Mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenses have been a popular speaking point over the last year. President Obama even created an initiative to pardon some inmates who are serving an extreme amount of time over drug related offenses. Rapper Busta Rhymes is taking matters into his own hands as well.
Busta Rhymes is calling for prison sentencing reform, especially when it comes to mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenses. One of his closest friends, reggae music exec Horatio Hamilton, was arrested for dealing marijuana and was sentenced to 20 years. Horatio has currently served 11 years.
Last week Busta and FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) visited the White House where they discuss how sentencing laws result in increased prison populations and take a toll on not only the community, but the economy.
“For you to be in jail for 20 years for weed is a little mind blowing to me,” Busta tells TMZ. “Especially when, in this current day, the majority of the country is now legalizing weed. I feel like it’s unwarranted, it’s wrong and I can’t sleep comfortably knowing that if I was in that circumstance, no one would make an attempt to help me. It’s weed bro. You ain’t killing nobody, you ain’t raping nobody, you ain’t stealing from nobody.”
Overall Busta says his visit to the White House with FAMM and his oldest son was an amazing experience and that he’s looking forward to them all coming together to bring about change.
