A 30 year old woman, Samantha Bidwell, is facing a possible sentence of life imprisonment if she’s convicted, according to the Union Leader. Life in Prison, for drugs?
In 2016, Bidwell was convicted of a misdemeanor drug charge in Grafton County. Misdemeanors carry a maximum sentence of up to a year in jail. Then, this year (3 years after the original misdemeanor charge,) she’s being charge with two felonies. “[S]elling a fentanyl-class drug in a quantity of 5 grams or more on June 27 in Ashland,” and “possession of a controlled drug with intent to sell, subsequent offense.” (Union Leader) . These two charges make her eligible for enhanced sentences under the 3-strike rule, which began being implemented in 1994 under Bill Clinton.
So, does a drug user or dealer really deserve LIFE IN PRISON? The same (actually, even worse!) sentence as murderers, rapists, and actually offenders of rights, life, and liberty?
War on Drugs
If you haven’t noticed yet, the ‘War on Drugs’ was lost, and the drugs won. Overdoses continue to skyrocket due to fentanyl, and the vast amount of persons in jail or prison for these victimless crimes hasn’t done a darned thing to help. Yet the Government presses on, wasting your tax payer dollars on locking up drug users and low-level dealers. Money that could otherwise be spent on rehabilitation services, or better yet, not at all.
There’s little doubt we have an opioid epidemic in our country, and the first responders in New Hampshire see if all too often. Fentanyl flows up from Lawrence, MA, (despite what the Mayor of Lawrence or the Governor of Mass say,) and users in Manchester and elsewhere in the Granite State require Narcan injections to stay alive. Just last week, there was a string over overdoses of “spice,” a synthetic drug made to resemble cannabinoids.
Now, this 30 year old faces life imprisonment. Give the average life expectancy of American women she’ll be in prison for 48+ years. All for selling a product people voluntarily buy. This as the Government eyes more bans on ‘harmful’ products like flavored vape pens (though the deaths are primarily caused by black market items, not the legal, regulated vapes that most people use.) New Hampshire, in fact, still hasn’t even legalized marijuana. A plant that’s been on earth for as long as we have. Oh, and don’t forget, they’re going to imprison you for not wearing a seatbelt if they get their way too.
Ross Ulbricht
In 2015, Ross (Dread Pirate Roberts) Ulbricht was convicted on charges of of “money laundering, computer hacking, conspiracy to traffic fraudulent identity documents, and conspiracy to traffic narcotics by means of the Internet.” (Wiki) He is serving a DOUBLE LIFE SENTENCE, PLUS FOURTY YEARS FOR NON-VIOLENT ‘CRIMES.’
Ross did not sell any drugs. He created the website where other people sold drugs. Other charges he had faced were conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Though he was only convicted for non-violent crimes, the judge factored the murder-for-hire charges that Ross was acquitted of into consideration upon sentencing. Justice. You can sign the Free Ross petition at FreeRoss.org, if you’re so inclined.
If Ross’ story is any forbearance, Samantha Bidwell will no doubt be sentenced to life in prison upon her conviction. Life, for non-violent crimes.
