Charges dropped for Native American teen facing prison over gram of weed

Prosecutors in Oregon have agreed to drop federal charges against a Native American teenager who faced up to a year in prison for possession of about one gram of marijuana, after the state’s US senators and a congressman sent a letter of concern.

Devontre Thomas, 19, entered into a pretrial diversion agreement with the government, according to a document filed Thursday in federal court. Under the terms of the agreement, the government will dismiss the pending charge if Thomas obeys all laws and remains at work or in school for the next 60 days.

“It’s about time,” said Ruben Iñiguez, the federal public defender representing Thomas, of the agreement.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/04/native-american-teen-marijuana-prison-charges-dropped