Libertarian Party of North Carolina Press Release
The Libertarian Party of North Carolina passed a resolution calling for the governor to pardon Todd Stimson, who was convicted of marijuana trafficking, at its annual state convention in Durham April 11-12.
Simpson openly ran a medicinal marijuana operation in Henderson County, had a business license and paid taxes on the plants he purchased. He was sentenced to up to 39 months in prison.
The resolution notes that Stimson “is a peaceful, honest family man, and has helped many in North Carolina and victimized no one” and that “no public safety interest is met by sending peaceful, honest people to prison.”
Stimson was arrested despite the fact that he’s paid for a business privilege license for the art of healing from the state Department of Revenue, has articles of incorporation from the N.C. Secretary of State explaining his business and its educational and scientific goals, and has paid for tax stamps on the plants he’s purchased.
But according the state revenue department, buying stamps only fulfills an unauthorized substance tax obligation. The website explains that people who buy stamps will still be violating North Carolina criminal statutes for possessing drugs.
Stimson noted that state government and local police benefited from the tax stamps he bought for his plants.
The LPNC has opposed the “war on drugs” since its founding. The party platform says: While we do not advocate the use of recreational drugs, it has become obvious that the enforcement of drug prohibition is more harmful to society than the legal use of recreational drugs could ever be.
The platform also calls for the immediate legalization of marijuana production and use for medical and recreational purposes.
Executive committee
The party elected its executive committee. The members are: Chair J.J. Summerell (Greensboro), Vice Chair Brian Irving (Wake), Treasurer Alex Vuchnich (Mecklenburg), and Secretary Windy McKinney (Haywood).
At-large members are: Timothy Lee Cole (Mecklenburg), Chris Dooley (Rowan), Jessica Leigh Dunlap (Haywood), Tom Hohman (Union), Lonnie Holcomb (Wake), Jeremy Hussey (Randolph), Brian Lewis (Wake), Ken Penkowski (Wake), and Erik Raudsep (Durham).
The convention also passed a resolution congratulating the Duke University Blue Devils for winning the NCAA Men’s Basketball championship.
Resolution to pardon Todd Simpson
WHEREAS, the Libertarian Party of North Carolina supports ending cannabis prohibition and prohibitions against harmless people self medicating, and;
WHEREAS, the Libertarian Party of North Carolina recognizes that no public safety interest is met by sending peaceful, honest people to prison, and;
WHEREAS, Todd Stimson, although recently convicted in Hendersonville of marijuana trafficking, is a peaceful, honest family man, and has helped many in NC and victimized no one,
THEREFORE, the Libertarian Party of North Carolina calls on Governor Pat McCrory to pardon Todd Stimson of all charges in this matter.
Done in Convention, April 12, 2015, Durham, North Carolina
Good idea. You may want to pass it on to the LPNC along with that explanation.
Matt,
The point of having the Libertarian Party do it rather then an individual is that the organization gains from the exposure particularly among the younger demographic.
Search engines are your friend.
https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-patrick-mccrory-free-todd-stimson-from-wrongful-conviction
What’s stopping you, Steve?
Its good to have a face and a persona to represent the drug war victims.
Is there an online petition demanding Governor Pat McCrory to pardon Todd Stimson and end the drug wars?
The Libertarian Party of North Carolina has taken the first step forward… why not take the next step forward by staring an online social media petition calling for Governor McCrory to pardon Todd Stimson and let those of us outside North Carolina add our pressure?
3+ years for selling pot. Gimme a f-ing break!
Rather, give *him* a break.