News & Commentary

Each Friday, we’ll bring you updates on the latest civil liberties news from Maine and the nation.

On October 9 LD 1062 – An Act To Add Conditions That Qualify For Medical Marijuana Use will go into effect. Once enacted, this law will allow medical marijuana to be prescribed for those currently suffering from PTSD, dyskenetic and spastic movement disorders, and irritable bowl syndrome.

Wonderful news from Louisiana yesterday! A Federal Judge has ordered the release of Herman Wallace - a member of the so-called Angola 3 - who has been held in solitary confinement for over 40 years. The Judge called for the “immediate release of Mr. Wallace from custody,”denying the state's motion to block his early order that overturned Herman's four-decade-old murder conviction. Unfortunately, this decision is very late in coming and Herman is currently suffering from advanced liver cancer. He has been given just days left to live. 

I recently watched a segment of the PBS documentary Brains on Trial titled “Deciding Punishment.”Through the use of a fictional trial, this segment explored the relationship between neuroscience and our current criminal justice system. It paid special attention to the development of the adolescent brains and how its affects decision making, revealing how its immaturity makes young people more likely to act in an impulsive and foolish manner they may later regret.

Each Friday, we’ll bring you updates on the latest civil liberties news from Maine and the nation.

Last week the Lewiston Sun Journal published two articles focused on the controversial law LD 1515, which would have transferred forensic patients (people found not criminally responsible or incompetent to stand trial) from the Riverview State Psychiatric Hospital to a new mental health unit located within the Maine State Prison. Not surprisingly this proposal was met with considerable opposition. Find the ACLU of Maine’s letter to the legislature here. Fortunately the bill was amended so that both patients found not criminal responsible and incompetent to stand trial would not be transferred to this unit.

A recent Portland Press Herald article featured the story of Thomas Schoolcraft, a New Hampshire man whose request for pardon of his felony conviction was denied last Wednesday by New Hampshire’s Executive Council.

After last year’s flop in the AFC Championship game, yesterday was the first step in redemption for the New England Patriots. Like many Mainers, I was excited to watch our new team kick off their season – and I was even more excited that they (barely) pulled out the win against Buffalo. But with all that’s gone on this offseason for the Pats, it was hard not to think back on differences between this year’s team and last – and no, I’m not talking about Wes Welker leaving for Denver.

Last Thursday U.S Attorney General Eric Holder made the much awaited announcement that the Department of Justice would allow laws legalizing the use of marijuana for adults in Colorado and Washington to go into effect. Though contingent on the states’ abilities to “implement strong and effective and regulatory enforcement systems,” this directive marks a significant shift in federal thinking on marijuana policy reform.