Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
When Bernard Noble was caught with just two marijuana joints, the father of seven's entire world fell apart.
Noble was riding his bike in New Orleans in 2011 when he was stopped by police who found him in possession of 2.8g of marijuana.
Having had a prior drug conviction from years ago, Noble was charged under the state's habitual offender law and sentenced to 13.3 years to be served in a parish prison in Louisiana.
Despite attempts to overturn the harsh sentence, Noble remains in prison and his ongoing battle for freedom is now the subject of a change.org petition launched by his mother Elnora who is appealing to Governor John Bell Edwards for clemency.
Noble's story is just one which features in new documentary Weediquette, which airs on SBS Viceland tonight.
VICE correspondent Krishna Andavolu explores the world of weed as well as those living in an age of radical transformation for the marijuana culture.
Speaking to news.com.au in Sydney, Andavolu said the purpose of his series wasn't to promote drug use but rather to highlight how legalisation of marijuana could positively impact on some people's lives.
"I just want to get people talking," he said.
"At the moment there's enormous change in the world of marijuana - it's now legal in 27 states and DC.
"In Bernard's case it's just crazy, there's no justice. The punishment should at least fit the crime.
"It also sums up how ridiculous America's war on drugs is as well as its incarceration rates in just one case."
Despite it being legal in some states, Andavolu said there remained a massive stigma attached to marijuana use and he believed nationwide legislation would help fix this.
"It's not just about guys playing video games," he said.
"It used to be this subculture but that is no longer the case. The whole culture is quite diverse."
During his series, which runs every week until December 28, he encounters parents who use marijuana oil to treat their sick children as well as military veterans who say it helps them cope with stress.
Andavolu also speaks with farmers in California's rust belt and looks at whether legalisation will lead to corporisation of the drug.
He also travels to the Congo and speaks with those who smoke and make a living from growing the drug before visiting Amsterdam to see how decades of tolerance, not full legalisation, has worked.
Andavolu said while obviously having the potential to cause harm, he met so many people whose lives had been impacted positively by marijuana.
"Studies have shown it can produce pain relief and the chemical in marijuana, CBD, not the one that gets you high, can reduce seizures in children," he said.
"Marijuana is no longer just a Democrat or Republican issue, or one for the left or the right.
"While older people might still think it's bad some studies actually show it can reduce overdoses in other areas such as opioid, as well as help with addiction."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Weediquette Documentary On SBS Viceland - TV Series Explores Marijuana In US
Author: Debra Killalea
Contact: +61 2 9288 3000
Photo Credit: SBS
Website: news.com.au
Noble was riding his bike in New Orleans in 2011 when he was stopped by police who found him in possession of 2.8g of marijuana.
Having had a prior drug conviction from years ago, Noble was charged under the state's habitual offender law and sentenced to 13.3 years to be served in a parish prison in Louisiana.
Despite attempts to overturn the harsh sentence, Noble remains in prison and his ongoing battle for freedom is now the subject of a change.org petition launched by his mother Elnora who is appealing to Governor John Bell Edwards for clemency.
Noble's story is just one which features in new documentary Weediquette, which airs on SBS Viceland tonight.
VICE correspondent Krishna Andavolu explores the world of weed as well as those living in an age of radical transformation for the marijuana culture.
Speaking to news.com.au in Sydney, Andavolu said the purpose of his series wasn't to promote drug use but rather to highlight how legalisation of marijuana could positively impact on some people's lives.
"I just want to get people talking," he said.
"At the moment there's enormous change in the world of marijuana - it's now legal in 27 states and DC.
"In Bernard's case it's just crazy, there's no justice. The punishment should at least fit the crime.
"It also sums up how ridiculous America's war on drugs is as well as its incarceration rates in just one case."
Despite it being legal in some states, Andavolu said there remained a massive stigma attached to marijuana use and he believed nationwide legislation would help fix this.
"It's not just about guys playing video games," he said.
"It used to be this subculture but that is no longer the case. The whole culture is quite diverse."
During his series, which runs every week until December 28, he encounters parents who use marijuana oil to treat their sick children as well as military veterans who say it helps them cope with stress.
Andavolu also speaks with farmers in California's rust belt and looks at whether legalisation will lead to corporisation of the drug.
He also travels to the Congo and speaks with those who smoke and make a living from growing the drug before visiting Amsterdam to see how decades of tolerance, not full legalisation, has worked.
Andavolu said while obviously having the potential to cause harm, he met so many people whose lives had been impacted positively by marijuana.
"Studies have shown it can produce pain relief and the chemical in marijuana, CBD, not the one that gets you high, can reduce seizures in children," he said.
"Marijuana is no longer just a Democrat or Republican issue, or one for the left or the right.
"While older people might still think it's bad some studies actually show it can reduce overdoses in other areas such as opioid, as well as help with addiction."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Weediquette Documentary On SBS Viceland - TV Series Explores Marijuana In US
Author: Debra Killalea
Contact: +61 2 9288 3000
Photo Credit: SBS
Website: news.com.au
