Old man, weed, prison
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Mike Berwert went to prison yesterday. Berwert had been growing pot in his Topeka house and distributing it to a small group of old people with chronic medical conditions like himself (he's 64 and uses canes because of childhood polio). He met with me in September for a story on medical marijuana.
Police charged him in 2006 after receiving an anonymous tip. In September he figured he'd get probation. Instead, he's in prision for 26 months.
Thanks to Laura Green of Drug Policy Forum of Kansas for the update.
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Posted by dolores2175 (April Fleming) on January 23, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's incredibly depressing.
What was he charged with? Possession with intent to distribute?
Posted by lazz (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Frank, that was an amazing story you did for lawrence.com. Everyone who reads this blog should hit the link and give it a look. And Thad's photos ... powerful, heartbreaking stuff. That photo of Mr. Mallonee in the hospital bed in his mother's apartment, with the suitcase of meds on the bedside table ... wow.
I dare any legislator or peace officer to look at that picture and not plead for the chance to help advance this cause.
It's just unbelievable, morally unacceptable, that we as a society deny access to marijuanna when it could -- and does -- relieve so much suffering.
If Industrialized America could figure out a way to make a profit off of it, and Taxation America could figure out a way to slap tax levies on it, the legislation would sail through before lunch.
Thanks for the good journalism, Frank.
Posted by mitzibel (Misty Nuckolls) on January 24, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, that sucks.
On the plus side, he's getting free medical care for the next two years.
Of course, they won't *give* him the one thing that helps.
Posted by DOTDOT (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"If Industrialized America could figure out a way to make a profit off of it, and Taxation America could figure out a way to slap tax levies on it, the legislation would sail through before lunch."
If legalized, I think both are easily achieved. At least I've been saying that for the last 35 years, although the economies of powder have proven themselves more attractive in the duration. I'm thinking that it is just plain more politically expedient to fight a fake war on drugs just like it is more politically expedient to fight a fake war on terror. Nobody cares about actual results.
George Schulz even raised the issue of legalization, but only after he left office.
I, too, am curious about details about Mike Berwert's charges, conviction, and sentence. The google was not forthcoming.
Posted by frankt (Frank Tankard) on January 24, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
From Laura Green of the Drug Policy Forum of Kansas:
He was convicted of distribution of marijuana which is not the same as sale of marijuana or cultivation of marijuana. Distribution does not have to be for money, it can. He received 26 months. He had a prior felony conviction from 1964 for stealing lumber from a construction site with his cousin. Note that was 43 years ago. He had no other drug convictions.
Posted by buck (Buck Rowland) on January 31, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The idea that an individual gets medical care for being incarcerated is greatly over blown. I deal regularly with individuals who are incarcerated whose medical care is barely better than none at all. Plus, being incarcerated is a contraindication for those who are ill, but sane and functioning citizens in our community.
Great story. Thank you, Frank!
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