Life in prison as a ‘marijuana reprobate’

By WND Staff

Note: The following is by Craig Cesal, a federal prisoner sentenced to life without the possibility of parole as a first-time offender convicted of conspiring to distribute marijuana. He wrote this column on a prison typewriter and mailed it to columnist David Gornoski.

“I sentence you to a term of natural life imprisonment, without the possibility of parole.” These were the words I heard in the months after the events of Sept. 11, 2001. You see, at that time, the news was abuzz with theories that drug dealers finance terrorists, and I had just been convicted of my first felony: conspiring to distribute marijuana. This was the newest foray into the War on Drugs.

I was never alleged to have bought, sold, or even used marijuana, but rather my business repaired semi-trucks for a company that trafficked marijuana. I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong, as I didn’t do anything with marijuana – but I was wrong, according to the Federal Court in Gainesville, Georgia. My business, nestled near Chicago, was auctioned by lawyers in Georgia to pay for their services to secure the life sentence, after my home and savings were spent. Two months ago, recreational marijuana was approved for sale by the Illinois Legislature. Some of my business equipment is likely again being used to repair trucks that have hauled marijuana.

For over 17 years, I have watched robbers, rapists and even murderers come and go at the prison. Last year, a guy in my cellblock who killed two federal Marshals was paroled after serving 30 years. I’ve been watching the news, and I’m waiting to see if we prisoners can get the right to vote.

Here at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, the cornerstone, which denotes A.D. 1937, reminds me the prison was opened the year marijuana was made illegal by the federal government. The construction workers likely used pot when they built the prison. Looking out from my job at the prison factory, where we make blankets for the military, I can see the Death House – where Timothy McVeigh and others died. He spent less time in federal prison than I have, although his current housing is likely worse.

From Cellblock D, a couple of weeks ago, John Walker Lindh, the so-called “White Taliban” who shot CIA agents in Afghanistan, went home. Having been given a 20-year sentence, he came in after me, but with good-time credits, he only served 17 years. I’ve served more time in prison than the terrorist. But, to my knowledge, he never aided others who schlepped marijuana! Whew, that’s a good thing, or he’d still be here in prison with me. He was convicted of providing aid to terrorists, albeit not with marijuana.

Prison is intended to teach offenders not to violate the law again, or simply, for those, like me, the judge deemed irredeemable, to teach the public, those who may be thinking of doing something related to marijuana. At times, I scratch my head trying to fathom who is learning what following the imposition of my sentence. Bradley Manning made WikiLeaks a household word, and Obama sent him home because he wore a dress. Klinger, of “M*A*S*H*” fame, had no such luck. Obama turned down my clemency request. Just what am I, or anyone else, supposed to learn from my life-for-pot sentence?

The Terre Haute prison abuts the Wabash River, which separates Indiana from Illinois. From the right places, I can see Illinois across the river – the state where I lived and where marijuana distribution, and thereby marijuana “conspiracy,” is encouraged by state tax collectors. Did I merely have bad timing in selling services to marijuana traffickers from my perch in Illinois? Nope, federal DEA agents are still nabbing distributors in Illinois, well, because they still can. Oh, and the money from the marijuana dispensaries likely pay their salaries. Hopefully, I’ll learn my lesson in prison.

I imagine I can learn from the Federal Bureau of Prison’s paycheck collectors charged with caging me. The prison buildings are surrounded by tall fences, razor wire and cameras. No one from the media, from a family, or from an auditor can get in to see what staffers actually do inside the fence. Guards often go days without so much as seeing an inmate, if they even show up for work. Most will spend more years on collecting retirement benefits than the years they ostensibly worked.

A sentence of life is actually a sentence of up until death. Staff are flummoxed trying to discern what to put in the FBOP form for my release date. Death won’t work, it must be a number. The last time I checked, it was sometime in 2028. Remember, nobody is coming over the fence and razor wire to check on them. But no release is imminent.

The sentencing judge determined I am a marijuana reprobate. I am thus irredeemable and unworthy of anything other than final damnation in prison. Murderers are released after 13.4 years on average, according to the Department of Justice, and a terrorist can go home after 17 years. But I am a prisoner of the War on Drugs. There’s no hope for me under existing federal law.

I’ve learned my lesson, and lawmakers should be pushed to learn a lesson as well. Federal drug laws, especially marijuana laws, are long overdue for reform. The “fix” must also include sensible relief for prisoners of the failed War on Drugs.

Craig Cesal
Reg. #52948-019
FCI Terre Haute
P.O. Box 33
Terre Haute, IN 47808

To learn more about Craig Cesal and his experiences, visit his Facebook page. Join over 300,000 fellow citizens in helping Craig’s mission to give away his daughter in marriage by signing his petition for clemency here.

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