this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2024
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[–] NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social 239 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Meanwhile, Trump’s a free man, goose stepping around in his fucking lift shoes, with 91 Federal charges against him. This country is so backwards.

[–] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 108 points 10 months ago (16 children)

Kind of makes you want to stop obeying laws, doesn’t it?

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 54 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I once mentioned to my father that most people are likely felons without realizing it because everyone will have violated a whole slew of laws they are unaware of or that are obscure/unenforced. He, being a conservative, became angry with me.

[–] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 19 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I can probably come up with a dozen felonies and goodness knows how many misdemeanors I’ve committed in my life, and I’m definitely not a menace to society.

None of these are violent or sexual in nature.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Exactly. The worst thing that most people do as far as common laws are concerned is speeding.

The real bad things that happen that are rarely enforced is spousal and child abuse, religious abuse, abuse from certain authorities, etc. These destroy lives.

[–] NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social 15 points 10 months ago

I’m a commoner and I haven’t lobbied any lawmakers, so the law still applies to me

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[–] rayyy@lemmy.world 53 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Don't forget he pardoned supreme liar and felon Roger Stone who went on to plotting assassinations.

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[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 109 points 10 months ago (3 children)

It's a flower that makes people happy and hungry. God fucking damn it. There is no fucking reason to destroy people's lives over this.

[–] Crikeste@lemm.ee 58 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Two reason: Conservatism and Christianity.

[–] prole@sh.itjust.works 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Nobody has ever been able to explain to me how cannabis use is incompatible with Christianity in any way.

But then again, I don't expect Christians to be consistent or logical about anything.

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[–] frezik@midwest.social 22 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (4 children)

Reminds me of the Ballarat Bandit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-gBErW4aoY

To put it short, he was a guy who led federal officers on a chase through the desert. They didn't know who he was, but he was stealing from travelers passing through. It wasn't far from some US government facilities, and this being not long after 9/11, they're super worried he's a terrorist.

Spoiler: he was a Canadian who started growing weed to help his wife's medical issues. He apparently made some primo bud and started selling it. Naturally, he got caught and was thrown in jail. When he got out, he moved out to the desert and tried to survive on his own.

Jail changed him. He became more paranoid and detached from his family, friends, and society. He wasn't the least bit dangerous until they threw him in prison.

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[–] Illuminostro@lemmy.world 19 points 10 months ago

There's one very good reason, according to authoritarians: slave labor. 'Murica.

[–] Vorticity@lemmy.world 107 points 10 months ago (7 children)

I don’t understand how 40 years of prison for a non-violent crime isn’t considered to be both “cruel” and “unusual”. It is objectively cruel. I certainly hope that it is also unusual. I certainly hope that there aren’t many more like him, imprisoned for decades for what amounts to personal-use levels of pot. 5.5 lbs of pot when you include the stem and roots isn’t that much and certainly sounds like a personal supply to me.

[–] marxistsynths19@lemmy.ml 57 points 10 months ago (1 children)

These people are kept in jail to be used in labor. It’s not about being cruel. It’s about making money in the cheapest way possible. Since Alabama is a hellhole with no workforce they turn to modern day slavery.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 20 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Oh it's both. It's definitely both, the cruelty and the slave labor, which is cruel in and of itself as well.

[–] JustMy2c@lemm.ee 16 points 10 months ago (5 children)

It is the most cruel people in the world that hide behind a law book and the pretense of being fair and worse even: past cases.

But since you first have to study for a decade, then kiss ass for a decade or two before even beginning to qualify for 'JUDGE' it is not more as normal you will have lost ALL BONDS WITH REGULAR SOCIETY.

If you think 15$+tax+tip is fine for a glass of wine with lunch on a daily basis; you are NOTTTTTTT qualified to speak for the benefit of society : in contrary!

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 76 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Try to overthrow the government- 18 months. Grow plants- life sentence.

America (for the time being), fuck yeah!

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[–] appel@lemmy.ml 70 points 10 months ago (2 children)

This stuff just makes my blood boil. Those 3 assholes on the parole board are complete sociopaths. There's absolutely no justice here.

[–] kool_newt@lemm.ee 25 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Someday we'll learn that these types of positions are only ever occupied by sociopaths, psychopaths, sadists, and those full of hate. Then we'll realize that the institutions they are part of were designed by the same type of people. Then hopefully finally we'll realize that every state institution was designed by this same group that believes they know the right way for everything and feel entitled to force their ways on everyone else.

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[–] stoly@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It's actually a requirement I think.

In WA during lockdown, they requested compassionate release of someone who was paralyzed on half his body and confined to a chair. The DOC decided that he was a threat to society and needed to be kept in the COVID greenhouse.

[–] roguetrick@kbin.social 43 points 10 months ago (5 children)

That law provides several different levels of trafficking, and Hotchkiss was convicted under the lowest level – having between 2.2 lbs and 100lbs. That weight includes all parts of the plant, root and stem and all.

40 years, jesus fucking CHRIST.

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 27 points 10 months ago (5 children)

I'm 6400km tall if you include the earth under my feet

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[–] HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world 23 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Who, actually, believes society is better off for caging this man??

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 14 points 10 months ago (2 children)

no one. but a great many people like that it happened

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[–] ElleChaise@kbin.social 15 points 10 months ago

An old pot grower's adage goes something like: if the sentencing minimum is for between 1-99 plants, you might as well grow 99.

People like Bud serve as the real life example for this kind of saying sadly.

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[–] unreasonabro@lemmy.world 34 points 10 months ago

shitty country to live in

[–] m13@lemmy.world 32 points 10 months ago

The United States is a fascist hellhole.

[–] BruceTwarzen@kbin.social 27 points 10 months ago

Dude should try to overthrow the government and attack some police officers, he'll be back home in 2 to 5 years

[–] scottywh@lemmy.world 26 points 10 months ago

Alabama has an incredible climate for growing outdoor Cannabis, too...

It should literally be everywhere there.

[–] FlavoredButtHair@lemmy.world 16 points 10 months ago

Remember come election time who is responsible for this. Just like actions, elections have consequences.

[–] white_shotgun@aussie.zone 14 points 10 months ago

Another reason not to visit Alabama

[–] Globeparasite@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] ApostleO@startrek.website 9 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Didn't return your grocery cart? Straight to jail.

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[–] Gork@lemm.ee 13 points 10 months ago (2 children)

What could the parole board's justification for denial possibly be? I don't see any risk from this guy, unless there's something more nefarious than 2.2 lbm of pot going on.

[–] IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago

The cruelty is the point, as they say.

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[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 13 points 10 months ago (6 children)

Remember these headlines any time someone makes excuses for the lack of action by the Federal Government, even when we give Democrats Congress and the presidency.

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[–] BigTrout75@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Pretty messed up. Let this poor guy go. On the bright side, does free healthcare and free room and board?

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[–] thecookingsenpai@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago

Thats what you get when you dare to do gardening

[–] badbytes@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago (3 children)
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