Life May Change For Thousands Of Medical Marijuana Offenders

[bobandtorey]

LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) -- It's hard to say exactly how many people are in jails or prisons across Nevada for drugs.

 

According to the ACLU there are more than 3,000 people in state or federal prisons for non-violent offenses. At least 79 percent of which are drug crimes.

 

Hard to tell how many, but not hard to tell the impact.

 

"I mean it would take more than two hands for me to count the friends that I know who have experienced jail time or other things similar," said Kyle Dandy as he rolled his eyes when asked him.

 

Dandy has been a medical marijuana patient for three years. Legally allowed to use pot, he's still not legally able to get it.

 

With dispensaries still closed and cultivation sites still shuttered, there is a gray area in Nevada that has cost people their future.

 

Dandy himself has been cited for possession. He avoided jail but not the stigma or the record.

 

"You know, I'm forced to have that follow me for the rest of my life," Dandy said.

 

Kyle's fight is for a clean record and his fight just got a pretty big ally. 

 

President Barack Obama now championing changes to the criminal justice system, targeting non-violent offenders. That same fight, is happening here.

 

State Senator Tick Segerblom wants to roll back criminal records for marijuana users arrested for what is now legal here, giving people like Kyle a new lease on life.

 

"It's incredibly important, it's destroyed their families. Like I said it's costing us $25,000 a year," Segerblom said.

 

He has fought for the idea for several years but has yet to feel the support to write a bill.

 

"Well, I think the whole scent of the country is changing," Segerblom said. "Basically it's a lot of Republicans, so I know that President Obama is joining with a lot of Republicans in congress, I'm hoping to work with Republicans at the State Legislature, and the government. It's something we weren't able to do last session but realize it's going to happen."

 

 

http://www.news3lv.com/content/news/local/story/Life-may-change-for-thousands-of-medical/N4lYErXbVEeOOrmeZu2ltQ.cspx?rss=3269

[Willy]

just give them more money and power, it'll work like a charm..