OPPapers.com

Marijuana

Marijuana
Lisa Johnson
Marijuana
While the number of incarcerated offenders grow each year, it is clear the laws used to prosecute these offenders are too harsh. Schlosser (2003) stated, “Laws in fifteen states require life sentences for certain non-violent marijuana offenses and in Montana you can get a life sentence for growing one marijuana plant or selling one joint. Under federal law the death penalty can be imposed for growing and selling a large amount.” (More Refer Madness)
Neil Brock a Vietnam veteran with an artificial leg, a wife, a two year old- son and owner of his own business bought a pound of marijuana for 900 dollars from David Lakes a police informant who was working for the Montana police department. Neil Brock was arrested, tried, convicted, fined 25,000 dollars and sentenced to life in prison. David Lakes received hundred dollars for doing his job. Elaine Prince-Patron a 52 year old- grandmother of twin grandchildren received a 25 year sentence for having 80 pounds of marijuana at her home in Tucson Arizona. This astonished her lawyers because she had no criminal record, her lawyer David Bjorgaard said: ‘There is only one other crime under Arizona law that could attract a sentence like this and that is first degree murder.’ Sex offenders in the state of Arizona are locked away for just over seven years and in the state system first time murderers are released less than eight years, while rapists are freed before they served four. Mrs. Prince-Patron was offered a plea bargain in which she would receive 5 to 15 years if she admitted guilt. She refused and argued that the drugs were her son Tony drugs and not hers; why else would she have let the police into her home without a search warrant? Tony Prince 31, her son was arrested in a Tucson hotel with 60 pounds of marijuana the day after his mother’s home was raided. Tony pleaded guilty in federal court and was jailed for 18 months. Mrs. Prince-Patron now spends her days in Perryville...