AUSTIN, Texas – A 19-year-old man in Texas is facing up to 99 years in prison for baking and selling marijuana brownies.
The severity of the potential sentence is generating outrage. Cheers erupted as Jacob Lavoro recently talked to his supporters and the media.
Lavoro is charged with a first degree felony for possessing 1.5 pounds of drugs. He faces five years to life in prison.
Around 100 of his supporters gathered outside the Williamson County Courthouse recently prior to a pre-trial court hearing.
They held signs, sold shirts and talked about the move to decriminalize marijuana.
“I’m not a criminal, I’m just a kid,” Lavoro said.
Lavoro said he was sickened when he first heard how much time in prison he is facing.
“I first found that out when I was in jail and I almost threw up when I heard it, actually did throw up. I turned white in my face,” he said.
In court, Lavoro’s attorney filed a motion to suppress the evidence.
His attorney accused investigators of failing to identify themselves as police officers before they entered Lavoro’s apartment. His attorney hopes to get the case thrown out.
