Kevin Allen’s 35-Year Sentence for $20 of Weed Highlights the Broken Justice System

Kevin Allen’s case stands as a brutal reminder of how outdated drug laws continue to ruin lives, even as public opinion and legislation around cannabis have evolved dramatically. Recently, the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Allen’s 35-year sentence for selling just $20 worth of marijuana, ruling that the punishment was “not excessive” despite the growing decriminalization of marijuana across many parts of the country.

The Unforgiving Reality of Louisiana’s Habitual Offender Law

In 2014, Allen was convicted of selling a mere $20 worth of cannabis to a confidential informant in two separate transactions. Under Louisiana’s harsh habitual offender law, his previous nonviolent drug convictions allowed the court to hand down an initial life sentence without parole. None of Allen’s prior offenses involved violence, but the state’s rigid sentencing laws saw him treated as a high-level criminal, with little regard for the minor nature of his crime.

In 2022, after years of advocacy and legal efforts, the Louisiana Supreme Court stepped in, ruling that Allen’s life sentence was unconstitutionally excessive. This intervention brought his sentence down to 35 years, but for many, including Allen’s supporters and organizations like the Last Prisoner Project, that’s still far too long for a nonviolent cannabis offense.

The Fight for True Cannabis Justice

While Allen’s sentence was reduced, the appeals court recently upheld the 35-year term, refusing to acknowledge the changing landscape of cannabis laws both within Louisiana and across the nation. The court focused on drugs as a societal harm rather than weighing the personal and nonviolent circumstances of Allen’s case.

This ruling is a bitter pill for advocates fighting for justice for nonviolent drug offenders. Despite Allen’s strong family ties, his lack of violent history, and the decriminalization of marijuana in many states, the court’s decision seems stuck in the punitive “War on Drugs” mindset of decades past.

How You Can Help

A decade later, Kevin Allen remains behind bars for what is widely viewed as an unjust sentence in today’s evolving cannabis landscape. His case is a rallying cry for activists pushing for reforms in habitual offender laws, clemency, and greater fairness in sentencing for nonviolent drug crimes.

If you want to support Kevin Allen and others like him, organizations such as the Last Prisoner Project are leading the charge. They work tirelessly to bring justice to those still incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses while advocating for reform to prevent future injustices. To learn more and to take action, visit the Last Prisoner Project.

The fight for Kevin Allen’s freedom and for true cannabis justice isn’t over. With continued advocacy and public awareness, there is hope that sentences like his will soon be relics of a bygone era, and fairness will finally prevail in the cannabis debate.

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