I've been wondering how your case was going.

As the marijuana legal situation continues to evolve, No Bernie Left Behind!

your decision. I hope not. Best of luck.

... I don't expect it will have any bearing on the USDOJ or WH decisions. Besides, if I am granted the pardon, I expect the WP article will be a love fest for an administration that is (finally) putting reefer madness to rest.

One word: Michele Leonhart

IMO the WH is still anti-marijuana and might see the article as an opportunity to make that message.

I wish you the best.

So why not pardon Bernie?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/21/obama-clemency-drug-offenders_n_5186069.html


WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department will announce this week new criteria for recommending that President Barack Obama grant clemency to federal drug offenders, a move that Attorney General Eric Holder anticipates will result in "thousands" of applications for reduced sentences.

Deputy Attorney General James Cole will announce the new criteria later this week, Holder said in a Justice Department video message released Monday. The DOJ's Office of the Pardon Attorney has been criticized in recent years for recommending that the president deny the overwhelming majority of petitions, and criminal justice advocates have attacked Obama's poor record on clemency.

But Holder said Monday that the Justice Department would enlist potentially dozens of lawyers to help with the new clemency push.

“Later this week, the deputy attorney general will announce new criteria that the department will consider when recommending applications for the president’s review. This new and improved approach will make the criteria for clemency recommendation more expansive. This will allow the Department of Justice and the president to consider requests from a larger field of eligible individuals," Holder said.

“Once these reforms go into effect, we expect to receive thousands of additional applications for clemency," Holder continued. "And we at the Department of Justice will meet this need by assigning potentially dozens of lawyers –- with backgrounds in both prosecution and defense –- to review applications and provide the rigorous scrutiny that all clemency applications require."

1) Eric Holder telling Michelle Leonhart to STFU two months ago and get on board with the rest of the administration

2) The WH announcing that they were seeking nominations for commutations for prisoners who are in federal prison for drug-related crimes. So far, I think they've received close to 20,000 such nominations.

3) The time and attention they are giving my application.

I still don't see how a WP article, to be published only after a decision is made on my application, can possibly affect that decision.

Thanks for your good wishes. Much appreciated.

busting medical marijuana operations up until a short while ago. And I would feel better if Obama would let Michele Leonhart (Bush's lady) resign.

their policies of cracking down on states, like Ca, whose own laws have legalized medical marijuana as more states are joining them in determining their own attitude towards legalization. With even more states now moving towards legalization, it is clear that the time has come to end these draconian laws that have taken away so many of our rights, and ruined the lives of untold numbers of people, for decades.

I read recently also that the 'Right and Left' are joining forces on issues of 'law enforcement' in this country. What was remarkable about the article was that Edwin Meese of all people has now come to the conclusion that the laws HE supported, have 'gone too far'.

HE has joined the ACLU, normally an 'enemy' of the drug warriors, to try help work on modifying, changing these horrendous laws.

There has been a seismic shift in the public's attitude towards the Drug War, escalating as it gains momentum making it much more difficult for the DOJ to continue, in the face of the growing opposition of the public towards their tactics, ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, to try to control that momentum.

I believe the Obama Admin recently announced, after Oregon and Washington State, soon to be followed it looks like, NY passed their laws.

Most likely the softening of attitudes has more to do with the money potential than actual concerns about the ruination of lives. But it wouldn't surprise if they are hearing from Corporations who are planning to take advantage of this changing attitude and profit from them.

Whatever the reason, it isn't a question of trusting the DOJ anymore, it is more that the tide has changed AGAINST THEM.

Your arguments are irrefutable.

in an earlier time, Prohibition, are soon history.

also but it is what it is. Sometimes an issue reaches critical mass and there is no stopping the tide when as Shakespeare said, 'there is a tide in the affairs of men when, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune'. I believe we have reached that point regarding the Drug Laws. I hope I am not wrong!

Here's to releasing marijuana prisoners.

Among the letters was a seven page one from an MD/PhD friend who helped convince the AMA to reverse its position on medical cannabis. The shortest letter was seven words long from an 80 year old neighbor who simply said "Bernie is a good neighbor and friend." They both mean much to me, as do all of them.

And I also wish that all those countless millions who celebrate their newly acquired right to grow, right to smoke, etc would also spend time helping out the beleagured activists of the past.

Without the shoulders of activists like you, Fly, their efforts might not have succeeded.

Of course, it might be the farmwork as I await my best organic blueberry harvest ever.

I'm also enjoying asparagus from the bed I planted when my application was returned in 2011. Here's the piece I wrote then. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1118717

An attitude of gratitude sure beats the alternative. Believe me, the last dozen years have brought that home to me.

Inspiring.

I'm hoping for the best for you too!!

; )

If you don't get the pardon it will be a grave miscarriage of justice.
Frankly, you should have never been convicted to begin with.

I really need to get back to my internets-free farm for some more fun in the sun.

So glad to know I'm not forgotten here.

Miss you guys, every day.

Is there a weed lobby?

is ultimately costing thousands of dollars in tax payer money and taking up countless hours of FBI time. Not your fault of course.

Hoping for a good outcome for you. Best wishes, keep well.

Thanks for the update, Fly by night, best of luck to you.

Good luck!

As always, hoping for the best fror you.

Is there anything else we can do?

It seems to be working so far. Much appreciated.

Thanks for posting. I think of you often and have happy memories reading your emails throughout those awful years. You were so inspirational, besides being an awesome writer. Now I'm looking forward to the best news of all.... a full pardon for a special, unique, talented, intelligent man who sacrificed much to do good for his fellow man. It's been an honor to be part of those at the window getting an inclusive view of your life.

Being able to write all of you on an irregular basis kept me alive for the 18 months I was in the "house". Being given the nickname "Big Man" by another inmate on my first day inside didn't hurt either.

I've written the first draft of a book (My Hollow Tale -- Reflections On A(n Interrupted) Life)) and it has been gathering dust. I really need to take it off the shelf, do a final edit and get it on Amazon or something. A WAPO feature would likely sell a few ....

I would love to buy it. You certainly are one of my heroes and make this world a better place.

Glad to hear you're doing well.

When you were facing these difficulties in the past, I was afraid to sign on to anything. Not because I don't support you, but because I was afraid my ex would use anything he could against me in his seemingly neverending campaign to take me to lawyers because he's just a nice guy that way. But now my kids are older and he couldn't use anything like that against me. Not that my letter would've helped... it may have hurt you, even. LOL.

...all to say, sorry I wasn't brave.

But I hope this happens for you.

hugs!

principled battle. You definitely deserve it.

So good to see you! I was just thinking about you the other week and wondering how things have been. This is great news!! Here's hoping for a positive outcome.

These times are achangin.

post it a few times please. maybe in the lounge, in general discussion, wherever.
good luck. it's a travesty that a pot conviction should follow you around all your life.

I miss your posts. And I feel so honored to have written one of those 174 letters.

something reserved for politicians, snailmail!

I don't know why but you had slipped in out of my mind several times the past couple of weeks.

I hope all is as well as can be otherwise.

I'm sure you're long gone from the library and back home, but I want to put my good wishes on record anyway.

Good luck, and may justice prevail! And thank you so much for checking in!

round about september/october if they are smart.

I look forward to the good news!

what had became of you and your situation. Glad you checked in.

At least they seem to be giving your case more than lip service.

I'm hopeful for you!

It's nice (and a bit cosmic) to hear that I've been on some of y'all's minds recently. It does appear that the Great Mystery is working overtime on my behalf these days.

Just discovered that I can get a Wi-Fi connection on my cellphone (a gift from some friends) down at the Fly General Store. That will save me a 30 mile round-trip to the nearest library from now on.

These are (indeed) the days of miracle and wonder .... Have a great day, all y'all.

Why aren't they investigating the Wall St. bums who caused the recession starting in 2008?

Why aren't they investigating the Koch Bros. dumping coal sludge on the OH riverbanks without a permit and chlorine directly into an Arkansas tributary, causing a cancer cluster?

Why aren't they investigating the reasons cannabis-derived CBD has not gone to human trials for its cancer antimetastasis/antitumor properties, as proven in animal studies in 2007?

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24373545

Why aren't they investigating medical provider billing practices (my own example: provider charge = $40K - allowed charge = $24K for one round of chemo with actual cost of $3500 ---see table 3 in link)? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3324994/

etc

You're the second person to express "concern" for what the FBI is spending. Who knows, maybe they're using the proceeds from their sale of 25 acres of my farm that I surrendered to them so I could keep the rest of my farm that I've owned for 40+ years.

I know they aren't using my income tax proceeds since I have been unemployable ever since the raid on my farm and have filed no tax return for seven years, after paying an average of $40,000 a year in income tax before my troubles.