Op-ed: Unhappy With Drug Convictions
John Berg
September 13, 2007
The Gazette
A sentence was handed down recently to an individual charged with possession of marijuana — 10 years in prison.
As I understand it, possession is when you're caught with enough marijuana for personal consumption. I find it hard to believe that 10 years in prison is a just sentence for this crime.
By comparison there have been three convictions for possession with intent to deliver meth posted in the paper this summer. All three had the same sentence handed down — 10 years prison, suspended; $750 fine, suspended; two years probation.
The probation was the only actual punishment given to these persons who were convicted of dealing one of the most damaging and dangerous drugs available. And North Iowa wonders why we have such a large problem with methamphetamine in our communities.
The answer is that our judges are locking up the occasional end consumer who is caught and letting the dealers who peddle the poison go free. Where is the justice in that?
John Berg, Nora Springs | 
