[Editor’s note: Kellen’s brief review of a new organization dedicated to bringing attention to the numerous life sentences in America for cannabis-only related offenses is apropos as a 35-year-old father of a young child was sentenced in Louisiana Thursday for life in a cannabis possession case (the life sentence was triggered by the state’s controversial ‘three strikes and you’re out’ mandatory minimum sentences).
Regrettably, and discernibly, the greater south of the United States is the hotbed for these kind of insanely long prison sentences for supposedly criminal acts that many citizens in fact no longer believe are crimes whatsoever.
A new interactive map from the Sentencing Project aptly demonstrates that deep southern states like Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas have the highest prison incarceration rates not only in America, but the world.]
By Kellen Russoniello, George Washington Law School student, NORML legal intern
To many of us, the idea of anyone spending life in prison for a nonviolent marijuana offense is absolutely ridiculous. Yet with the recent passage of a bill in the Oklahoma State Legislature making the manufacture of hash punishable by life imprisonment, it is clear that life sentences for nonviolent marijuana offenders do exist. In fact, a new website is drawing attention to this issue and has identified several people who are currently serving life sentences for nonviolent marijuana offenses.
LifeforPot.com focuses on finding individuals who have been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for federal nonviolent marijuana only offenses. Beth Curtis, the founder of the website, has identified eight people, each with a unique background and story of how they came to spend the rest of their lives in prison for nonviolent marijuana offenses.
Beth is very familiar with the subject: the first individual listed is John Knock, her brother. Since 2000, John has been serving two life sentences plus twenty years for his connection to a conspiracy to import multiple tons of marijuana and hashish from Pakistan and Lebanon into the United States and Canada, a sentence that Beth believes is the harshest ever for nonviolent marijuana crimes. When she talked to others about the severity of her brother’s sentence, she realized that people believed that nonviolent marijuana offenders could not receive such draconian sentences.
Despite having retired and living in Hawaii when law enforcement came knocking on John’s door he was extradited to Florida—a state that he’d never lived in or committed a crime. Instead, John was drawn into a sting operation because of his contacts with a San Francisco area smuggler who had been indicted. However, John was never seen by law enforcement committing any of the crimes he was convicted of, he was never found in possession of marijuana, and his prosecution rested only upon the testimony of informants. Criminal defense lawyers describe his as a ‘dry case’, and the full story is available at johnknock.com and grandmasmind.com
But how extraordinary is this sentence? Life for Pot lists some of the most famous drug kingpins and the sentences that they received, and it seems that John’s sentence was given special treatment. For example, “Freeway” Ricky Ross, the preeminent crack dealer of the Los Angeles area during the 1980s and early 90s was sentenced to life in 1996. His sentence was subsequently reduced to 20 years, and he was released in 2009. Manuel Felipe Salazar-Espinosa, deemed by the DEA to be one of the world’s most significant drug kingpins making up to $14 million in a week, was given 30 years for conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and money laundering.
It is clear that there are differences in the sentencing of these individuals. Life for Pot seeks to identify and make others aware of these discrepancies. Beth notes that the creation of mandatory minimums at the federal level has resulted in the increase in power of the prosecutor to decide the sentence by choosing which charges to pursue. She specifically points out that the 11th Circuit, which encompasses Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, has given 6 of the 8 life sentences identified for nonviolent marijuana only offenses.
So where does this effort go from here? Although Beth has already received some feedback from politicians, attorneys, activists, and journalists, she hopes to start an organization focused on this issue soon. In order to do this, she explains that she will need advisers to help out, as well as a strong coalition. The roots of this coalition have already begun to take hold, with organizations like the November Coalition, Drug Policy Alliance, and Families Against Mandatory Minimums providing support, as well as media attention from a Columbia, Missouri NPR affiliate and High Times Magazine.
Beth would also like to broaden the focus by included those serving de facto life sentences for nonviolent marijuana only offenses, including where older individuals are sentenced to long sentences (e.g., a 50 year old sentenced to 20 years).
State sentences are another area that Beth would like to examine. Sentence reform efforts can be very successful at the state level. In order to do this, however, more resources must be available.
A group petition for clemency is also in the works for those prisoners that have been identified as part of this effort.
“The solution is political,” Beth declared. Legislative action is the best way to address the problem of egregious sentencing disparities. An organization focused on this issue would therefore be heavily focused on reaching legislators. So far, Life for Pot has sent out several cards and letters to federal congressmen and agencies. Beth also noted that advocacy efforts for the legalization of marijuana at the national level must be bolstered.
In these times where some jurisdictions are locking up nonviolent marijuana offenders for life, it is good to hear that someone is bringing the inconsistency and irrationality of these practices to light.
If you know someone that is currently serving a federal life sentence without parole for a nonviolent marijuana only offense, or would be able to assist Beth in her efforts, please contact her at johnknock@johnknock.com.
This MAY be an idea for the Members. http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/Issues/Civil-Rights is the place to write to President Barack Obama, concerning these punishments not befitting the crime. I e-mailed the White House, a few months back, addressing the inhumane life sentences for non-violent Marijuana crimes, and today, received a response. If everyone could take the time and write..not about one specific case, but the much needed prison reform, I think it may help. I found the response that I received to be favorable, and our President does want prison reform, along with proportionate fair sentencing in drug related crimes…or that is what mine said, since it concerned non-violent marijuana incarceration.. Election is coming. Numbers do count! Thanks,
Kathy
This is FACT. A man, working at a Christian teen center, took up with a young girl, 13 years of age. At the time, this man was 38 years of age. The “relationship” continued for 4 years, until the girl, then 17, told of the details. He admitted to it and was sentenced to 10 years on 20 counts of Battery of a child(sex with a child under 16), and to 5 years for one count of having adult sex with a 16 year old. By that time, he was 42 years old. He is serving time now, in Glades C.I. Florida, IS a registered sex offender, but sits with my friend, incarcerated for 24 years, serving a 90 sentence, for Marijuana related crimes, and has never been accused, or convicted of any crime of violence. As a Mother, an American, I find this to be beyond belief. Where are our values? I think they should switch sentences.
I had breast cancer for which I had to undergo through surgery and chemotherapy, 12 rounds total. I was 30. Never had children, still have none.
I was told, by numerous sources that Cannabis helps with the “nausea”. What nausea? You hear the word “nausea” because that’s the closest word to describe those horrible sensations. Think nausea & your body violently reacting to the poisons you were given… That nausea. Cannabis helped.
I was prescribed Effexor (a HIGHLY addictive anti-depressant drug) which I took at doses of 3mg/day for 2 years. I wanted out! The doctor said: “reduce the dose to half every few days/weeks. It’ll take you about the same length of time you took it, to get out of it!” Cannabis helped with the anxiety, panic attacks, and the trembling. I don’t take Effexor anymore, would never touch it again! I don’t take Cyclobenzaprine anymore either. Thank God!
It also helped me with the palpitating pain I felt in my bone marrow. Yes! My marrow was working OVER-TIME to create all the white and the red blood cells I was loosing at an accelerated way. I had to shoot myself in the leg with some drugs, everyday, to ensure I didn’t develop Leukemia… And you know what? Cannabis helped with the pain.
Should I be put to jail? How is it that I can get a prescription for medical cannabis but people be put to jail for life for doing anything with this medicinal plant? Should people be put to jail for selling Aloe Vera as well? How about garlic? And lemons? Yes! It has a psychedelic effect when you heat it up, so what? Alcohol also alters your state of mind and it is perfectly legal? Who are they to tell me how my body should feel or not when I used such plants which they call “drugs”? You can have it as a very strong weed-shot in juice form, as well. There are many methods of consumption and various effects on the body but never, ever, a violent behavior reaction. NEVER.
Would I be jailed if I used large amounts of plants for juices?
Wake up, big wigs, maybe you should worry more about murderers and rapists and a little less about profiting from Cannabis. Don’t you think? Money comes to you guys, anyway. Everybody ends up paying “something” in court for “something”, eventually, right? And these days, most people, who live long enough, will also have their brush with cancer… Through own experiences, or those of that special, LOVED one.
WAKE UP!
P.S: The founders of the United States wore clothing made of it and wrote on Cannabis paper.
My brother was recently sentenced to LIFE in prison for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. He has never done anything violent in his life. I am looking for help anywhere I can get it to help him. I will be writing the president as well.
The prison industrial complex lets the pervs, and murderers out and locks up the marijuana offender.
It is high time to end the prohibition.
How many Americans are in jail for life due to sentences for marijuana? State and Federal prisons.
Find me on LinkedIN or FB page Citizens for Criminal JUSTICE.
How many Americans are in jail for life due to sentences for marijuana? State and Federal prisons
pot should be treated like whiskey , this is crazy~ GLOBAL WARMING< PLANT HEMP ,INDICA< G WASHINGTON QUOTE< SOW HEMP AND SOW IT EVERYWHERE
obama wants to protect her children. He is not my boy, VOTE GREEN OR LIBERTARIAN~
boycott oklahoma yea~! go spend your mney in colorado or seattle~ yeas F U~ OK!
boycott oklahoma, spend your money in DENVER ,colorado or Bellingham, WA HELL WITH YOU ASSES IN OK IE
The problem with long sentences for drugs is its too easy to frame someone, or to be convicted on false evidence. There is no dna to test to prove innocence, rather the defendant must argue against the belief by many on the jury that “they wouldn’t be on trial if they weren’t guilty” sort.
Then they have to battle the fact that the police often try to make their defendants sound worse than they really are as a way to combat short and easy sentences, and long sentences are not going to be fair.
People who really are drug king pins can afford to pay others to take their risks for them, and can pay to see which judge gets the case, and of course, pay for the judge too.
And just to be sure they might buy up the local Congressman.
These kingpin stories are all bogus. The real kingpins do not get their names in the paper.
Having read this I thought it was rather informative.
I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this content together.
I once again find myself spending way too much
time both reading and commenting. But so what,
it was still worth it!