I completely agree that it’s bullshit that there are still Americans getting clapped for weed every day, and no one’s really helping them. Especially because in the truly illegal States, a vape pen is a felony. It’s a concentrate. And they weigh the whole cart, not just the oil. So it can carry sentences like they’re handing out in Russia.
I also believe it would be perfectly legal for the President to deschedule cannabis tomorrow. At least it would stop the Feds from fucking with people.
But I wouldn’t be too concerned about the prison transfer. I don’t think Griner is the big get here.
Bill Richardson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a frequent emissary in hostage negotiations, says he's hopeful about the chances of a two-for-two prisoner swap that could result in the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan.
apnews.com
So this Paul Whelan guy is a CIA spook. Or maybe he’s just…. An avid collector of passports who likes to travel with lots of cash in various currencies. But probably it’s the first one. I think he’s the big get for the US.
Also that Viktour Bout guy is a real scumbag. But the CIA was happy to run cover for him when he was running guns for them. Only when he stopped being useful was he cut loose.
It sort of seems like Viktor was stepping on our turf a bit. Given that weapons are the only thing we make in any big numbers anymore. Lots of people who sold weapons to the Taliban are walking around free in Northern Virginia.
So I’m not upset about the trade. Russia actually has lighter sentences for weed than America in most cases. Griner got fucked because she’s a political prisoner.
If it were up to me I’d use this as an opportunity to deschedule cannabis, free every Federal cannabis prisoner, and call on every governor to do the same. But it’s not.
