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Two state Senators in New Jersey have renewed their call that an Executive Pardon should be granted to John Wilson, the MS patient convicted of growing 17 marijuana plants to treat his disease. Senators Raymond Lesniak and Nicholas Scutari issued a press release yesterday and appealed to Governor Chris Christie to issue the pardon. Wilson was sentenced to 5 years in prison on March 19th.
Read the release TRENTON – Calling a Franklin Township man’s five-year prison sentence for growing marijuana used to alleviate his suffering from multiple sclerosis “cruel, unusual and unnecessary,” Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Nicholas P. Scutari (both D-Union) today called on Governor Chris Christie to issue a pardon in the case.
A state court last week sentenced John Ray Wilson to five years in prison for growing marijuana in his backyard. Wilson – who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS) and used the drug only to alleviate his symptoms – was given the minimum term for second-degree drug manufacturing and a three-year sentence for possession.
“The state used poor judgment in charging Mr. Wilson with drug manufacturing,” the Senators wrote in their letter to Gov. Christie. “There was no evidence provided by the prosecution during his trial that anyone else used the marijuana he grew in his backyard in order to find a small measure of relief from his chronic illness. The decision to bring drug manufacturing charges against Mr. Wilson demonstrates a clear case of absence of prosecutorial discretion. That is cruel, unusual and unnecessary.”
The lawmakers urged the Governor to use his power of pardon to commute Wilson’s prison sentence to a period of supervised probation. READ IN FULL
Senator Scutari was the lead sponsor of the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act and proved to be an outspoken proponent of the bill throughout its five-year legislative journey. Scutari is also a municipal prosecutor in Linden.
Senator Lesniack represents the region where John Wilson lived and was arrested. His original appeal to then-Governor Jon Corzine asked that Wilson be pardoned even as the trial got underway.
Wilson was eventually acquitted by the jury of first-degree felony charges but was convicted on the second-degree felony of “manufacturing” marijuana. He was taken into custody at his sentencing hearing on March 19, 2010. His attorney, James Wronko is preparing to appeal.
Chris Goldstein can be reached for comment: on this story media@cmmnj.org
More on medical marijuana in New Jerset at www.cmmnj.org
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Comments
As a lifelong conservative I'm calling on Gov Christie to abandon the Democrats crazy prohibition policies that they've been heaping on the American people since the Harrison Act. These prohibitions fund drug cartels & let them reach into all manner of commerce. It's time we reject our participation in this madness that began with Nixon when he signed the (Democrat created) CSA into law. Please, Google search these terms, Volstead Act, Marihuana Tax Stamp Act, Asset Forfeiture Act (Biden), Drug Paraphernalia Act (Biden), ONDCP/Drug Czar (Biden). The Democrats have greatly expanded big govt via prohibitions & they in no way want to shrink govt by ending them. What more proof do we need that the Democrats most certainly are NOT for the common man & his civil rights? Conservatives must contact RNC.org & tell them we demand they put forth candidates who really are for the citizenry & those who will return our God given rights to do with our bodies as we wish. End cannabis prohibition, now.
It's great to know that NJ is cutting Educational funding, yet continues to waste precious tax-dollars on prosecuting and convicting the sick to prove a political point. In 2011, I will be moving to California to avoid the infringements of personal freedom. NJ is a disgrace.
Unbelievable,with NJ Medical Marijuana Law passed & becoming a reality for SOME of the many cannabis can help,leave it to our government to disregard the voice of the majority & jail a man with MS. He's now a victim (not a criminal) of one of the most atrocious violations of human rights by our government since slavery. I don't know how they can sleep at night not only locking up millions of citizens for a God Given Plant,their now jailing the sick. Cannabis is a very valuable herb that can be used for countless things besides it's medicinal value, paper,rope,fuel & lumber to name just a few. Although here in the Garden State our government would rather keep the pharmaceutical companies rich than allow it's farmers to have the top money making crop in the USA that all could benefit from including themselves,the taxes from legalization could help pull us from our debt. Instead tax us so heavily you either lose your home,move or just live pay to pay. FREE JOHN RAY WILSON END PROHIBITION!
Chris, trying to contact you...pls. write me Down2earthwisdom@aol.com. Great article. I have included your latest link to my latest article published today. Wanted you to know. Keep up the good work and let me know if there is anything I can do to help your cause.
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