cannabisnews.com: Will Foster Freed From Jail
Will Foster Freed From Jail
Posted by FoM on April 25, 2001 at 18:21:17 PT
By Don Wirtshafter
Source: Story of Will Foster
Will Foster, the Oklahoma medical marijuana patent who was sentenced to 93 years in prison for keeping a small cultivation room in his basement, was released on parole yesterday.Foster, a 42-year-old father of two, was arrested in 1995 for growing marijuana in the basement of his Tulsa, home. He used the marijuana to relieve chronic pain caused by acute rheumatoid arthritis.
Foster is quick to explain his medical condition. "The drugs that I was getting, Percodans and Percosets make you really moody. They turn you into a junky. And these come with the recommendation of the doctor. With marijuana, you can control your dosage, control what you want it to do."Police raided Foster's home on December 28, 1995. They were acting on a fraudulent tip that Foster was selling methamphetamine. The raid terrified Foster and his family including their 5-year-old daughter who watched police tear apart her teddy bear looking for drugs. Only when they forced open a locked steel door did police find Foster's small, 25 square foot growing room.During Foster's trial, the prosecution claimed the plants were equivalent to 2,652 joints. Ed Rosenthal, a marijuana cultivation expert, testified that the yield would be at most 600 joints, a proper amount for a medical patent taking it as medication on a daily basis.At the time of the raid, Foster was a highly paid computer programmer. "My medical use of marijuana never interfered with my work, I ran a successful business. I told my conservative doctor what I was doing, he did not really agree with it cause of the health risk of smoking, but he witnesses my positive results. I was minding my own business taking care of my health and my family. What was I doing to anybody that got me 93 years?"There was absolutely no evidence of any sales, but a jury was convinced to convict him with cultivation and intent to distribute. Aggravating factors of possession "in the presence of a minor under age 11," and failure to obtain marijuana tax stamps increased the sentence to 93 years. In 1998, an appeals court found that the 93-year term "shocks our conscience" and reduced the sentence to 20 years, which opened up the possibility of parole for Foster.The parole board quickly issued a unanimous recommendation for the release of Foster. Oklahoma governor Frank Keating made the unusual move of turning this down. The next year Foster came up for parole and he received the recommendation of the board but Keating rejected it. On his third attempt at parole, Keating was busy being a candidate for attorney general and then the drug czar. Only when it was clear that Keating would not get either position did he finally agree to release Foster.Foster immediately flew to California where he plans to rebuild his life.For more information, please contact Will Foster in care of the Quick Trading Company 510-533-0605 or through Attorney Don Wirtshafter 740-662-5297. Complete Title: Will Foster Freed From Jail - 93 Years for Medical MarijuanaRelated Article & Web Site:The Ohio Hemperyhttp://www.hempery.com/What Will Happen To Will Foster? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8166.shtml
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Comment #18 posted by New Mexican on April 26, 2001 at 18:32:09 PT
Politics and pols: Criminal behavior!
Six years of a mans life wasted and his family in hell for no reason, except a govenors career move. Lawsuit time!and because he was released early(?), he'll likely win!Go Will Foster...Gov. Johnson could use you on his tour to highlight his point!
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Comment #17 posted by Kevin Hebert on April 26, 2001 at 11:18:47 PT:
Great News!
Welcome back, Mr. Foster.
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Comment #15 posted by r.earing on April 26, 2001 at 06:39:13 PT:
Welcome home Will!
It's fantastic that Will has been released!
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Comment #14 posted by ekim on April 26, 2001 at 04:57:48 PT:
Please write Todd Patrick McCormick
April 17, 2001I’ve not phoned because I can’t! Last Friday I lost my phone use for six months because I sent a letter to Woody’s (Harrelson) telling them to put me through to him wherever he is. They considered that an attempt to make a three-way phone call – so to punish me they took away my use of the phone for six months AND 27 days of "good time."Can you imagine spending a month in prison AND not being allowed to talk to anyone you love for six months simply because you intended to make a multi-line phone call?!! So that is why I have not called in the past week. It’s going to be much harder to stay sane without being able to just talk…If you would please start printing up the NORML news and snail mailing it to me so I can stay – ?in touch?Anyhow, I am going to appeal this insane punishment, but I doubt if it will change a damn thing.Stay in touch! (please)ToddPlease write to him. Send him cards and let him know that he is not alone.Todd’s mailing address is -- Todd Patrick McCormickInmate #11071-112F.C.I.P.O. Box 3007Terminal Island, Ca. 90731
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Comment #13 posted by tellitlikeitis on April 26, 2001 at 04:07:56 PT
What's left?
Well, Frances, we don't have Will Foster to kick around any more, but we still have our Prisons, we still have our Drug War, we still have Jesus, and if need be we can always dig up Nixon.
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Comment #12 posted by Dan B on April 25, 2001 at 23:13:20 PT:
Glad Its Finally Over for Foster . . .
. . . and remembering those still behind bars. I am so glad to see that Will Foster's incarceration is finally over, yet it is a bittersweet happiness. He spent six years behind bars for using an effective medication. Making this action a crime is shameful.I'm happy that Will Foster is now out and relocating to a state that (at least ostensibly) allows the cultivation and use of marijuana for medical purposes. It's about time, and I'm sure we all wish him the best.I wish I could say that this is the end of a chapter in America's draconian drug war, but the fact remains that hundreds of thousands still wait behind bars for their release dates. As we put the candle out in celebration of Will Foster's parole, let's be sure to light another for those who are still waiting behind bars.Best.Dan B
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Comment #11 posted by The GCW on April 25, 2001 at 22:45:35 PT
The cure!
Keating has only a minor problem that can be cured with a cannabis enema. To Dr. Ethan Russo, there has not yet been any talk of this new medical frontier, but is it totally out of the question that after catching up with the research, Keating may benifit from the miracle cure. Perhaps Will Foster can administer the enema. Makes going to Mexico for a coffee enema obsolete and should save the ignoid the travel time.The Enema Czar. RETRO.
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Comment #10 posted by Dan Hillman on April 25, 2001 at 22:33:50 PT
Woo hoo!
> Only when it was clear that Keating would not get either position [AG or drug czar] did he finally agree to release Foster.Sadly, Keating only did this after realizing that there was no chance that Smirk W. Shrub was gonna pick him for his running mate and that Cheney isn't gonna die from alcohol and fast food illness right away. He was waiting for attorney general spot? Drug czar? Proving, once again, that the only way you're gonna make top spots in this government is to violate the constitutional provision against cruel and unusual punishment.All that aside, I can't wait to see Will Foster at the head of a huge cheering crowd where he belongs, and Keating in the dock where he has been inexplicably absent.
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Comment #9 posted by DdC on April 25, 2001 at 22:02:20 PT
Welcome Home Will!
This war on civilians means so many different tragedies to so many different people in the normal everyday coarse of the war. Here, or escalating in Colombia, Indonesia and China. Brutal forces shedding innocent lives for what 80 millon Americans know to be a safe alternative to alcohol and pharmaceuticals. Know the lies of Anslinger, Hearst, DuPont and the many corporate competitions maintaining this war. From Pharmaceuticals to Fossil fuels. Many injustices daily but few come to mind as such a stain on Liberty as the case of Will Foster. To condemn a human to such a draconian crime was insanity. To attempt rationalization by reducing the sentence then have the parole boards recommendation vetoed 3 times by a candiate for Bush's drugczar, for that and only that reason. Keating has committed a breach of trust to his office, his manhood and his family. Now that he has been overlooked he has set Will Free and for that the world is a better place. Now will justice be served on the remaining 1.2 million non-violent drug offenders in the land of the free? And on the witch hunting profiteers keeping cannabis hidden from its Sacramental place as a provider of food fuel fiber FARMaceuticals and a Hardrug&Booze alternative?DdCOf the 2 million U.S. prisoners, 1.2 million are in for drug related crimes and all but 3% are non-violent. How many diabetics do you know holding up 7 11's for a fix? Or anyone getting AIDs from a sterile syringe? Let the doctors fight the disease of addiction. Let the cops fight real crime. Remove the corporate profits perpetuating this war on Americans and poor. Support your local WoD Resistance Group today!November Dhttp://www.november.orgN.O.R.M.L.http://norml.orgFamilies Against Mandatory Minimums Foundation (FAMM Foundation)http://www.famm.orgDrug Sensehttp://www.drugsense.orgM.A.M.A.http://www.mamas.orgF.E.A.R.http://www.fear.orgCannabis Newshttp://www.cannabisnews.comMAP Inc.Org.http://www.mapinc.orgTod H. Mikuriya, M.D. http://www.mikuriya.com/althealth/marijuana.html RxMarijuanahttp://www.rxmarihuana.comAMMAhttp://americanmarijuana.org Jack Hererhttp://www.jackherer.comEverybody Wants One...The Prison Industrial Complex Discussion ThreadIncludes: * America's Private Gulag* Slave Labor Means Big Bucks For U.S. Corporations* Bush Crime Family* Why Are So Many Drug Addicts in Prison? * Groups that are fighting the insanity...http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/thread.shtml?1x35879Nazism or WoD?SCAPEGOATING - Blaming social problems on a cultural, racial, or behaviorial group. PREJUDICE - Selling the public on the idea that all members of the targeted group are 'bad' people. LIES - 'Facts', which cannot be verified, and pseudo-scientific studies are used as propaganda against the targeted group. History isrewritten. NO PUBLIC DEBATE - "These people have no right to have their viewpoiunt aired." and " Anyone who disagrees or questions usmust be one of them!" DEHUMANIZATION - Characterizing all members of a targeted group as subhuman and typically capable of monstrous deeds and/orcrimes. PROTECT OUR CHILDREN - "They corrupt, seduce and/or destroy our children." CIVIL LIBERTIES SACRIFICED - "We must give up some of our freedoms, liberties, and rights in order to combat this menace tosociety." LEGAL DESCRIMINATION - Laws criminalize members of targeted group and they may be denied jobs, the right to own propertyand/or be restricted as to where they may live or go. INFORMERS - Citizens are urged to 'turn in' friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members. SECRET POLICE - Non-uniformed police squads set up to wage war on targeted groups utilizing deception, infiltration, espionage andentrapment. CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY - Property and assets are seized from people who are members of targeted group. Property may bedivided between the informer and the state. REMOVAL FROM SOCIETY - Prisons, rehabilitation camps, 'hospitals', executions and genocide ("kill them all")
Why do you think they call it dope?
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Comment #8 posted by Shausha on April 25, 2001 at 20:42:10 PT
GREAT NEWS!
This story brings tears of happiness for me as im sure it does for him. Im grateful he will be with his family where he belongs.
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Comment #7 posted by Cuzn Buzz on April 25, 2001 at 20:39:51 PT:
CHOICES
The only choices left for Keating should be are whether or not he wants a blindfold or a last cigarette.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on April 25, 2001 at 19:46:25 PT
Welcome Home Will Foster
I'm not sure if Will Foster will read this but welcome home and it makes us happy to know you finally are free.
What's New
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on April 25, 2001 at 19:33:36 PT:
Another win for the Good Guys!
Now, to get the other PoW's out...
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Comment #4 posted by lookinside on April 25, 2001 at 19:28:30 PT:
sanity!!
better late than never...congratulations, will foster...ihope you find a niche here in california...i'm proud youchose our state... it would be nice to fill your spot in the prison withabout 50 california district attorneys...california would bea better place to live...
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Comment #3 posted by Dankhank on April 25, 2001 at 19:13:13 PT:
Welcome Home
It is indeed with a tear in my eye that I will soon remove the candle from my website index page.Will paid a tough price here in the "Land of the Free" for daring to choose his medicine.Will, I didn't do enough for you, but I hope that in some small measure my site and my emails to Gov. Keating and my upbraiding of J C Watts at his town meeting resulting in a large article in our usually prohibitionist local newsrag may have helped you.Godspeed in the pursuit of you life.Peace and Love, Brother.If you haven't seen the candle on my site get to it ... It will be coming down, soon !!!!!!
HEMP n STUFF
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Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on April 25, 2001 at 18:38:57 PT:
Divine Retribution
Keating has it coming. He did not have to do a thing but allow the parole board to release Foster. Keating could have vilified them and made political points with his fascist buddies, but rather chose to intervene in favor of greater repression. He's going to be in trouble on the cosmic balance sheet.I only wish that I could write Will's cannabis recommendation for him. That would be an honor.
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Comment #1 posted by freedom fighter on April 25, 2001 at 18:33:44 PT
Hi Will,
Welcome backto a world where freedom does not mean much.Just glad to have you back..ff
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