A Michigan businessman convicted of selling $10 worth of marijuana 24 years ago must return to Virginia to serve jail time, a Circuit judge ruled Monday.
“It’s all the more difficult [to send the defendant back to Virginia] when you see [his] family here and understand that the family is a credit to the state [of Michigan] and [that the defendant] has been a credit to the state,” Circuit Judge William Cahalan said. He said he had no choice but to honor the extradition warrant issued by Virginia state officials.
Defendant Alfred Martin, 49, received a ten year prison term in 1974 for the sale of a small amount of marijuana. Martin spent two days at a prison farm before escaping and relocating to Michigan. He now owns his own business and is married with children. Judge Cahalan said Martin has led “an exemplary life since his conviction 24 years ago.”
NORML Executive Director R. Keith Stroup, Esq. said the case exemplifies the “lack of proportionality” in marijuana sentencing. “One wonders how many more families will be sacrificed before our elected officials agree to end marijuana prohibition,” he said.
Virginia officials previously sought to extradite Martin in 1976, but then-Gov. William Milliken refused their request. Since then, the U.S. Supreme Court has found that governors do not have discretion over legitimate extradition requests.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre of The NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751.