Despite pleas from bipartisan congressional lawmakers, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Russia over possession of medical marijuana that he obtained as a registered patient in Pennsylvania was not included in a high-profile prisoner swap on Thursday.
Marc Fogel, who used cannabis as an opioid alternative to treat pain, is serving a 14-year sentence after being convicted of “drug smuggling” over possession of a half-ounce of cannabis. Amid news of a prisoner swap, members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation urged the Biden administration to secure his release.
While there’s widespread relief about the release of individuals such as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. marine Paul Whelan, Fogel will continue to serve out his sentence, at least for the time being.
“As news of a potential prisoner exchange is being reported, we urge that any swap include Pennsylvania’s Marc Fogel, along with Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich,” Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), as well as Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), said in a press release on Thursday.
“Marc is a Pennsylvania teacher with severe health issues who has been unjustly imprisoned in a Russian prison for three years, and as
Read full article on Marijuana Moment
