[ambrose]

9 pounds of marijuana would likely yield the same (if not longer) sentence under U.S. sentencing guidelines.

[ambrose]

[wagglebee]

9 pounds of marijuana would likely yield the same (if not longer) sentence under U.S. sentencing guidelines.

But there are some major differences:

1. 20 years in a US prison, is not a de facto death sentence; it would be highly unpleasant, but survivable.
2. If this was in the US, a person would have a far better chance of being found not guilty. The burden would be on the prosecution to prove that she knew about the drugs AND planned to distribute them.
3. A person in the US with no prior criminal record and no evidence of drug trafficking would probably not face a sentence anywhere near this harsh.

[Txsleuth]

I don't know about that---I was watching Fox News yesterday, and they had a long piece about this case, and they interviewed a lawyer and a law enforcement official from Florida, and they both said that here in the US, she might get 5 years...

[spetznaz]

9 pounds of marijuana would likely yield the same (if not longer) sentence under U.S. sentencing guidelines.

Are you serious? I am not as well versed on drug laws as I would like to be and thus would appreciate some further clarification. It appears to me that 20yrs for 9pnds of marijuana is rather harsh. Especially when one considers what other crimes deliver in terms of sentences. Please elaborate. Thanks.

[Lazamataz]

9 pounds of marijuana would likely yield the same (if not longer) sentence under U.S. sentencing guidelines.

... in somewhat humane, and usually survivable conditions.