkV8UHOTXyl1_APFDHynmg9bazD3Mey3oSsDEtW0vkuK8ZrlB3c7bbV0GN9tErPrYj6DfkCi4RrxA37AxUpCLdU3r68iwFQ/s1012/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIiQGvRh2iCNcHFUD4RjiXvtwROT2e3810JAvwrC4Qxf4r4cTviWO7sGoRveo2JP4AqUenXqGSkK5uwvuOe6BB7EaHr8xkV8UHOTXyl1_APFDHynmg9bazD3Mey3oSsDEtW0vkuK8ZrlB3c7bbV0GN9tErPrYj6DfkCi4RrxA37AxUpCLdU3r68iwFQ/w104-h137/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" width="104" /></a> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/2022/05/let-it-grow-why-more-law-schools-should-teach-cannabis-law.html" target="_blank">This is from the Blog - Marijuana Law and Policy Reform. It is worth a read.</a> </span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">California’s 1996 ballot initiative protecting medical marijuana users from state criminal prosecution kicked off the modern marijuana reform era in the United States. In part due to federal prohibition, state medical marijuana laws prompted an array of interesting and intricate legal questions. Some issues concerned the reach of federal law after state reforms. Could doctors be punished by federal authorities for recommending marijuana to patients consistent with state law? </span></span></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p></blockquote>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-29975873728045007542022-04-18T11:27:00.003-07:002022-04-18T13:15:37.344-07:00Life for Pot <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-1NVvqn8p92mdM7z3uW3uCxs5RmLU49kiyqtXX3wTDnWzEdXI8MBOpqYK9IkUgp_2Pygai8wkvgKnYqn_TSi-qRjhyBVG104U0qPz8pBuS3w12M9H6HXOOEuZ6-liPEqzMG7liQdxlLrpA7dwuFmqr-I6uLkhJ4HXMT7caF0gI6v9P0qRvrUHCgE8A/s1012/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-1NVvqn8p92mdM7z3uW3uCxs5RmLU49kiyqtXX3wTDnWzEdXI8MBOpqYK9IkUgp_2Pygai8wkvgKnYqn_TSi-qRjhyBVG104U0qPz8pBuS3w12M9H6HXOOEuZ6-liPEqzMG7liQdxlLrpA7dwuFmqr-I6uLkhJ4HXMT7caF0gI6v9P0qRvrUHCgE8A/w117-h156/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" width="117" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Thank you Eiliana Wright </b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="et_post_meta_wrapper" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">A Love Story: Beth Curtis, the Mother Theresa of Marijuana and the hidden gem of Zanesville, Ohio</h1><p class="post-meta" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="published" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Apr 15, 2022</span> | <span class="comments-number" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.harmreductionohio.org/mother-theresa-of-marijuana-beth-curtis-the-hidden-gem-of-zanesville-ohio/#respond" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">0 comments</a></span></p></div><div class="entry-content" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="et-l et-l--post" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="et_builder_inner_content et_pb_gutters3" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 1;"><div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_0 et_section_regular et_pb_section_first" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: initial; background-size: cover; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_0" style="background: 50% 50% / cover no-repeat transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: auto; max-width: 1080px; outline: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 672.911px;"><div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_0 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child" style="background: 50% 50% / cover no-repeat transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; mix-blend-mode: unset; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 672.911px; z-index: 2;"><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light" style="animation-duration: 0.2s; animation-timing-function: linear; background: 50% 50% / cover no-repeat transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="et_pb_text_inner" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><h4 style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Read about a life well-lived…</span></h4><h4 style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">…and an unexpected romance.</span></h4><h6 style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">BONUS: At bottom of story, meet some of the people she helped free from life sentences for marijuana.</span></h6></div></div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_0" style="animation-duration: 0.2s; animation-timing-function: linear; background: 50% 50% / cover no-repeat transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px auto 30px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="et_pb_image_wrap" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-22982" height="1707" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" src="https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-scaled.jpeg" srcset="https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-1080x720.jpeg 1080w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-1280x854.jpeg 1280w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-980x653.jpeg 980w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-480x320.jpeg 480w, https://www.harmreductionohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beth-Curtis-on-porch-600x400.jpeg 600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" title="Beth Curtis on porch" width="2560" /></span></div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light" style="animation-duration: 0.2s; animation-timing-function: linear; background: 50% 50% / cover no-repeat transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="et_pb_text_inner" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">By Eiliana Wright</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Harm Reduction Ohio Journalism Intern</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Denison University ’22</span></span></p><p style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">E</span>very year, during each national holiday</span>, Beth Curtis of Zanesville, Ohio, places a stack of cards on her otherwise cluttered work desk. On the front of each card are photos of people who have been sentenced to a life in prison for marijuana.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The addresses on the envelopes belong to senators, state representatives and lobbyists that Curtis wants to nudge towards the goal of marijuana legalization and lowered marijuana sentences.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Curtis, now 80, and founder of the national advocacy group <a href="https://www.lifeforpot.com/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #edb059; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Life for Pot</a>, has been working from her home in Zanesville for 28 years with the mission to set marijuana lifers free. In that time, the “Mother Theresa of Pot Prisoners” has had success in helping to free more than 25 previously incarcerated marijuana offenders. While she’s undoubtedly changed the lives of many people, her life has also been altered in the process. Her dedication has brought both love and heartbreak through the people she’s come to know who have been at the mercy of a system plagued by hypocrisy and injustice.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Curtis’ unique strategy to bring attention to her cause is one based on love, attention to detail and persistence. She hand-addresses every envelope and uses real stamps – a task that consumes hours upon hours every year.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0c0c0c; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I know how I sort my mail—and it’s really quick. No stamped envelope? It goes straight to the trash.” She pauses and starts laughing to herself. Then, she puts her thumb and pointer finger in front of her face and twists them ever-so slightly to the right. “And… a stamp that’s slightly askew.” She burst out in laughter.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.harmreductionohio.org/mother-theresa-of-marijuana-beth-curtis-the-hidden-gem-of-zanesville-ohio/?fbclid=IwAR2_6dhIm4dKJk8-q6dRq0ghELlIGC6JeKlOzLRAinJi67bnbP2sXp0NfHw"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><b>Curtis knows that if it looks like a real letter, there’s a better chance that someone who matters will open it—and that’s worth the hours upon hours she spends doing mailings every year.</b></span></a></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.harmreductionohio.org/mother-theresa-of-marijuana-beth-curtis-the-hidden-gem-of-zanesville-ohio/?fbclid=IwAR2_6dhIm4dKJk8-q6dRq0ghELlIGC6JeKlOzLRAinJi67bnbP2sXp0NfHw"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><b>That’s the kind of person Beth Curtis is: the kind that plays the long game and is willing to persist to reach her goals. Throughout her life, she says “Whatever I did, I did it. I cared about not just drifting through.”</b></span></a></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://www.harmreductionohio.org/mother-theresa-of-marijuana-beth-curtis-the-hidden-gem-of-zanesville-ohio/?fbclid=IwAR2_6dhIm4dKJk8-q6dRq0ghELlIGC6JeKlOzLRAinJi67bnbP2sXp0NfHw">continue</a></b></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-71034143207324938472022-04-11T10:27:00.003-07:002022-04-11T10:27:32.287-07:00EDWIN RUBIS - THOUGHTS ABOUT 420<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qByUqXUvxkrSbQlL1CKN79sPwI1BcixIN4Uh8GprZmVoiXbMxWPQxQROQwCEcgV8nzHNBrMgunVOf4q7w9zidhzxmZcJd1b70gwhbmw3SI-zBXrW0jb-SD4q-m6B4acONb4bClqDY3N8676DyGKcG5RoJAQdVKB4vVwQtySV-HpjNMu_jAta9Of3Pw/s1012/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qByUqXUvxkrSbQlL1CKN79sPwI1BcixIN4Uh8GprZmVoiXbMxWPQxQROQwCEcgV8nzHNBrMgunVOf4q7w9zidhzxmZcJd1b70gwhbmw3SI-zBXrW0jb-SD4q-m6B4acONb4bClqDY3N8676DyGKcG5RoJAQdVKB4vVwQtySV-HpjNMu_jAta9Of3Pw/w129-h171/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" width="129" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Edwin Rubis is in a nonviolent person who is serving a defacto life sentence for a nonviolent marijuana offence. He received the trial penalty since he did not take a plea. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypRWjJmv_k19hHpJQA83mETppsbuymw0EamVq8fwWdyHDEYqdMNh6htn7EG8EQhQ_uHd_OyGkEIfxRoPCoVuLic-i17Jitz92Vx0ve7_0siL175k0qxdkfN9TsycmIqCc12tX6khgb5YlNjI2rZBNE094hN26fTK25CzYr79Sz6M4qqC1-Ju23dlmoQ/s314/EDWIN%20RUBIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="314" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypRWjJmv_k19hHpJQA83mETppsbuymw0EamVq8fwWdyHDEYqdMNh6htn7EG8EQhQ_uHd_OyGkEIfxRoPCoVuLic-i17Jitz92Vx0ve7_0siL175k0qxdkfN9TsycmIqCc12tX6khgb5YlNjI2rZBNE094hN26fTK25CzYr79Sz6M4qqC1-Ju23dlmoQ/w183-h178/EDWIN%20RUBIS.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">4/20 - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> This year, cannabis enthusiasts will celebrate 4/20 around the world. In America, thousands will toke up with their friends in their respective states where cannabis is legal. Marijuana businesses will take advantage of the holiday to sell and market their products.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Not me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I'll be going through the same rigorous, monotonous routine I've gone through for the past 8,760 days, waking up to see fences upon fences topped with coiled razor wire and gun sentries, reminding me of the place I've been condemned to live in until God knows when. In a place where perturbed loudness and human uneasiness abound, in a place where senseless violence can explode at any moment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> True, there are many who believe I shouldn't be here for a plant that's now legal in thirty-five states and counting. The hundreds of letters I've received over the years testify of such lamentation. Yet feeling empathy for my situation, and others in the same boat, can only take you so far. Telling me, "that's a horrible thing you're going through," can only comfort me so much. Our unjust situation needs radical personal involvement. A campaign in the form of NO-PARDON-NO-VOTE aimed at President Biden in the next election, or something of the sort.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Being in prison during 4/20 frustrates me more than anything else. The government is keeping us locked up for a product that many are profiting from, including politicians. Just ask ex-speaker of the house, John Boehner, member of Acreage Holdings, a cannabis company, who would rather make a buck than advocate for congress to let us go in the name of social justice.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Many celebrating 4/20 are unaware what prison is like for me. Over the years, I've had to scrounge for funds to further my education. I've had to go without food items and toiletries from the prison commissary just to buy my college books and pay for my tuition. I've had to go without so that I could make phone calls and send e-mails to my loved ones and friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Don't get me wrong, Last Prisoner Project, FreedomGrow, MissionGreen, Cheri Sicard, and others help as much as they can (LPP bought my college books for my Masters Degree). But it's still not always enough to carry the day. A few weeks ago, I had only $.85 on my prison account, until Amy Povah and her organization deposited $150.00 This enabled me to buy food essentials in the form of pre-cooked rice, turkey sausage, tuna, oatmeal, peanut butter, dried fruit, and so forth to make my own microwaved meals. Regular prison food is unhealthy and not always so edible after eating it for over 24 years. The rest went to the phone and e-mail. Everything in prison costs money.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> So on this special day, all I can muster is a glimmer of hope and faith that someone will speak on our behalf, that someone will remember the forgotten ones, that someone will pledge and sponsor us, to ultimately bring us home to celebrate 4/20 with our friends and loved ones.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">**** Edwin Rubis is serving 40 years in federal prison for a non-violent marijuana offense.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> He has been in prison since 1998. His out-date is 2033.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> You can e mail Edwin at: edwinrubis@aol.com</span></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-13617103949998293182022-04-07T09:03:00.001-07:002022-04-07T09:10:34.503-07:00The More Act <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ8_tyeGsuFZ4MBswH9oOzyFWGAsR6imeVa8xDNZKc5ZGiWc1QSpHbOo7wriAWw7grLr_k3Rw-LX8KOsix3adcKjKAixhr4-kb7QPnd03AXBtJUO-og0wypTDaWGxSIAAbGXTM_s_ITAUHm4w5I-jO4FI5Y5OpyRr1DXAvhhn22xNvkvYPJ0cJqGZtQ/s1012/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ8_tyeGsuFZ4MBswH9oOzyFWGAsR6imeVa8xDNZKc5ZGiWc1QSpHbOo7wriAWw7grLr_k3Rw-LX8KOsix3adcKjKAixhr4-kb7QPnd03AXBtJUO-og0wypTDaWGxSIAAbGXTM_s_ITAUHm4w5I-jO4FI5Y5OpyRr1DXAvhhn22xNvkvYPJ0cJqGZtQ/w115-h157/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4%20(2).JPG" width="115" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Last night I was able to talk Craig Cesal who has been a good friend for many years,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Craig was one of the people serving life for pot who received clemency from President Trump on his last day in office, Jan. 21,2021. For someone who was suppose to die behind bars, being free is a miracle for Craig and all the other nonviolent people who were sentenced to die behind bars for a nonviolent marijuana offence.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Unfortunately, there are still people who fit this profile who did not win the lottery of clemency or compassionate release. Many are hopeful that the More Act will give them back their life. Unfortunately, the More Act falls short of this hope.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cannabis Industry and the Criminal Justice System will have no integrity as long as these people are caged until death. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The most logical way to right this excessive punishment would be presidential clemency for marijuana offenders as a category. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is Craig's piece about why the More Act may be false hope for many. <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trump-clemency-recipient-says-federal-marijuana-legalization-bill-will-leave-many-prisoners-behind/#:~:text=Craig%20Cesal%2C%20who%20is%20serving,would%20%E2%80%9Ccontinue%20to%20serve%20life"><b>Prisoners Left Behind</b></a></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-85024847947911530932022-01-25T12:16:00.001-08:002022-01-25T12:28:49.723-08:00A SANE BILL TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA - CANNABIS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw1q-_q1yYAR5n4iPV107Y2B3fH5SCQJhTacBfdV70-UjXD29jF4w08HCAdBflZnMcjOK4cNCst04t1j4dK1V0DPf0AYJOHBCjjormYQ4lHdNJrbK8bQnUmtErLDrDK_NArWwAZwGzqQFCazTccZJsAzWvnx5tQxCo-_0agW9n_LhT_M1yTvIStcoA1g=s1012" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw1q-_q1yYAR5n4iPV107Y2B3fH5SCQJhTacBfdV70-UjXD29jF4w08HCAdBflZnMcjOK4cNCst04t1j4dK1V0DPf0AYJOHBCjjormYQ4lHdNJrbK8bQnUmtErLDrDK_NArWwAZwGzqQFCazTccZJsAzWvnx5tQxCo-_0agW9n_LhT_M1yTvIStcoA1g=w130-h175" width="130" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2022/01/25/republican-congresswoman-nancy-mace-is-on-a-mission-to-legalize-cannabis-and-amazon-just-got-behindher/?fbclid=IwAR3WMfwUhxYHCzpw9GNCyqzZ6I7lzytWFGI0HsvbpIld8UTmUgbhBuldhys&sh=551e38265450"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Republican Congress Woman Nancy Mace</span> </span></b></a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Congresswoman Nancy Mace has introduced a bill to legalize marijuana that should have the support of the Cannabis Industry and Criminal Justice Reform Organizations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">It is a clean bill that has integrity and simplicity. We hope that everyone will take a look and urge Congress to consider and pass this simple sane legislation.</span></p><h2 class="subhead-embed color-accent bg-base font-accent font-size text-align" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181716; font-family: Euclid, "Noto Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Corbel, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.25; margin-block: 0px; margin: 1.2rem 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">The freshman representative from South Carolina introduced an Americans for Prosperity-endorsed bill to end federal pot prohibition and says legalization is an issue that unites America—“just like apple pie.”</span></h2><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #181716; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2rem;"><abbr class="drop-cap color-accent font-accent" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff2130; display: block; float: left; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 100px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 85px; margin-right: 12px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: center; top: 0px;">O</abbr><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">n the second floor of the Cannon House Office Building,</span> across Independence Avenue from the U.S. Capitol, Representative Nancy Mace is drinking rosé out of a can as her Havanese named Liberty—who is a very good boy, she assures—sits next to her in a leather chair. As the sun sets over The District, Mace talks about why <a aria-label="cannabis should be legal" class="color-link" data-ga-track="InternalLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2022/01/10/where-is-cannabis-legal-a-guide-to-all-50-states/?sh=5370e9e8d19b" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2022/01/10/where-is-cannabis-legal-a-guide-to-all-50-states/?sh=5370e9e8d19b" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a05ff; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2022/01/10/where-is-cannabis-legal-a-guide-to-all-50-states/?sh=5370e9e8d19b">cannabis should be legal</a>.</p><div class="article_paragraph_2" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #181716; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2rem;"></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #181716; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 1.2rem;">“There's a million reasons to end federal prohibition and the only place where this is controversial is up here,” says Mace. “It’s an enormously popular idea. America is like: ‘WTF, D.C., why have you not done this yet?’”</p><fbs-ad ad-id="article-0-top" display-called="" position="top" progressive="" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; color: #181716; display: block; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0%; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-weight: 400; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 32px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 32px; margin: 32px 0px 32px calc(50% - 50vw); min-height: 134px; overflow-x: auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 100vw; z-index: 3;"><div aria-hidden="true" class="show-label" data-google-query-id="CIT37aHbzfUCFcgSrQYdmKAOOA" id="article-0-top" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 858px;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/7175/fdc.forbes/article/premium/default/standard_2__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; width: 858px;"><iframe allow="attribution-reporting" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="Advertisement" data-google-container-id="3" data-is-safeframe="true" frameborder="0" height="0" id="google_ads_iframe_/7175/fdc.forbes/article/premium/default/standard_2" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="1-0-38;33236;<!DOCTYPE html><script id='ias-2043190777'>
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<img src="https://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-3bmCtEkzhulVU.gif?labels=_campaign.media.Advertiser%20ID.17119462.Campaign%20ID.2913365217.Line%20Item%20ID.5862657003" height="1" width="1" style="display:none;"/>{"uid":"3","hostPeerName":"https://www.forbes.com","initialGeometry":"{\"windowCoords_t\":0,\"windowCoords_r\":858,\"windowCoords_b\":543,\"windowCoords_l\":0,\"frameCoords_t\":1184.5,\"frameCoords_r\":849.5714282989502,\"frameCoords_b\":1184.5,\"frameCoords_l\":-8.428571701049805,\"styleZIndex\":\"auto\",\"allowedExpansion_t\":21.142852783203125,\"allowedExpansion_r\":0,\"allowedExpansion_b\":46.0714111328125,\"allowedExpansion_l\":0,\"xInView\":0,\"yInView\":0}","permissions":"{\"expandByOverlay\":false,\"expandByPush\":false,\"readCookie\":false,\"writeCookie\":false}","metadata":"{\"shared\":{\"sf_ver\":\"1-0-38\",\"ck_on\":1,\"flash_ver\":\"0\"}}","reportCreativeGeometry":true,"isDifferentSourceWindow":false,"goog_safeframe_hlt":{},"encryptionMode":null}" role="region" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" scrolling="no" src="https://7242105fef460d6f14ee9605161476b6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" tabindex="-1" title="Ad content" width="0"></iframe></div></div><div><div style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; width: 858px;"><br /></div></div></fbs-ad></span></div><p><br /></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-78682014617038495592021-12-23T09:41:00.006-08:002022-01-25T12:31:59.218-08:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6UpIpc_K8TTjVB9y6RrZuN1V6mzwFzo37kp_0wNfEbSGgjWdgZ3fdGplwMhtkrxat_YQ1phmReo9U551OicTg8oo6-Nh1tdk14zRMyDURRAB2RGmESN_48dHu_qwYTm7yMVEp0cDNlQ_zBXABWkY21hqbU6bZa65JwGPMGKhj8XYCmdXHY6pF7-o-qA=s1012" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6UpIpc_K8TTjVB9y6RrZuN1V6mzwFzo37kp_0wNfEbSGgjWdgZ3fdGplwMhtkrxat_YQ1phmReo9U551OicTg8oo6-Nh1tdk14zRMyDURRAB2RGmESN_48dHu_qwYTm7yMVEp0cDNlQ_zBXABWkY21hqbU6bZa65JwGPMGKhj8XYCmdXHY6pF7-o-qA=w112-h153" width="112" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">John Knock and Paul Free - Two nonviolent people who were sentenced to Life for Pot. They are among the fortunate few who received clemency - Paul from Obama and John from Trump. </span></h1><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #3c4043; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Life For Pot, The Beth Curtis Interview: Part One</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #3c4043; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Beth Curtis started Life For Pot, a foundation to grant clemency to those incarcerated for non-violent cannabis charges. Her story is one about love and justice. Her brother, John Knock was convicted to a life sentence in which Beth spent decades trying to free him of injustice and was successful after John had spent nearly 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #3c4043; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Beth Curtis, Peter Maguire, Paul Free (who also faced life in prison until his release thanks to Beth) and Rob have a long conversation about the history of the war on drugs and how hypocritical the marijuana industry became in only a matter of decades. Beth is a hero and has saved the lives of so many innocent prisoners and her story is nothing short of incredible.</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vc2lnbmFsLWZpcmUtcmFkaW8v/episode/YWIzNzVjOWUtMWU4ZS00MWMwLTkxN2EtZTIwN2Y4YmNlYjI5?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjYybjFv_j0AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ"><b>Interview with Signal Fire Radio</b></a></span></p></span></div></div><p><br /></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-51779778888374964012021-12-10T07:32:00.001-08:002021-12-10T07:32:39.215-08:00WHERE ARE BIDEN'S CLEMENCYS ?????<p> </p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgks30BrSVtmEPIUdU2Euq6UdcL5XNd75JfGUa-u2FIHy-RTQxuS-el5afFbBNz3aEDminEM8OmEjjygqJCbn56bDix1Fbo_AO1EBqrTebB36khvE8YEyl7YK89CzCHIWOkA3W6cyxEpm8WUV8V2t3d1QWoumtQ5hRcXRXp9Glyh3JFZ6cQ0v8ED5UcMA=s1012" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgks30BrSVtmEPIUdU2Euq6UdcL5XNd75JfGUa-u2FIHy-RTQxuS-el5afFbBNz3aEDminEM8OmEjjygqJCbn56bDix1Fbo_AO1EBqrTebB36khvE8YEyl7YK89CzCHIWOkA3W6cyxEpm8WUV8V2t3d1QWoumtQ5hRcXRXp9Glyh3JFZ6cQ0v8ED5UcMA=w129-h172" width="129" /></a> <span style="font-size: x-large;">It's time to end the war on marijuana.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHERE ARE BIDEN'S COMMUTATIONS ?????</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>WE'RE WAITING</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Not to kick a dead horse but we need to be honest. We're talking about commutations. We need to be honest about the data. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">During the first five years of the Obama administration the population of the Federal Prisons increased by 19,000. During his first five years he granted 1 commutation. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the end of the Obama administration he had granted 1,715 commutations. He denied 18,749 petitions for commutations, and left 11,355 petitions for the next administration. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">During the first 4 years of the Trump administration he granted 94 commutations and denied 98. There were 65 commutations granted to drug offenders. The federal prison population decreased by over 35,000</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where is President Biden's compassion and mercy? He could easily start granting commutations to all those who are presently living productive lives on home confinement with the threat of a return to federal prison hanging over their heads.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Another <u>category</u> would be all those incarcerated for marijuana. These sentences are egregious while the marijuana industry is thriving by producing and distributing the same product. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The criminal justice system and the cannabis industry will have no integrity as long as these people are caged behind bars. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-pardons-clemency-none-so-far-activists-disappointed-2021-12"><span style="font-size: x-large;">https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-pardons-clemency-none-so-far-activists-disappointed-2021-12</span></a></b></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-47347857173492513432021-10-11T08:55:00.002-07:002021-10-11T09:04:56.573-07:00Conservatives Support Criminal Justice Reform<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHcBeoilER8nDwpl7FgIW-td9vBUrJKet_z3UrktLSgOA389RmbMgRrhq3iJTHhm9RSDsb2mL_MXYGwqRWWl4_YulCmDD9LvQ-R_KxiSC0A5ybH3DOQ6Z_mTrl0jtoy5Do9REAXblksU6/s1012/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="752" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHcBeoilER8nDwpl7FgIW-td9vBUrJKet_z3UrktLSgOA389RmbMgRrhq3iJTHhm9RSDsb2mL_MXYGwqRWWl4_YulCmDD9LvQ-R_KxiSC0A5ybH3DOQ6Z_mTrl0jtoy5Do9REAXblksU6/w81-h110/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4+%25282%2529.JPG" width="81" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Opinion Piece by Mark Holden & Jason Pye<p></p><p><br /></p><h1 class="headline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 48px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; letter-spacing: -1.2px; line-height: 56px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px 48px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Holden & Pye: Trump made conservatives criminal justice reform leaders. Here's how to keep it that way</h1><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 class="sub-headline speakable" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px 48px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-conservatives-criminal-justice-reform-leaders-holden-pye?fbclid=IwAR3SvTjYVCGnP_nWKOs2PBX1KNBOPyZ5fq2yVtWJA5BTSpPTsIfRlGkBMXQ"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Conservatives need to build off Trump's successful criminal justice polices</span></a></h2>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-52639194874596042072021-10-09T09:19:00.001-07:002021-10-09T09:28:48.553-07:00WHY NOT CLEMENCY BY CATEGORY???<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHq9xw4a57t4qH1VhZcCCGLP7Zr9V6RouAjrvRNmTjNLeg4HjMmi8t4pg8culo9CDP8oQGcsWQ1PNUTiegfoXKbkcdgJvahSWRRNevUe1wZHgJvf52E82glLuVKue85Igg6VoICDvXTKrO/s1050/COLLAGE+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1050" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHq9xw4a57t4qH1VhZcCCGLP7Zr9V6RouAjrvRNmTjNLeg4HjMmi8t4pg8culo9CDP8oQGcsWQ1PNUTiegfoXKbkcdgJvahSWRRNevUe1wZHgJvf52E82glLuVKue85Igg6VoICDvXTKrO/w389-h280/COLLAGE+2018.jpg" width="389" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">WHY NOT CLEMENCY BY CATEGORY? </span></b><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>SUGGESTIONS:</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1. ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESENTLY ON HOME CONFINEMENT DUE TO THE CARES ACT</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2. ALL NONVIOLENT PEOPLE SERVING SENTENCES FOR MARIJUANA.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY WILL NOT HAVE INTEGRITY WHILE PEOPLE ARE BEHIND BARS FOR CANNABIS. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s21TfKs_ZY0JSlyyHT8BFdpdhUWTbaEFB8IMTXqXN-sfCLvzzJNClaYYOHOXoO6ngsFUN6Lt0SosIuz7nk-0EhBpdcUpMhPOBTBqCcrm4dscIFH2y1ealLdpoja_q2FxycekkQMZGJAF/s1050/COLLAGE+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1050" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s21TfKs_ZY0JSlyyHT8BFdpdhUWTbaEFB8IMTXqXN-sfCLvzzJNClaYYOHOXoO6ngsFUN6Lt0SosIuz7nk-0EhBpdcUpMhPOBTBqCcrm4dscIFH2y1ealLdpoja_q2FxycekkQMZGJAF/w358-h263/COLLAGE+2018.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-5649851986608686282021-07-17T10:30:00.003-07:002021-07-17T10:42:03.789-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s21TfKs_ZY0JSlyyHT8BFdpdhUWTbaEFB8IMTXqXN-sfCLvzzJNClaYYOHOXoO6ngsFUN6Lt0SosIuz7nk-0EhBpdcUpMhPOBTBqCcrm4dscIFH2y1ealLdpoja_q2FxycekkQMZGJAF/s1050/COLLAGE+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s21TfKs_ZY0JSlyyHT8BFdpdhUWTbaEFB8IMTXqXN-sfCLvzzJNClaYYOHOXoO6ngsFUN6Lt0SosIuz7nk-0EhBpdcUpMhPOBTBqCcrm4dscIFH2y1ealLdpoja_q2FxycekkQMZGJAF/s320/COLLAGE+2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_law_and_policy/2021/07/federal-prison-population-starting-to-grow-again-as-we-approach-six-months-into-biden-administration.html#comments"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Important data on Douglas Berman's Blog Sentencing Law and Polic</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">y</span></b></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The population of the federal prison system speaks to the administrations commitment to sentencing reform. So far it falls far short of the promises of mercy and compassion. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-6304697202912002062021-06-11T08:48:00.000-07:002021-06-11T08:48:32.475-07:00A SECOND LOOK AT THE MORE ACT - WHO WON'T BE HELPED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHq9xw4a57t4qH1VhZcCCGLP7Zr9V6RouAjrvRNmTjNLeg4HjMmi8t4pg8culo9CDP8oQGcsWQ1PNUTiegfoXKbkcdgJvahSWRRNevUe1wZHgJvf52E82glLuVKue85Igg6VoICDvXTKrO/s1050/COLLAGE+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHq9xw4a57t4qH1VhZcCCGLP7Zr9V6RouAjrvRNmTjNLeg4HjMmi8t4pg8culo9CDP8oQGcsWQ1PNUTiegfoXKbkcdgJvahSWRRNevUe1wZHgJvf52E82glLuVKue85Igg6VoICDvXTKrO/s320/COLLAGE+2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kyle Jaeger recently wrote a piece for Marijuana Moment:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Trump Clemency Recipient Says Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill Will Leave Many Prisoners Behind</b>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "pt serif", sans-serif; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Advocates are eager for a House vote on a <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bill-to-federally-legalize-marijuana-reintroduced-in-congress-as-senate-prepares-separate-measure/" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(51, 204, 153) 0px -4px 0px inset; color: black; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">recently reintroduced bill to federally legalize marijuana</a>—but some others are sounding the alarm about provisions related to resentencing that might not help to repair the harms of the war on drugs in the way lawmakers are aiming for.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "pt serif", sans-serif; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), would remove cannabis from the list of federally controlled substances. But it also has a concerted focus on social equity, which includes providing for resentencing for people convicted over certain federal marijuana offenses.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "pt serif", sans-serif; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">To many advocates and legislators, there’s a necessity to couple legalization with equity. And that’s what the resentencing language, along with other provisions, is supposed to achieve. But in a letter to congressional lawmakers, a pro-reform individual who received clemency for a cannabis conviction from President Donald Trump warned that the bill, as written, would not have the impact that the sponsors intend.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "pt serif", sans-serif; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Because the legislation gives significant deference to the courts to make decisions on resentencing petitions—but also declines to resolve cases where there are aggravating factors such as possession of a firearm or sums of money at the time of an arrest—relief could be out of reach for a large number of federal inmates, the letter states.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "pt serif", sans-serif; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trump-clemency-recipient-says-federal-marijuana-legalization-bill-will-leave-many-prisoners-behind/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Craig Cesal, who is serving a sentence of supervised release after being <span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; box-shadow: rgb(51, 204, 153) 0px -4px 0px inset; transition-duration: 0.25s; transition-property: all;">granted clemency by Trump over a federal cannabis trafficking case</span>, said in the letter that many people incarcerated for marijuana “would receive no relief from their conviction at all” under the MORE Act, and some would “continue to serve life sentences for conduct which would no longer be considered illegal.”</span></a></p></div><br />beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-6659622502213171092021-05-19T11:54:00.000-07:002021-05-19T11:54:34.125-07:00Mother Thresa of Pot Prisoners<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you Stephanie Murray for this article in Input Magazine. Nonviolent people serving egregious sentences for marijuana need CLEMENCY from President Biden or they will die behind bars for a substance that is legal to some degree in the majority of states. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOgBkAuZPftHmi9DmnA7ITLmIA65JVmyzmipUPP9xcUd2ReAGiXdaQUfKZSDBYasB0BG9uykhrEsgGFOA3l9ivk6-hkLlfNERaNUfYRCUM7ONdd7OPaU99ZwRBfhQa6o4KkUzkWxdHcO9/s1060/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1060" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOgBkAuZPftHmi9DmnA7ITLmIA65JVmyzmipUPP9xcUd2ReAGiXdaQUfKZSDBYasB0BG9uykhrEsgGFOA3l9ivk6-hkLlfNERaNUfYRCUM7ONdd7OPaU99ZwRBfhQa6o4KkUzkWxdHcO9/s320/38ab8d7f-167b-4765-8742-091dbf5ecc31+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTLywFOSdbS7Ib9_asOutpjMG5xJuwvIx3xMuu1i4P1DmeFhMpVHcGYLWNBiwCOeFTyB1KPBlIVh7ZowDXhtdr7Ek4Qn31g2kgz-_05xcaomxWBMXXRq1iRwpngkIvR6JjoPn1E1jqURU/s1344/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTLywFOSdbS7Ib9_asOutpjMG5xJuwvIx3xMuu1i4P1DmeFhMpVHcGYLWNBiwCOeFTyB1KPBlIVh7ZowDXhtdr7Ek4Qn31g2kgz-_05xcaomxWBMXXRq1iRwpngkIvR6JjoPn1E1jqURU/s320/73e6a300-f818-4cf4-8697-9e85d1d250a4+%25281%2529.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0045bf; font-family: var(--fontFamilyAccent); font-size: 2.5rem; letter-spacing: -3px;">Just a few months ago, 61-year-old Craig Cesal was in prison in Indiana on a marijuana charge, serving a life sentence without the opportunity for parole.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0045bf; font-family: var(--fontFamilyAccent); font-size: 2.5rem; letter-spacing: -3px; line-height: 1; margin: 3rem auto; max-width: 1000px; padding-top: 1.5rem; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: AktivGrotesk, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: normal;">When he was first arrested in the early 2000s, Cesal ran a business in Chicago that fixed trucks for a company in Florida. “They said since I knew some of the drivers were trafficking marijuana that it made me part of their marijuana conspiracy,” Cesal says. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0045bf; font-family: var(--fontFamilyAccent); font-size: 2.5rem; letter-spacing: -3px; line-height: 1; margin: 3rem auto; max-width: 1000px; padding-top: 1.5rem; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: AktivGrotesk, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: normal;">On 4/20, Craig will be on a fishing trip in West Palm Beach with a group of other marijuana offenders who’ve managed to have their sentences reduced. “There’s a cannabis company that’s paying to fly a bunch of us former pot lifers down,” <a href="https://www.inputmag.com/features/beth-curtis-life-for-pot-marijuana-cannabis-prisoners?fbclid=IwAR2femHE7WxeHK01PkLjnqZ4ayWOq5fFjQuLi0UOhmI4aIQ9JHZHi67XGTc" target="_blank">Cesal says. “Of course, Beth is going down, because we all have ties to her.”</a> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0045bf; font-family: var(--fontFamilyAccent); font-size: 2.5rem; letter-spacing: -3px; line-height: 1; margin: 3rem auto; max-width: 1000px; padding-top: 1.5rem; position: relative;"><a href="https://www.inputmag.com/features/beth-curtis-life-for-pot-marijuana-cannabis-prisoners?fbclid=IwAR2femHE7WxeHK01PkLjnqZ4ayWOq5fFjQuLi0UOhmI4aIQ9JHZHi67XGTc"><span style="font-family: AktivGrotesk, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: normal;">The “Beth” he’s referring to is 79-year-old Beth Curtis from Zanesville, Ohio, the founder of </span><span style="font-family: AktivGrotesk, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: normal; word-break: break-word;">LifeforPot.com</span></span><span style="font-family: AktivGrotesk, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: normal;">, an amateurish little site she built in 2009 to raise awareness about people like Craig — or more specifically, people like her brother, John Knock, who was sentenced to two life terms plus 20 years for a first-time nonviolent marijuana-only offense. Beth has spent more than a decade aggressively advocating for federal clemency on Knock’s and others’ behalf, earning her the nickname the Mother Teresa of Pot Prisoners.</span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0045bf; font-family: var(--fontFamilyAccent); font-size: 2.5rem; letter-spacing: -3px; line-height: 1; margin: 3rem auto; max-width: 1000px; padding-top: 1.5rem; position: relative;"><br /></p>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-70235804571258902382021-02-12T14:57:00.007-08:002021-02-17T09:26:35.391-08:00THE BIDEN CHALLENGE<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <b>THIS IS THE BIDEN CHALLENGE GRANT CLEMENCY TO NONVIOLENT MARIJUANA OFFENDERS</b></span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p></blockquote><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">In January, President Trump granted clemency to 7 individuals serving sentences of life without parole for marijuana and one with a sentence of 50 years. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">These are sentences that assure that you will die in a cage for a nonviolent marijuana offence. Today, politicians are receiving campaign donations from cannabis businesses for a substance that is as illegal federally as the day these individuals were sentenced. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The marijuana industry has investments from politicians, entertainers, wall street, educators as well as hundreds of thousands of individuals who nibble in their investment portfolios. <b>Cannabis is still on the Controlled Substance Act as a Schedule 1 drug designating it as more dangerous than fentanyl and oxycontin.</b> To be consistent, marijuana businesses should be </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">prosecuted in the same manner as these unfortunate nonviolent people. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cannabis industry and the criminal justice system cannot have integrity as long as these sentences stand.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">President Biden can pardon this category immediately and right this wrong. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">These are three people with life sentences for marijuana who need immediate clemency from President Biden. If criminal justice is a priority for this administration it needs to start now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho69AzvkCbh4-3yJhMCOxTco4FeSvtCXbHSjbOoE_GgFrG5vbr8r5f3hYLwZbK4HmgoK1dky-gL3hQUoRGuHb7tp01CTWMtboT8DjEmPGYgJlzGs2mlvGhPnvgP5vpAnJ_gVUJFEoCLnY2/s200/HECTOR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho69AzvkCbh4-3yJhMCOxTco4FeSvtCXbHSjbOoE_GgFrG5vbr8r5f3hYLwZbK4HmgoK1dky-gL3hQUoRGuHb7tp01CTWMtboT8DjEmPGYgJlzGs2mlvGhPnvgP5vpAnJ_gVUJFEoCLnY2/s0/HECTOR.jpg" /></a></div>Hector Ruben McGurk<span> 25843-180</span><div>Circuit<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> 4th</span><br /><div>Age: <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>60</div><div>Charges:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Conspiracy to money launder</span></div></div><div><span>Incarcerated since:<span> </span><span> </span><span> 2003</span></span></div><div><span><span>Trial or plea:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Trial - first trial ended with a hung jury</span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Prosecutors found another cooperating witness </span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> and tried Hector again.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw719O4H1D3-TGwMWIKLBhHfCFJCxfdltBryaDp-ja9i0hEx91Jkm4ajou_Awh3II36JUa3qhnTxFxApBveeCwoeQqDMErNSFqxUNeFfKzNq4QhtK6DOstG7MVIRt-3srPvasCR93LBt9/s1131/ISMAEL+LIRA+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="751" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw719O4H1D3-TGwMWIKLBhHfCFJCxfdltBryaDp-ja9i0hEx91Jkm4ajou_Awh3II36JUa3qhnTxFxApBveeCwoeQqDMErNSFqxUNeFfKzNq4QhtK6DOstG7MVIRt-3srPvasCR93LBt9/w162-h203/ISMAEL+LIRA+%25282%2529.jpg" width="162" /></a></div><span>Ismael Lira<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> 45946-190</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span>Circuit<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> 5th</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Charges:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Conspiracy to distribute marijuana</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Priors:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> None</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Sentenced<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Oct. 6,2006</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Trial or plea:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Trial</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMjJjcNgdRtGlun9y_ROV_SD6sERMMJ9xtt3AJjlXGFNLXeT-ZkceewcxGuHaWigzPFhWvmjemGem__00Ht5PDfxhNIZ8s8EEcKLdC7FpgcrmhXBC0wM0y9-LPVRf3PxuAOldq04nIzcz/s1142/PEDRO.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="713" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMjJjcNgdRtGlun9y_ROV_SD6sERMMJ9xtt3AJjlXGFNLXeT-ZkceewcxGuHaWigzPFhWvmjemGem__00Ht5PDfxhNIZ8s8EEcKLdC7FpgcrmhXBC0wM0y9-LPVRf3PxuAOldq04nIzcz/w170-h228/PEDRO.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>Pedro Moreno<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> 71498-079</span></div><div>Circuit<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> 5th</span></div><div>Age:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> 60</span></div><div>Charge:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></div><div>Incarcerated since:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> 1996</span></div><div>Trial or plea:<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Plea</span><br /><span><br /></span></div>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-64293377950954560652021-01-26T17:35:00.003-08:002021-02-12T14:25:08.174-08:00THE BIDEN CHALENGE<div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY961Yxb1rFJjWpF0xLl1uApiq5AxT61SiUm4vndcrrZBP44butKQ96k-zOsbkIcygKtN6tdWnvzZ5FTyBC-HvR1L8l278mWLQjH2rZbNOb-RxseGiF9segwhGj1rtHTPZnK1HfniB6TqC/s640/735173_983690145024071_2038881544444867200_n_983690145024071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY961Yxb1rFJjWpF0xLl1uApiq5AxT61SiUm4vndcrrZBP44butKQ96k-zOsbkIcygKtN6tdWnvzZ5FTyBC-HvR1L8l278mWLQjH2rZbNOb-RxseGiF9segwhGj1rtHTPZnK1HfniB6TqC/s320/735173_983690145024071_2038881544444867200_n_983690145024071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>President Biden could immediately grant clemency to nonviolent people serving sentences of life without parole and other egregious sentences for marijuana. Clemency for this category would be fiscally responsible and would help restore integrity to the criminal justice system. <br /><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><b><div><b>Thank you President Trump for granting clemency to 7 nonviolent people serving sentences of life without parole for marijuana and one serving a sentence of 50 years. This sentence is not fiscally responsible and is not just.</b> </div></b></span>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-5967800491906190672020-12-06T13:06:00.085-08:002021-08-07T10:38:53.516-07:00THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL HAVE NO INTEGRITY AS LONG AS NONVIOLENT PEOPLE ARE SERVING LIFE FOR POT<p> </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Nonviolent marijuana offenders need clemency from President Trump. It would leave a legacy of mercy and compassion. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>President Trump has supported legislation that has reduced the federal prison population by around 40,000.</b> </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Unfortunately Clemency Project 2014 only granted clemency to 11 nonviolent marijuana only offenders. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>We believe in the current climate of legalization, this category cries out for sentencing relief and President Trump's process is compatible with granting them clemency</b>. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Billy Dekle was incarcerated for 26 years for a nonviolent marijuana offence. These are his reflections about the cannabis industry and the criminal justice system,</span></span></p><div class="WordSection1"><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.15pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 361.0pt; margin-top: .95pt; margin: 0.95pt 361pt 0in 0.25in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="font-size: 15.3333px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.15pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 361.0pt; margin-top: .95pt; margin: 0.95pt 361pt 0in 0.25in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="font-size: 15.3333px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugjsteb7jvm6jhyphenhyphenZPHRS8r3MTOvRX-Cs8EzcKtQzbBrO2_0ZUOrbOMHbxbX6emhw9fYv0lTlivCphLK0EyfTXhdQaocuRr2HcxFxjIqXIspdggqhbPxcPv239O5YeunOcPIpTd3B9fb3i/s471/BILLY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="471" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugjsteb7jvm6jhyphenhyphenZPHRS8r3MTOvRX-Cs8EzcKtQzbBrO2_0ZUOrbOMHbxbX6emhw9fYv0lTlivCphLK0EyfTXhdQaocuRr2HcxFxjIqXIspdggqhbPxcPv239O5YeunOcPIpTd3B9fb3i/w268-h268/BILLY.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.15pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 361.0pt; margin-top: .95pt; margin: 0.95pt 361pt 0in 0.25in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.15pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 361.0pt; margin-top: .95pt; margin: 0.95pt 361pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: large;"> Billy Dekle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.15pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 361.0pt; margin-top: .95pt; margin: 0.95pt 361pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"> Lake City</span><span style="color: #393939;">, </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">FL. 32055 <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.15pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 361.0pt; margin-top: .95pt; margin: 0.95pt 361pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.3pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.95pt; margin: 12.95pt 0.55pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"> Dea</span><span style="color: #393939;">r </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">Sir,</span></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am a nonviolent marijuana offender who was sentenced
to life without parole in the l1th Circuit, <br />
Northern District of Florida. After
serving 25 years in federal prison, I was granted clemency by <br />
President Obama in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.65pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.2pt; margin-right: 24.3pt; margin-top: 14.85pt; margin: 14.85pt 24.3pt 0in 18.2pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">These
are my reflections about this sentence and the billion-dollar</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">growth of Cannabis business <br />
enterprises. I am writing this in support of sentencing relief for nonviolent marijuana offenders who have been sentenced to life without parole
and other egregious sentences for marijuana.</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.2pt; margin: 12.2pt 0.55pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">I am
standing in the lobby of a legal dispensary in Colorado thinking is this fo</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">r </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">real. The odor of<br />
what certainly smells like a nice crop of marijuana is filling my nostrils. A young
woman in her <br />
early thirties asks for my driver's license to verify that I am indeed 2</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">1 </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">years old. Formality I am <br />
sure as she can tell I am certainly over the age of 60. She proceeds to inquire
about the product I <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.55pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">am
interested in - Sativa or </span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">I</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">ndica? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.65pt; margin-right: 19.45pt; margin-top: 10.3pt; margin: 10.3pt 19.45pt 0in 18.65pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">She then
begins to school me on the types and benefits of the herb. I let her proceed
for a f</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">ew</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
minutes telling me how it has been used for centuries as a natural cure for a
variety of ailm</span><span style="color: #686a6b; font-size: 11.5pt;">e</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">nts. <br />
I stopped her, smiled and said I was in the pot business for many years back in
the 70</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">'</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">s until the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; tab-stops: 18.2pt 495.1pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">government put me out of business. She
looked at me </span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">i</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">nquisitively. </span><span style="color: #cdb9a8; font-size: 11.5pt;">• <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; tab-stops: 18.2pt 495.1pt;"><span style="color: #cdb9a8; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">I explain that President Obama gave me
Executive Clemency three years ago. I had been s</span><span style="color: #686a6b; font-size: 11.5pt;">e</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">rv</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">ing<br />
two life sentences without release</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">, </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">plus eight thirty-year sentences (a slow death sentence). All </span><span style="color: #cdb9a8; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.65pt; margin-right: .05pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.05pt 0in 18.65pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">this for
the importation of what she was currently selling legally. In all I have served
prob</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">a</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">bly <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.65pt; margin-right: .05pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.05pt 0in 18.65pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">30 years
in prison for marijuana violations well over this young lady</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">'</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">s lifetime. She was <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.65pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.4pt; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: .95pt; margin: 0.95pt 0.2in 0in 18.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">astonished
as most people are that I tell my story to. They all ask me the same question,
"How is <br />
that possible?</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">" </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">After telling me I am her hero I end up
getting a free t-shirt for what she called being<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: .05pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.05pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><b><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">"one
of the founding fathers of the industry". <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 22.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: .05pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.05pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">There is
no one happier than me that society</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">’</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">s v</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">i</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">ews on the marijuana industry have changed</span><span style="color: #393939; font-size: 11.5pt;">. </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">It <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 15.35pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; tab-stops: 18.2pt 450.95pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">is now considered a respectable business
</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #8f9293; font-size: 51pt; mso-font-width: 71%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.9pt; margin-right: 25.7pt; margin-top: 7.4pt; margin: 7.4pt 25.7pt 0in 18.9pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">My
question now is how it is possible that there are still people in prison for
the same exact<br />
thing. Many of those are nonviolent offender who are elderly and have done
decades in prison. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.35pt; margin-right: 15.85pt; margin-top: 7.65pt; margin: 7.65pt 15.85pt 0in 19.35pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">I also
do not understand why an industry that is making billions on a product, legal
in many <br />
states, are not advocating for marijuana laws to be changed including the laws
still holding those <br />
in prison. Laws were broken and justice was served but sentences for life and
decades in prison.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.3pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.95pt; margin: 12.95pt 0.55pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: 7.45pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 7.45pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">are
ridiculous for a product that is and has been beneficial to so many. It should
be revisited by <br />
our government and citizens that make up our country. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.3pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.95pt; margin: 12.95pt 0.55pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">
</span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .5pt; margin-top: 8.6pt; margin: 8.6pt 0.5pt 0in 0.25in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">I do not
understand why people with influence do not take up the banner for changes in
our <br />
country. There are many celebrities that have enjoyed marijuana for decades who
turn their <br />
heads at the atrocities of the draconian marijuana laws. How can the cannabis
businesses also <br />
turn their heads and not speak out against an obvious wrong? Everyone should be
soliciting help <br />
from congressmen, lobbyist, advocacy groups, etc. We all have a voice and
should use it, or we <br />
too are turning our heads on the plight of these individuals. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 20.35pt; margin-right: .75pt; margin-top: 30.7pt; margin: 30.7pt 0.75pt 0in 20.35pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sincerely,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 22.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.65pt; margin-right: .75pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.75pt 0in 18.65pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">William
"Billy" Dekle <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: .75pt; margin-top: 7.9pt; margin: 7.9pt 0.75pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">Lake
City, FL </span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.65pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: 17.05pt; margin-top: 76.05pt; margin: 76.05pt 17.05pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">Billy
grew up on a farm in Northern Florida. As a child he dreamed of being a cowboy.
This <br />
fantasy evaporated when he was in high school and discovered the thrill of
flying. It was his <br />
love then and after twenty plus years behind bars he still dreams of it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.9pt; margin-right: 7.7pt; margin-top: 11.95pt; margin: 11.95pt 7.7pt 0in 18.9pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">Florida
in the 70s was a mecca for the pot smuggling cowboys. It was common and many
boys <br />
with a sense of adventure living in this hard scrabble area tried their hand at
it. Billy was no <br />
exception</span><span style="color: #000001; font-size: 11.5pt;">. </span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">His plane did not carry tons, but it was
sufficient to pass the bar. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: 11.75pt; margin-top: 11.95pt; margin: 11.95pt 11.75pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">When
Billy was arrested in 1990 on a federal indictment he had several state
offenses, but the <br />
law had changed and this was a much more serious situation. Because of the
magnitude of the <br />
charging, Billy went to trial and received the sentence that is common to
nonviolent marijuana <br />
</span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-font-width: 111%;">offenders
who are charged with conspiracy and go to trial- life without parole</span><span style="color: #000001; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-font-width: 111%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 20.35pt; margin-right: .05pt; margin-top: 12.2pt; margin: 12.2pt 0.05pt 0in 20.35pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">While
Billy was incarcerated he worked regularly and diligently for UNICOR </span><span style="color: #000001; font-size: 11.5pt;">- </span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">The Prison <br />
Industry. He did exceptional work as a production clerk and was an asset to the
Business Office. <br />
His evaluations used phrases like: Preforms in an outstanding manner, Very
knowledgeable and <br />
through in his work, He expedites all assignments and Outstanding job</span><span style="color: #000001; font-size: 11.5pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: .75pt; margin-top: 7.9pt; margin: 7.9pt 0.75pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
</p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.9pt; margin-right: 7.7pt; margin-top: 12.2pt; margin: 12.2pt 7.7pt 0in 18.9pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 11.5pt;">Billy
was never a threat to society and had a loving family waiting for his release
after all those <br />
years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.9pt; margin-right: 7.7pt; margin-top: 12.2pt; margin: 12.2pt 7.7pt 0in 18.9pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></p></div><p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Larry Duke was incarcerated for 23 years for a nonviolent marijuana offence. These are his reflections about the cannabis industry and the criminal justice system. </span></span></p><div class="WordSection3">
<p class="Style" style="line-height: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.9pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.2pt; margin-right: 359.5pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 359.5pt 0in 18.2pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvt6hJOXmzhT2xGXqxQa4xlcxyIPC5-lObg2Y0wMAR0eTYD7lK-yejIwBY0dL-AQ5XfQBGmB6iQ9MY9St5tOrpKKuSrjbvBAhznrvCi94CYl5yDFo-mHpKHWft7ebarUrcN6swCpD-fWgF/s283/LARRY.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvt6hJOXmzhT2xGXqxQa4xlcxyIPC5-lObg2Y0wMAR0eTYD7lK-yejIwBY0dL-AQ5XfQBGmB6iQ9MY9St5tOrpKKuSrjbvBAhznrvCi94CYl5yDFo-mHpKHWft7ebarUrcN6swCpD-fWgF/s0/LARRY.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.9pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.2pt; margin-right: 359.5pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 359.5pt 0in 18.2pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.9pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.2pt; margin-right: 359.5pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 359.5pt 0in 18.2pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Larry Duke</p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.9pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.2pt; margin-right: 359.5pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 359.5pt 0in 18.2pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">
Kennesaw, GA. 30152 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.75pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.2pt; margin-right: .5pt; margin-top: 13.4pt; margin: 13.4pt 0.5pt 0in 18.2pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">Dear
Sir, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.65pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.2pt; margin-right: 1.2pt; margin-top: 13.4pt; margin: 13.4pt 1.2pt 0in 18.2pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">I want
to support clemency for nonviolent marijuana offenders who
are serving egregious sentences. These are
my thoughts about why in the current culture; this is a sentence that does not
fit the crime. In 2015 I received Compassionate Release in the 11<sup>th</sup>
Circuit, ND of Florida. I was serving a
life sentence as a nonviolent marijuana offender. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.4pt; margin-right: 14.85pt; margin-top: 12.45pt; margin: 12.45pt 14.85pt 0in 18.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">With
legalities aside, I applaud Wall Street's recent recognition and promotion of
the cannabis <br />
industry as a boom market to potential investors. A new business concept which
isn't all that <br />
different from the mass market potential we first recognized fifty years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.4pt; margin-right: 36.45pt; margin-top: 8.15pt; margin: 8.15pt 36.45pt 0in 18.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">Since
1968 when I first began to dabble in the supply side of the business, the
market side <br />
demand for marijuana in the United States has steadily grown. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.4pt; margin-right: .15in; margin-top: 8.15pt; margin: 8.15pt 0.15in 0in 18.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">Only
now, us old industry pioneers aren't allowed to participate any longer,
especially those of <br />
us unfortunate enough to have been incarcerated for marijuana offenses. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.35pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: 5.05pt; margin-top: 7.9pt; margin: 7.9pt 5.05pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">In June
of 1980, I was arrested by the DEA task force in Tenants Harbor, Maine and
charged <br />
with Conspiracy to Import with intent to distribute 18.7 tons of marijuana. After
paying a fifteen <br />
thousand dollar fine and serving 40 months on a 60 month sentence</span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 11.5pt;">, </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">I was released from federal <br />
prison. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.65pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.65pt; margin-right: 1.0pt; margin-top: 8.15pt; margin: 8.15pt 1pt 0in 18.65pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">In
December 1989, I was arrested in Woodstock, Georgia on a Reverse Sting
Operation, and <br />
charged with two counts. Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over
1000 kilograms of <br />
marijuana, and attempt to possess with intent to distribute over </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-font-width: 111%;">1000 </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">kilograms of marijuana. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: 1.95pt; margin-top: 8.15pt; margin: 8.15pt 1.95pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">In 1991</span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 11.5pt;">, </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">I received a sentence of Life without the Possibility of Parole
on each of the two counts. <br />
In March of2015, I received a Reduction in Sentence motion from the court
ordering Immediate <br />
Release. I had served 25 years and 4 months. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.9pt; margin-right: .05pt; margin-top: 7.9pt; margin: 7.9pt 0.05pt 0in 18.9pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">Coming
home after a quarter of a century behind bars, was akin to landing on Mars. In
my long <br />
absence everything and everyone had changed dramatically, especially the laws
and our society's<br />
attitudes regarding marijuana. I was astonished to say the least, but when the
former Speaker of <br />
the House of the United States Congress came out publicly promoting
investment in the <br />
Cannabis Industry that was the straw that broke the camel's back! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.4pt; margin-right: 14.2pt; margin-top: 8.15pt; margin: 8.15pt 14.2pt 0in 19.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;">With the
same federal conspiracy laws still in effect and on the books that I was
convicted of <br />
violating in 1989, how can this new public open source conspiracy approach to
promoting and <br />
selling marijuana not be against the law?</span></p></div><p>
</p><div class="WordSection4">
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: 5.3pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 5.3pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Not only
has this new Wall Street approach been deemed legal, but there are still
hundreds of us <br />
Pot Pioneers sitting in federal and state prisons with Life Sentences. Go
figure! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: .05pt; margin-top: 8.15pt; margin: 8.15pt 0.05pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">I find
it appalling. If federal and state prosecutors are not going to file conspiracy
charges against <br />
these modem day Wall Street marijuana entrepreneurs, then at least be honest
and bold enough <br />
to order the release of all the pot people still wasting away in our nation's
prisons and jails. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.7pt; margin-right: 5.05pt; margin-top: 7.9pt; margin: 7.9pt 5.05pt 0in 18.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">This new
double negative business standard for the marijuana industry is compelling.
States and <br />
cities where the legal use of recreational marijuana has been approved and
passed into law, <br />
former marijuana conviction have been expunged. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.7pt; margin-right: 8.65pt; margin-top: 8.35pt; margin: 8.35pt 8.65pt 0in 18.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Oddly
enough, "IF" the federal government were to enact similar legislation
to expunge former <br />
marijuana convictions, I would have no criminal record at all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.7pt; margin-right: 12.0pt; margin-top: 8.15pt; margin: 8.15pt 12pt 0in 18.7pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">But
while Congress continues to drag their collective feet on this issue, thousands
of otherwise <br />
innocent American citizens remain incarcerated on marijuana related charges. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.45pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: .25pt; margin-top: 30.45pt; margin: 30.45pt 0.25pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Yours, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.45pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: .25pt; margin-top: 8.35pt; margin: 8.35pt 0.25pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Larry
Duke <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.45pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: .25pt; margin-top: 7.9pt; margin: 7.9pt 0.25pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Kennesaw,
GA <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.45pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: .25pt; margin-top: 31.15pt; margin: 31.15pt 0.25pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Larry
grew up in Georgia and when he left high school he joined the United States
Marine Corps <br />
in Atlanta three weeks after President Kennedy was assassinated. This was on
his 17th</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14pt; mso-font-width: 200%;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">birthday. <br />
Larry is a decorated Viet Nam Combat Veteran. He served with Delta Company 1<sup>st</sup>
Battalion</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14pt; mso-font-width: 200%;"> <br />
</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Marine Regiment which saw
combat in 1965-1966. He was discharged on Jan 28, 1968. His <br />
assigned USMC Service # is 2085279. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 14.6pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 18.45pt; margin-right: 5.3pt; margin-top: 12.45pt; margin: 12.45pt 5.3pt 0in 18.45pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Larry
worked for Unicorr and uses his time productively. He is a positive influence
on others. <br />
He used his leisure time well reading researching and exercising etc. </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-font-width: 108%;">Larry probably was </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">the <br />
only Federal Inmate to hold a US patent and while incarcerated worked on
another engineering <br />
project producing a prototype for high speed ground travel. He has been working
on this project <br />
since his release and has recently received a patent. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.65pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.4pt; margin-right: 12.0pt; margin-top: 12.45pt; margin: 12.45pt 12pt 0in 19.4pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Prior to
his incarceration, Larry worked in the construction business for contractors in
Georgia <br />
and Florida. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 12.45pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.15pt; margin-right: .25pt; margin-top: 14.85pt; margin: 14.85pt 0.25pt 0in 19.15pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">In 2015
Larry received a rare compassionate release as an elderly inmate even though he
was not <br />
disabled. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.65pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 19.65pt; margin-right: 38.4pt; margin-top: 15.1pt; margin: 15.1pt 38.4pt 0in 19.65pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 11.5pt;">Larry
has a large extended family that supported him throughout his incarceration and
he <br />
returned to Georgia to live with his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><p>
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span></p><p></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.3pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.95pt; margin: 12.95pt 0.55pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p></div><p></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 13.15pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 361.0pt; margin-top: .95pt; margin: 0.95pt 361pt 0in 0.25in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.3pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.95pt; margin: 12.95pt 0.55pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"> </span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.3pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.95pt; margin: 12.95pt 0.55pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"><br /></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.3pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.95pt; margin: 12.95pt 0.55pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"><br /></span></p><p class="Style" style="background: white; line-height: 10.3pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .55pt; margin-top: 12.95pt; margin: 12.95pt 0.55pt 0in 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"> </span></p></div>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-83339122913904720102020-11-28T09:37:00.004-08:002020-11-28T09:49:39.883-08:00WE NEED CLEMENCY FOR PEOPLE SERVING EGREGIOUS SENTENCES FOR MARIJUANA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY3PrhMJ7BtQpOQSlEDHFRnGBxuhaLhbocWl_IB-IfyjQGjpjs0dvozGB13fXlsg10b_dZYX19u3aX_JHQP2yxwan_AKpUYBHNrvPGk8GeNiJ826jzdzqEw9rjzmxkM66krvu76Rmpm3x/s1050/LIFE+FOR+POT+COLLAGE+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY3PrhMJ7BtQpOQSlEDHFRnGBxuhaLhbocWl_IB-IfyjQGjpjs0dvozGB13fXlsg10b_dZYX19u3aX_JHQP2yxwan_AKpUYBHNrvPGk8GeNiJ826jzdzqEw9rjzmxkM66krvu76Rmpm3x/s320/LIFE+FOR+POT+COLLAGE+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">HAMILTON - FEDERALIST - "Humanity and good policy conspire to dictate, that the benign prerogative of pardoning should be as little as possible fettered or embarrassed. The criminal code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity that without an easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A fair and compassionate nation should error on the side of mercy</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is an article in the New York Post by Mark Moore and Steven Nelson. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At Life for Pot we hope for thousands of acts of mercy and compassion by the President using his unfettered power of clemency. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://nypost.com/2020/11/25/trump-pardons-former-national-security-adviser-michael-flynn/" target="_blank">https://nypost.com/2020/11/25/trump-pardons-former-national-security-adviser-michael-flynn/</a></span></p><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">President Trump pardoned Michael Flynn, his first national security advisor, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials — the first of several clemency actions Trump is expected to take before he leaves office on Jan. 20.</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">“It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!” Trump tweeted Wednesday.</a></span>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754866606948552268.post-80243299765862718832020-11-14T11:14:00.000-08:002020-11-14T11:14:14.857-08:00Family Fights for Father's Freedom After He Receives 2 Life Sentences fo...<iframe width="459" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7KkJjqi0sTI" frameborder="0"></iframe>beth curtis mswhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04062733377093089683noreply@blogger.com0