Alabama Man Sentenced To Life For 2.5 Pounds Of Pot
Topic: Marijuana Legalization
Recently a Cowarts, Alabama man, Richard Bolden, 39, was sentenced to life in prison for one count felony trafficking marijuana. The amount was 2.5 pounds. The Houston County Circuit Judge who handed down the ruling, Michael Conaway, had recently given someone only 10 years in jail for a deal involving 30 pounds of marijuana. It should be mentioned that Richard Bolden is African-American, and the case took place in the deep South state of Alabama -- a place that has a long history of racism!!!
This case melds two injustices: The illegality of marijuana and racism. People getting sentenced to 10 years in lockup for 30 pounds of a plant -- let alone a plant with medicinal value -- is ridiculous! Being Black and receiving disparate treatment because of it in going to prison for life, over 2.5 pounds, is criminal! We have states which have legalized weed, and the rest of the country needs to follow suit. Too many lives are being ruined in incarceration over a natural medicine!
George Bush started a war in Iraq. On top of that, he lied over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to justify it. Thousands of people died in that war, many of whom were Americans! George Zimmerman killed an unarmed Black teen, Trayvon Martin. Both of these men caused death, yet they walk free. In contrast, Richard Bolden, and people like him who have killed no one, are going into cells everyday. Stop the insanity! Make marijuana legal! End Racism!
Read the full story:
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/life-prison-marijuana
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