support the Miami Beach marijuana decriminalization initiative

For the past year, we've been working on a documentary called Square Grouper, a chronicle of the 1970s free-wheeling pot smuggling era of South Florida.

One of the subjects of the documentary is Robert Platshorn.  A Philadelphia native, Platshorn was a middleman in the marijuana business when he moved to Miami Beach in 1975.  Like many of his era, Platshorn saw the decriminalization of marijuana in Oregon and Alaska and the election of Jimmy Carter in 1976 as a sign that pot was headed towards legalization.  Eager to capitalize, Platshorn and a few friends, dubbed the Black Tuna Gang, became smugglers.

As the Carter presidency foundered and the hopes for pot legalization dwindled, Platshorn was indicted in 1979 for smuggling 100,000 pounds of marijuana and was arrested in his Pine Tree Drive home in Miami Beach. After a circus-like trial in Miami, Platshorn was convicted and sentenced to 64 years in prison.  He was 36 years old.

In 2008, Platshorn, age 65, was released from federal prison after serving 29 1/2 years.  He is the longest serving marijuana prisoner in U.S. history.

Since his release, Platshorn has been criss-crossing the country in support of decriminalization initiatives.  Over the past few years, Colorado, Massachusetts, California, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Seattle have reformed their marijuana laws.  

We met Ford Banister, chairman of the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, after hearing of his decriminalization efforts in Jacksonville Beach, Orlando and Tallahassee.  When Ford laid out what would be involved to mount a petition drive in Miami Beach, we decided to support his organization's efforts.

The petition is simple: amend the Miami Beach city charter to allow police to issue a $100 civil fine for individuals caught with under 20 grams of marijuana in lieu of criminal misdemeanor charges, which usually means a night in jail.

Ford's organization needs to collect 4,240 signed petitions from Miami Beach residents by the end of August to put the initiative on the November ballot.  They'll be collecting signatures around Miami Beach, starting at a press conference tomorrow June 16th at 7pm at Miami Beach City Hall (press release).

To get in touch or find out how to sign the petition, email info@sensibleflorida.com, check their website http://sensibleflorida.com or follow them on Twitter at @sensibleflorida.

Comments

[anon]

This needs to happen!!!