MovieChat Forums > Ganja Queen Discussion > Would it be that different in the U.S?

Would it be that different in the U.S?

posted 15 years ago by gabrielmartin
4 replies | jump to latest

If a Balinese was stopped at a US airport carrying 10lbs of pot the experience would have similarly horrific, at least initially. A suspect in the US would be arrested and since he would have no ties to the community would likely be held without bond. The evidence and investigation shown in the movie would be of equal quality than usually found in the US for this kind of case.

Of course, for this weight in marijuana, a first time offender in the US could at some point prior to trial plea bargain her case down to probation in most states. But many states do have 3-5 year mandatory minimum sentences for trafficking marijuana in comparable amounts.

[–] mickeeteeze 15 years ago

OK, I'm from good old liberal NYS, and proud of it. I can't imagine any first time offender, regardless of where they were from, do any more than a year, soup to nuts. I don't think they'd even do that much. I'm talking "worst case scenario, everything went wrong", a year.....and change.....at most. Probably a fine and deportation is more likely.

[–] gabrielmartin 15 years ago

I think in most cases you'd probably be right. But my point is that what the movie portrays as such a horrific experience in a "third world" country would not be that different in this country.

Horrible conditions of confinement
Poor investigation and evidence
An unfamiliar and sometimes irrational legal process
a failure to get released prior to trial

These are all challenges criminal defendants face in the US everyday. More so if you're a foreign national.

The real difference comes in terms of sentencing and that would likely make the situation easier to resolve in the U.S. But in Florida for example if she had 25 lbs (I think she had 20 in the documentary) of cannabis, she would be looking at a three year mandatory minimum. It is also unlikely that she would make bail in many US states without posting a significant cash bond, since she would have no collateral in the US.

[–] mickeeteeze 15 years ago

I hear you, but at least there would have been "bail". And her family seemed pretty supportive, so it was possible. I dunno......when younger and dumber, I did a few overnights. Even made it to the brig briefly in the Marines. Jail is....well, JAIL. It's punitive. I think you are reaching a bit. I'll say this: if she was innocent, it would be a horror show no matter where it happened.
My knock on the US system would be the "death penalty", but again, they have it in Bali as well.
Anyway, it seems to me she IS going to do a lot, if not all of her time. She wouldn't get that sort of time in the US anywhere, I don't think, anyway.

[–] Writer01603 15 years ago

The difference is that if that if a country of people petitioned, and evidence arose that there is evidence of baggage handlers putting drugs in people's bags, and her bag making it through two different airports before she got busted in a substandard airport, then there would be some question that should be asked. Our prison's, though not great, some high rape rates, we do have a civility to them, full health care and the such. A person would have the right to an attorney, if they had money they could get a private attorney who would focus on that person's case.

America's justice system is not great by many standards, but we never decided to go back on a deal because someone called our justice system brutal, or insulted the states national identity. We've never taken a confession that could be used against a person with a promise that they'd get a deal, then cancel the deal and keep the confession (we have laws that don't allow that). Indonesia is a crap country, which is sad because its so beautiful. And as a rule, I stay out of any country that you can be put to death for drugs.