Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A 19-year-old Puerto Rican student faces up to 10 years in prison for possession and use of marijuana near a school, a group that considers the punishment excessive said.
Melvin Villanueva Feliciano's supporters should rally outside the courthouse in Aguadilla, the town in western Puerto Rico where the teenager's trial began on Monday, the Intercambios organization said.
"The judicial system needs to reevaluate punishments imposed by courts that send people to jail for possession of marijuana," Intercambios director Rafael Torruella told Efe.
Villanueva Feliciano's defense attorney will make a motion at the next hearing on March 24 for the court to throw out the evidence presented by police, Torruello said.
This case "is a clear example of the war on drug's insanity," Torruella said.
Villanueva Feliciano was charged with possession and consumption of marijuana near a school and could be sentenced to four to 10 years in prison.
The defendant, now a university student, has been under house arrest for 15 months since police alleged he was found in the possession of "two small bags of marijuana" at a playground near his school in Aguadilla.
Villanueva was recorded sharing a joint with classmates as part of a sting operation that also led to the arrest of Jeremy Ruiz, who is now serving a four-year prison sentence, police said.
Intercambios called on citizens to express their opposition to "an example of how abusive the judicial system can be toward disadvantaged social classes."
"Jail is not the place to deal with drug use issues, and even less the marijuana issue," the group said, noting that Puerto Rican authorities "insist that no one goes to jail because of marijuana," although there are cases such as Villanueva's.
Several initiatives have been introduced in Puerto Rico's legislature seeking gradual decriminalization of marijuana use and possession of small quantities of the drug.
Proposals are also being debated for regulating the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Latin American Herald Tribune - Puerto Rican Teen Faces 10 Years in Prison for Smoking Pot near School
Author: Web Staff
Contact: Latin American Herald Tribune - Contact Us
Photo Credit: Primera Hora - Portada
Website: Latin American Herald Tribune - Welcome
Melvin Villanueva Feliciano's supporters should rally outside the courthouse in Aguadilla, the town in western Puerto Rico where the teenager's trial began on Monday, the Intercambios organization said.
"The judicial system needs to reevaluate punishments imposed by courts that send people to jail for possession of marijuana," Intercambios director Rafael Torruella told Efe.
Villanueva Feliciano's defense attorney will make a motion at the next hearing on March 24 for the court to throw out the evidence presented by police, Torruello said.
This case "is a clear example of the war on drug's insanity," Torruella said.
Villanueva Feliciano was charged with possession and consumption of marijuana near a school and could be sentenced to four to 10 years in prison.
The defendant, now a university student, has been under house arrest for 15 months since police alleged he was found in the possession of "two small bags of marijuana" at a playground near his school in Aguadilla.
Villanueva was recorded sharing a joint with classmates as part of a sting operation that also led to the arrest of Jeremy Ruiz, who is now serving a four-year prison sentence, police said.
Intercambios called on citizens to express their opposition to "an example of how abusive the judicial system can be toward disadvantaged social classes."
"Jail is not the place to deal with drug use issues, and even less the marijuana issue," the group said, noting that Puerto Rican authorities "insist that no one goes to jail because of marijuana," although there are cases such as Villanueva's.
Several initiatives have been introduced in Puerto Rico's legislature seeking gradual decriminalization of marijuana use and possession of small quantities of the drug.
Proposals are also being debated for regulating the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Latin American Herald Tribune - Puerto Rican Teen Faces 10 Years in Prison for Smoking Pot near School
Author: Web Staff
Contact: Latin American Herald Tribune - Contact Us
Photo Credit: Primera Hora - Portada
Website: Latin American Herald Tribune - Welcome
