Reefer Madness Summary

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Reefer Madness Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in The American Black Market, begins with the author defining what the black market is. He leads on to discuss the history and the present size of the black market. The author also discussed the emergence of the black market as an underground economy. Next, the book transitioned to an essay titled reefer Madness. Reefer madness discusses marijuana’s presence in the United States. The essay begins with an overview of the history of Marijuana. It discusses its presence in history as well as how it was criminalized, decimalized, and criminalized again. The next section of the essay covers the penalties for marijuana. The book then details a marijuana growing operation in the American Midwest. Furthermore, …show more content…

The arrests began on March 18, 1990 when Jerry Montgomery, one of the growers, was pulled over for reckless driving. In his car the police found “three empty vodka bottles, a five-gallon bucket full of marijuana, and a gray box containing $13,000 in cash” (41). When the police search Montgomery’s home they discovered evidence of a marijuana growing operation. One of the men indicted for their part in the operation was Mark Young. Young was arrested for his role in distributing 700 pounds of Marijuana as well as conspiracy to manufacture 12,500 marijuana plants. Because of his two prior felony convictions Young faced the possibility of a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. Mark young was offered a reduced sentence in exchange for a guilty plea and cooperation. Although urged to cooperate, young refused to accept the plea bargain, even though several others decided to cooperate. As a result, Young received a life sentence. Schlosser then discusses history of the opposition to Marijuana throughout several presidential terms. The book then explores the mandatory minimum prison sentences. The power of a U.S. attorney to decide how to frame the charges is criticize in this

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