Two Years for One Joint

Drug Policy Alliance has a great little movie clip you can watch regarding a one 17-year-old boy, Mitchell Lawrence, got a punishment that many in his community feel does not match his crime - because of drug-free zone laws.

You can view it here: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/050506greatbarringtonflash.cfm

happened to a friend of mine's kid. about 5 years ago. he had 10 joints. he was charged with posession with intent to distribute because he had 10 individually wrapped joints. the kicker is he was in a "school zone" wich carries a 2 year min. mandatory sentence. he was 17. in most cities in ma. a school zone is 1000feet from a school, bus route ect. basicly the WHOLE city is considered a school zone. :no:

Meanness and stupidity should be illegal. Instead, they're LAUDED. What is the matter with this planet anyway?

Let me tell you something - if you live or get busted in a school zone,
even if you never went near the school or had nothing to do with kids in
your "crime"- you get an automatic 2 year DAY FOR DAY MUST serve
in Massachusetts. I got tagged with a bunch of Viagra - yes, I was set
up by a business associate who ordered a ton of Viagra from a foreign
website and had it sent to me by US Postal Service. I lived 982 feet
as the crow flies from school. 18 feet shy of the limit. The Postal
Service executed a controlled delivery and once I signed for the package -and who would not sign for a package when the postal guy banged on your door, the cops came busting in guns drawn. For 12 bottles of Viagra
(1080 tabs). This is a Class E misdemeanor in Massachusetts punishable
by 0-9 months in a HOC *but* since I was 18 feet into a school zone, the
ADA tried to tag me with the 2 year mandatory FELONY add on. :eek: He tried
to make a misdemeanor into a felony. I am exceedingly lucky I have the
best atty and he convinced the ADA this was preposterous so they
agreed to drop it IF I agree to plea and serve the mandatory 9 month max.

This law does not work.:(

Marcheville

9 months-What that is so sad. I'm so soory you had to go through that! Makes you think twice before ordering meds on line. Wow

This isn't about a school zone, but I just don't get it...I know 2 friends that are in prison now. One in WA and he was charged for possession with intent to sell and got a year and a day. The other one got charged with drug traffiking and got 6-15 in NV, they didn't catch him selling, he got pulled over with the stuff in his car........what's the difference? why the large amount of time difference?

It depends on a lot of things. Prior history, prior offences, and the amount of the drug in possession, state laws, also including what KIND of drug....
Different states have different rules concerning the severity of these crimes..and severity is determined by the above mitigating factors.