Pubdate: Fri, 19 Dec 2008
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald (Hilo, HI)
Copyright: 2008 Hawaii Tribune Herald
Contact:  http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/185
Author: Jerry Thomas
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08.n1103.a07.html

PUNISHING OURSELVES

"A Hilo judge refused to reduce the sentence for a 66-year-old Volcano
man convicted of running a large-scale commercial marijuana growing
operation. David Cother Finley Jr. was sentenced to 20 years in prison
."

It costs about $25,000 per year to support each of the thousands of
people in our prisons. Who pays? The taxpayers!

With the current recession rapidly pulling us into a depression, and
with unemployment on the rise, a lot of the taxpayers are wondering
where their next meal is coming from, how to afford adequate shelter,
and how to buy clothing and pay medical expenses.

But not David Finley. He is guaranteed three meals a day, housing,
clothing and paid medical expenses for the next 20 years.

Mr. Finley violated the laws against producing, possessing and selling
a forbidden plant, and now he's being punished.

Our government forbids research that might justify the legalization of
cannabis. If such research were permitted, it might easily show that
the laws are erroneous and that businessmen like Mr. Finley can be an
asset to society.

Let's stop punishing ourselves.

Jerry Thomas

Kehena
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin