With major music industry types such as Russell Simmons and Carly Simon in his corner, the case of John Forte has received major headlines over the past few years.  One of the late 1990’s most prodigious R&B and Hip-hop songwriters/performers, Forte was arrested in 2000 for taking part in a cocaine smuggling operation that was bringing millions of dollars worth of the drug in the U.S.

After what many believed was an unfair trial, and an unjustly harsh sentencing, Forte was send to prison for 14 years, where his case became a cause celebre.

Now, John Forte has finally seen his prayers answered, as President George Bush pardoned the musician this week.  Forte is scheduled for release in December.

The Forte case brought many important issues into the spotlight.  Among them was the question of how to best fight the war on drugs.  The fact that Forte committed a non-violent crime, and was a first time offender made such a tough sentence difficult for many to swallow.  Currently, in the U.S. prison system there are hundreds of thousands of individuals who committed similar crimes in like circumstance living out long sentences.

When issuing the pardon, President Bush took into account the nature of the young man as well as his potential to give more to society outside of a jail cell.

Individuals who are struggling with drug addiction need help!  Contact a drug rehab facility in your area if you are someone you know is struggling with a dependence on illicit substances.

HBO Documentary explores the penalties for international drug trafficking

Ganja Q

ueen, the harrowing new documentary from HBO Films, is the true story of Schappelle Corby, an Australian woman jailed in Indonesia for allegedly attempting to smuggle marijuana out of the country. The movie is groundbreaking in that it manages to smuggle cameras into the Indonesia prison where the woman is being held, and depicts the horrifying conditions the prisoners live with while incarcerated.

Although questions regarding Schapelle’s guilt or innocence are the backbone of the film, it also offers a cautionary tale for drug users and would-be drug smugglers thinking about trafficking abroad. Many international governments, especially those in the third world, don’t play around when it comes to cocaine, heroin and marijuana, and those Westerners who think that their country will protect them when arrested for a drug violation are often sadly mistaken.

Ganja Queen represents a story similar to that of Midnight Express with a message that is just as powerful now as it was then.

Ganja Queen premieres on HBO on June 30 at 9pm.

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