{"id":2140,"date":"2015-06-17T12:03:59","date_gmt":"2015-06-17T17:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.candoclemency.com\/?p=2140"},"modified":"2022-08-19T15:34:21","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T20:34:21","slug":"men-deserving-clemency-chris-williams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/men-deserving-clemency-chris-williams\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Williams – 5 years State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"State-legal<\/a>
State-legal medical marijuana provider and former marine Chris Williams is in federal prison for pot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Christopher Wayne Williams\u00a0#11839-046
\n<\/strong>Offense:<\/strong>\u00a0 Distribution of cannabis; Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime
\nSentence:<\/strong>\u00a060 months
\nIncarcerated Since: <\/strong>2008
\nPriors:<\/strong>\u00a0level 1 misdemeanors
\nDate of Birth:<\/strong>\u00a06\/8\/1974
\nFamily:<\/strong>\u00a01 son
\nForfeitures:<\/strong> Cash and possessions
\nDid you go to trial?<\/strong>: Yes
\nHow many people in your case are now free?<\/strong>: Three are free, four are not.<\/p>\n

Why commutation:<\/strong>\u00a0Because\u00a0this country can do better than arresting and prosecuting people who were following state marijuana laws in order to help sick people.<\/p>\n

Post Release Plans:\u00a0<\/strong>To continue my education and start a new business in the tourism industry.<\/p>\n

About\u00a0Chris Williams Case<\/h2>\n
\"Chris<\/a>
Chris Williams as a young marine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former US Marine, Chris Williams and his partners operated one of Montana\u2019s largest Medical Marijuana dispensaries, \u2019Montana\u00a0Cannabis\u2019. Chris Lindsey, Dan Nichols, Thomas Daubert and the Flor family worked in strict compliance with all state medical marijuana laws.<\/p>\n

In 2011, Federal Agents raided William\u2019s dispensary and Helena greenhouse in an all-out assault on the state\u2019s medical marijuana providers and patients and charged Williams and his former partners with felony drug and weapons charges.<\/p>\n

Having no medical defense in federal jurisdiction, Chris\u2019 former partners all pled guilty and asked for leniency from the courts, but Chris stood alone and entered an innocent plea.<\/p>\n

\u201dThe main reason that I went to trial is because I felt it was my duty,\u201d Williams said during the sentencing hearing.<\/p>\n

Williams operated under legal guidelines and refuses to admit guilt in a crime.<\/p>\n

In September 2012 a jury found Williams guilty of eight felony counts facing a mandatory minimum sentencing of 80 years in prison. Supporters posted a White House petition that called to \u201cFree Chris Williams\u201d with over 27,000 signatures.<\/p>\n

Judge Dana Christensen intervened, calling the two attorneys together, and prosecutor Joseph Thaggard agreed to drop all but two charges against Chris and waive the $1.7 million forfeiture requirement.<\/p>\n

\"State-legal<\/a>
State-legal medical marijuana provider and former marine Chris Williams is in federal prison for pot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201dAn 85-year sentence in this case would simply be unjust,\u201d Christensen said.<\/p>\n

This was an unusual post-conviction agreement. Chris will serve just five of the originally proposed 80+ years for a weapons charge and his time already served was punishment for the marijuana charge. Chris also had to give up the right to appeal.<\/p>\n

Write to\u00a0Chris Williams<\/h2>\n

Chris\u00a0loves to get cards and letters. \u00a0Write to him here:<\/p>\n

Christopher Wayne Williams\u00a0#11839-046
\nFDC Seatac
\nP.O. Box 13900<\/span>
\nSeattle,\u00a0WA\u00a0\u00a098198<\/p>\n

Click here for the Bureau of Prisons\u2019 mail rules and regulations and other important information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/a>
Chris Williams, in prison for pot, with son Sage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Getting to Know\u00a0Chris Williams – In Prison for Pot<\/h1>\n

We asked Chris Williams\u00a0a series of questions to help everyone get to know him better, Here\u2019s what he said:<\/em><\/p>\n

What meal or food do you crave most that you will want to eat when you get out?<\/em><\/strong>
\nElk steak with baked sweet potatoes and asparagus!<\/p>\n

What are your favorite books or who are\u00a0your favorite authors?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>
\nFiction: Shantaram <\/em>by Gregory David Roberts. Nonfiction: Civil Disobedience<\/em> by Henry David Thoreau, and Thinning Fast and Slow<\/em> by Daniel Kahneman.<\/p>\n

Prefer winter or summer?<\/strong><\/em>
\nSummer.<\/p>\n

Nocturnal or morning person?<\/strong> <\/em>
\nMorning person.<\/p>\n

Prefer to be near an ocean or a river?<\/strong><\/em>
\nOcean.<\/p>\n

Coffee or tea?<\/strong> <\/em>
\nCoffee in the morning, tea\u00a0during the day.<\/p>\n

Favorite Sports?<\/strong>
\nSnow boarding, mountain biking.<\/p>\n

Favorite movie(s)?<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Indian Runner, The Big Lebowski, Black Hawk Down<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Favorite TV show(s)?<\/strong><\/em>
\nDeadwood, The Simpsons, MASH<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Favorite song(s) and\/or musical artist(s)?<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Good Life<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>by Railroad Earth; Falling Angels<\/a><\/em> by Israel Vibration; Brokedown Palace<\/em><\/a> by The Grateful Dead.<\/p>\n

What is your favorite color?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>
\nOlive.<\/p>\n

If you could walk out tomorrow and go anywhere \u2013 where would it be and why?<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Snowcrest Mountains on the Ruby River. \u00a0No cell phones. \u00a0No people. \u00a0Just mountains!<\/p>\n

If you could travel to any country \u2013 where would it be and why?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>
\nNorthern India. \u00a0I want to climb the mountains and know the culture.<\/p>\n

What do you most want people to understand about being incarcerated that you don\u2019t think they understand?<\/strong><\/em>
\nIncarceration is not difficult. \u00a0The separation from friends and family is what makes things hard. \u00a0The prison industrial complex is designed to destroy families and the community.<\/p>\n

More About Chris Williams – In Prison for Pot<\/h2>\n