Cannabis Conviction Reduced in Florida

Richard DeLisi Spent 31 Years in Prison Due in Part to His Heritage – LPC

A Version of This Story Originally Appeared on the CTV Website

Richard DeLisi, believed to be the longest-serving “cannabis prisoner”, had his cannabis conviction reduced in Florida last week. He served 31 years of a 90-year sentence. During his incarceration, his wife, one of his sons, and his parents died. His daughter suffered a major car accident. But, according to the CTV report below, he’s not bitter.

“Prison changed me. I never really knew who God was and now I know and it changed the way I talk to people and treat people,” said DeLisi, who became a mentor to younger inmates. “For me, being there so long, I was able to take gang members from gangs to gentleman.”

DeLisi’s son Rick has different feelings about seeing his father behind bars that long. “It’s just kind of like torment on your soul for 31 years,” he said. “I was kind of robbed of my whole life so I just appreciate that I can witness it, but on the other hand I feel like isn’t somebody responsible? Is there somebody that can answer to this?”

DeLisi was finally released thanks to the efforts of The Last Prisoner Project and Chiara Juster, a former Florida prosecutor. Juster, who worked pro bono, said DeLisi’s original sentence was “a sick indictment of our nation”.

Part of that indictment was the fact that, as DeLisi believes, he was handed extra time because the judge assumed he was part of the Mafia. Discrimination in the justice system is nothing new. There is a strong connection between racism and cannabis. Non-whites have a much higher rate of cannabis conviction.

There are disparities in the legal cannabis industry as well. First Nations believe they were left out of the Cannabis Act equation and cannabis jurisdiction is often muddled. When it comes to ownership, there are few Indigenous-owned and/or woman-owned cannabis companies in Canada such as BeeHigh Vital Elements (or “BeeHighVE”).

Serving 30-plus years for a cannabis conviction is a terrible price to pay. We hope the DeLisi’s case serves as a reminder that non-violent cannabis crimes should not earn longer sentences than most murders and other violent crimes. We wish the best for DeLisi and his family in his new freedom.

Click here to view full story at www.ctvnews.ca

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