Photographer and gardener Jon Peditto faces a mandatory prison sentence of 10-20 years for growing 17 marijuana plants
"'Free Jon Peditto' should be a rallying cry across the nation."
PR-Inside.com: 2015-11-02 20:10:30
HOLLYWOOD (November 2) The producers of the independent gonzo comedy film High There this morning announced their support for the campaign to free jailed cannabis activist Jon Peditto.
Peditto, a New Jersey photographer and gardener, was found guilty Thursday of maintaining a drug production facility for growing 17 marijuana plants. He's now jailed in Ocean County, facing a mandatory sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.
Peditto admits growing the plants for his personal use, and is challenging New Jersey's outdated drug laws. This morning, the High There team gathered to pledge to raise awareness of the injustice and the fight to free Peditto.
"We're in a time when big business is using the ballot to control marijuana production and distribution in Ohio, when the benefits of medical marijuana are recognized and legalized in many states-- when four states have legalized marijuana for recreational use!" said executive producer Sam Peters. "This is a ridiculous prosecution and a cruel and unusual mandatory sentence.
"New Jersey is in the Reefer Madness era, and whether that's because of publicity-seeking prosecutors or cynical politicians like the governor (a leading critic of marijuana use), it's ruining good people's lives," he added. "We shouldn't stand for it. 'Free Jon Peditto' should be a rallying cry across the nation!"
High There's producer Burt Kearns and directors and stars Wayne Darwen and Henry Goren stood with Peters this morning, contributing to the defense fund and promising to use their platform to keep attention on the case.
Darwen and Kearns are longtime colleagues of Peditto's father, the acclaimed, award-winning journalist, television producer and filmmaker John Parsons Peditto.
The BRINKvision film High There is rooted in activism, focusing on the case of Roger Christie, the founder of Hawaii's THC Church, who was arrested on marijuana possession and trafficking charges and jailed for four years without trial.
Roger Christie was released to house arrest days after High There's premiere.
The High There team is gaining a reputation for its political activism. In October, directors Darwen and Goren were in Santa Monica, California, helping lead a rally of hundreds of practitioners and supporters of the Falun Gong movement.
Contributions to the John Peditto Defense Fund can be made at
Fundrzr.com at
http://jonpedittodefensefund.com or
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/013kNd/ab/c5GMF2
