Missouri Siblings Get 37 Years for 17 Plants (Mostly for Being Stupid)

A brother and sister from Missouri got exceptionally long sentences for growing 17 marijuana plants. David DePriest, 24 years old, got 22 years in prison and his sister Natalie, 36 years old, got 15 years.

After their arrest, they chose to dig in their heels and state over and over that they weren’t breaking any laws and that they supported Ron Paul, so that marijuana would soon be legal everywhere. Well, presently in Missouri, they did break the law. It’s a dumb law and I cannot tell you how thrilled the taxpayers must be to have the privilege of providing food, shelter, and medical services to the DePriest’s for a total of 37 years, but incarcerating people for non-violent marijuana possession is a mind blowing waste of resources.

However, the law is the law. It is the established and enforced standard of behavior in any given place. These two should have moved to another state if they wanted to partake in cannabis growth.

When you go against the guys with the money, manpower, and legal immunity, you’re going to lose every time. While I support (in spirit) what the DePriest’s were standing for and they may very well be right that marijuana will be legal soon (though I wouldn’t hold your breath on Missouri setting any records for speed on this transition). And, yes, the laws are what is wrong with this picture. These two got a combined 37 years in prison for growing 17 marijuana plants.

The only prior transgressions they had committed were a minor drug charge against David while he was in the military (he was dishonorably discharged) and Natalie had written one bad check. Full disclosure, they found an illegal gun on the premises as well but they got such a harsh punishment due mainly to being obstinate.

It is reported that at several times during this trial they were offered a plea bargain that would have gotten them both out of prison in less than 120 days and placed them in probation. They staunchly refused every offer.

I could understand a year in jail for being idiots, they deserve that at the very least. Some part of me can almost respect what they were trying to do, but I think you need to pick your battles and this is one for which they should have sacrificed their morals. Though it might be good for the pro-cannabis movement to shout out “37 years in prison for 17 cannabis plants” as an adherent to the truth I cannot let that headline loose without the context. Yes, prison time of any length for growing marijuana seems ludicrous to me. But that doesn’t mean you should essentially pick a fight with Goliath when you don’t have your slingshot.