Marc Emery in Solitary Confinement Exemplifies Disturbing Nature of Cannabis Prohibition
The ‘Prince of Pot’ and Cannabis Culture founder Marc Emery has been in solitary confinement for days now, due to allegations that he took a picture of his prison band with a forbidden phone.
Marc is currently serving a 5 year sentence for his company selling cannabis seeds through the internet, something that hundreds of companies do – he was targeted for his political activism.
Marc Emery got permission to photograph his band and send it to his wife, Jodie, which he did. However, prison officials are claiming, after the picture was posted online by Mrs. Emery, that an unauthorized phone was used to take the picture, claims which are denounced as false by Marc and others in the band, stating that an authorized camera was used. Because of this menial issue, Marc has been thrown into solitary confinement – meaning he’s ignored even basic amenities awarded to prisoners – for 23 hours a day. This is cruel, unusual….disgusting.
Even when you take cannabis out of the equation, the situation brings up immediate questions on the nature of prisons in the U.S., where the simple allegation of having a non-authorized phone can mean someone being thrown in a dark box for all but an hour a day, for an indefinite period of time. Given that the investigation has no specific time-frame, Marc could be in confinement for days, weeks or even months before he’s released. This is sickening.
The picture in question. Marc is on the far left.
Marc’s situation, however, is particularly disturbing. Marc, who has lived in Canada his whole life, was extradited to the U.S. for selling cannabis seeds (which is legal in Canada) to a U.S. resident. After Marc’s arrest, the DEA announced that their attack on Marc was political, stating in a press release that it was “a significant blow.” to the marijuana legalization movement, and that “Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on”.
The entire situation reeks of injustice. It’s the exact same situation that plays out every day because of our failed, dumb-minded and inhumane war on drugs.
Marc is seeking a transfer to a Canadian prison to finish out the rest of his term on his home land, rather than in a nation he’s never lived. Advocates should contact the Justice Department’s transfer division (click here for more information), urging them to allow Marc Emery’s transfer.
– TheJointBlog