Richard Paey Receives Full Pardon
The plight of Richard Paey has been shocking even by the drug war's rock bottom standards. Sentenced to 25 years in a Florida prison for possession of the pain medication he used to treat his own crippling back pain, Paey spent the last 3½ years behind bars.
Today, he is free:
Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet voted unanimously to grant Paey a full pardon Thursday morning for his 2004 conviction on drug trafficking and possession charges."We aim to right a wrong and exercise compassion and to do it with grace," the governor said. "Congratulations … and I state he should be released today."
With that, Paey's wife Linda, their three children, a family friend and attorney John Flannery II hugged and cried at the podium, the entire cabinet meeting room erupting into applause at 9:40 a.m. [St. Petersburg Times]
Justice in the war on drugs is a rare spectacle, and it is just delightful to witness. We've reported endlessly on this case, as have so many others, and it is wonderful to find that these efforts have not been in vain.
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Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 8:14amThe laws used to determine the "illegal drugs" that Richard Paey, and many others, receive every month, for their intractable chronic pain. As stated in the article, it can get you 25 years for as little as 60 pills. That is because the 500mg of acetaminophen (over the counter medication, Tylenol generic) in each Percocette pill, is counted as a narcotic, as well. It does not take a rocket scientist to see the fault in the law. And something has to be done, NOW!, to correct it. It looks like adding up the drugs in this fashion can get a prosecutor more mandatory sentences. Good for prosecution statistics (and their career!), ... Bad for pain patients and prosecutory victims!
Education to the public about high dose opiods and their appropriate use, is also a must. Not only does their ignorance contribute to the problem, but most doctors discourage the use of opiods "because you will get addicted!" (myth #1...science has disproved this. But why should doctors want to follow sound scientific principles!?) Most of the public has no idea that, as in all other areas of life, there is more than one way to "skin a cat".
The scientific evidence is solid. The regulations are out there, to help us. But, even, following the rules cannot protect people! I have been there!
Sincerely,
Forcibly retired chronic pain doctor
Richard Paey Pardon
Comment posted by HenryDavid on Sun, 09/23/2007 - 9:48pmIt is always heartwarming to see justice done!
As a Florida resident, I am pleasantly surprised by the governor's action. And he and his board went against the recommendation of the Parole Commission.
Welcome back Richard!
Keep up the good fight
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 9:30pmJustice is rare, but it is sweet when we get it.