Coming Soon Vets Vision Podcast

Outrageous Sentences for Marijuana

 Lee Carroll Brooker, a 75 year old disabled veteran suffering from chronic pain, was arrested in July 2011 for growing three dozen marijuana plants for his own medicial use behind is son's house in Dothan AL, where he lived. Mr. Brooker was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Alabama law mandates that anyone with certain prior felony convictions must be given life with no parole for possessing more than 1 kilo of marijunana regardless of intent to sell. Mr. Brooker was convicted of armed robbery in Florida over 20 years ago. At Mr. Brooker's sentencing hearing the trial judge told him, "if I could sentence you to a term that is less tha life without parole I would". This case has made it all the way to the Supreme Court and on Friday the court will deciede if the case should be heard. Regardless of where one might stand on this issue of legalizing marijuana, no one should be sentenced to life in prison for simply growing it for medical use. Decisions such as these could deter veterans from using medical marijuana to help combat problems such as PTSD, chronic pain, and depression.
 

-John Felder


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2 Vets, 2 legs, and 29,000 feet

In a dramatic demonstration to show that the injuries that they received in the line of duty won't keep them down, two veterans are attempting to become the first combat amputees to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Chad Jukes and Thomas Charles “Charlie” Linville both lost their right legs while serving in Iraq, and aim to tackle the world highest peak later this year. The duo are attempting this feat to show the world that the injuries that many veterans have suffered in combat do not define who they are, and they are just as capable as they were before their injuries. Best of luck to these two heroes, who may soon stand far taller than people with both legs.

-Matt