The Drug Policy Alliance is calling on Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) to grant reprieve to a man who was sentenced to 13 years in jail for possessing two joints' worth of marijuana.
Bernard Noble was put behind bars after being caught with 2.8 grams of marijuana in 2010. Because Noble had prior convictions -- including two felony charges for possessing small amounts of cocaine and marijuana -- he was given the maximum sentence under Louisiana's habitual offender law. (All of Noble's convictions were nonviolent.)
Jindal signed a bill into law earlier this year that significantly decreases the penalties for marijuana possession. Had that law been in effect in 2010, Noble's sentence would have been a maximum of 4 years. However, the law does not apply retroactively and Noble will need a gubernatorial reprieve to have his sentence commuted.
Now, four years into Noble's sentence, the Drug Policy Alliance is pressing Jindal to grant the prisoner clemency before leaving office next month.
"The sentence inflicted by Louisiana on Mr. Noble for simple, low-level marijuana possession, on a gainfully employed father with absolutely no history of any serious or violent crime, is a travesty," Daniel Abrahamson, senior legal advisor at Drug Policy Alliance, said in a statement Monday. "Mr. Noble's sentence does not enhance public safety. It has devastated Mr. Noble and his family. And it flies in the face of what Louisianans believe and what current law provides. Governor Jindal should exercise mercy and use his power as Governor to advance fairness, justice and compassion by issuing Mr. Noble a sentencing reprieve."
Jindal's office would not say whether the governor plans to grant Noble reprieve.
"We do not make decisions on pardons until after the Pardon Board makes recommendations to our office," said Mike Reed, Jindal's communications director.
Advocates have previously pressured Jindal on Noble's behalf. A Change.org petition launched by Noble's mother over the summer gathered over 67,000 signatures. And in March, supporters held a rally urging for Noble's release.
"I’m not perfect, not many of us are, and I have had my challenges in life," Noble told The Huffington Post in August. "But we live in a country where we would like to believe that all life is precious, and to destroy a life and take someone’s freedom for 13 years for a tiny amount of marijuana is so overkill."
This story has been updated to include comment from Jindal's office.
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