WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Friday commuted the sentences of 95 prisoners and pardoned two more, part of a broader effort to rethink a criminal justice system that critics say has resulted in overly harsh and expensive sentences for thousands of drug offenders. The commutations, the most Obama has issued at one time, mostly benefit nonviolent drug offenders many of whom are serving long sentences for cocaine and crack crimes. Obama is also pardoning an Ohio man sentenced to probation in a counterfeiting case and a Virginia woman sentenced to home detention and supervised release in a bank fraud case. [continues 63 words]
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Friday commuted the sentences of 95 prisoners and pardoned two more, part of a broader effort to rethink a criminal justice system that critics say has resulted in overly harsh and expensive sentences for thousands of drug offenders. The commutations, the most Obama has issued at one time, mostly benefit nonviolent drug offenders - many of whom are serving long sentences for cocaine and crack crimes. Obama is also pardoning an Ohio man sentenced to probation in a counterfeiting case and a Virginia woman sentenced to home detention and supervised release in a bank fraud case. [continues 125 words]
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department is encouraging nonviolent federal inmates who have behaved in prison, have no significant criminal history and have already served more than 10 years behind bars to apply for clemency, officials announced Wednesday. The initiative is part of a broader Obama administration effort to trim the nation's prison population, ease sentencing disparities arising from drug possession crimes and scale back the use of strict punishments for drug offenders without a violent past. The goal is to create a larger pool of eligible prisoners the Justice Department can recommend to the president to consider for shorter sentences. [continues 419 words]
Providence A bill that would allow patients with serious diseases to smoke and grow marijuana continued its advance through the General Assembly, winning overwhelming support from House lawmakers Wednesday. Qualifying patients suffering from diseases like cancer, AIDS and Hepatitis C would be shielded from arrest and prosecution under the bill, which passed 52-10. Their doctors and physicians also would be protected. Rhode Island would become the 11th state to authorize the medical use of marijuana, according to the legislation. If approved, the bill could put the state at odds with the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled earlier this month that medical marijuana users can be prosecuted under federal law even if their home states allow use of the drug. [continues 269 words]
PROVIDENCE -- A bill that would allow patients with serious diseases to grow and smoke marijuana continued its advance through the General Assembly, winning overwhelming support from House lawmakers yesterday. Qualifying patients suffering from such diseases as cancer, AIDS and Hepatitis C would be shielded from arrest and prosecution under the bill, which passed 52-10. Their doctors and physicians also would be protected. Rhode Island would become the 11th state to authorize the medical use of marijuana, according to the legislation. [continues 104 words]
Providence -- Patients suffering from debilitating medical conditions would be able to grow and use marijuana without risking arrest under a bill up for debate before a legislative committee on Wednesday. The House Committee on Health, Education & Welfare heard testimony Wednesday evening on the Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Act, which would shield patients with diseases such as cancer and AIDS from being prosecuted for using marijuana. Their doctors and caregivers also would be protected. "We can all agree that there are people out there who are very sick and are using marijuana because it's the only thing that gives them relief," Rep. Thomas C. Slater, D-Providence, sponsor of the House bill, told the committee. [continues 414 words]
