Breaking information, a federal decide ordered the early launch of Luke Scarmazzo, the final recognized federal medical marijuana prisoner in California. Luke has served 14 years out of a 21-year sentence in federal jail for working a medical marijuana dispensary in California.
On September 27, 2006, Luke Scarmazzo and his co-proprietor Ricardo Montes’ California Healthcare Collective dispensary was raided by the DEA, in keeping with California Norml. Each males have been discovered responsible of working a “continuous legal enterprise” in Could of 2008. Scarmazzo and Montes have been sentenced to twenty+ years in jail for this conviction.
Whereas President Barak Obama launched Montes in Could of 2017, Scarmazzo was not granted that very same privilege.
Activists Elevate Consciousness
Activists, similar to Weldon Angelos, have completed their half to boost consciousness of the injustice surrounding hashish sentencing and prosecution. Angelos met Scarmazzo in jail, the place they served seven years collectively. Angelos was launched in 2020 by President Donald Trump.
In keeping with Marijuana Motion, Angelos stated that “Luke’s story is likely one of the most tragic tales of our legal justice system,” He additional acknowledged that Scarmazzo “was following state legislation however handled as a drug kingpin by the federal system. I’m relieved he can go house to his household and have an opportunity at rebuilding his life after serving 14 years in jail.”
Scarmazzo’s Early Launch
On Thursday, February 2, 2023, Choose Dale Drozd ordered the early launch of Luke Scarmazzo. Activists within the hashish motion hope that the dynamic shift within the hashish trade within the final a number of years beneath Trump and Biden will proceed to carry different tales, similar to Scarmazzo’s, to mild.
After being launched, Scarmazzo posted on Fb,
“Right this moment, after serving practically 15 years in jail for working a hashish dispensary, I used to be granted my freedom. The sensation is surreal. We’ve labored towards this present day for thus lengthy. This was an enormous victory for my household, buddies, neighborhood, and the hashish motion. I’ll take a second to take pleasure in this, however make no mistake, there’s nonetheless a lot work to be completed—by individuals have to be free—and that onerous work begins now.”
Comply with Luke Scarmazzo’s story as he continues his battle in opposition to hashish injustice.
