In a case that is gaining national attention, first time offender Kyle W. Sawin, a 17 year old honors student is facing a two year mandatory sentence for distributing six joints. He's being charged under a law that increases penalties for drug offenses near schools. But the nearby schools, four blocks away, were closed for the summer when the offense occurred.

The case proceeded to a jury trial. Two of the students "friends" flipped and testified against him. The jury hung. The prosecutor, David Capeless of Berkshire County, MA, insists on retrying the case, and refuses to drop the school-related portion of the charge.

"The notion that taking kids and putting them behind bars for two years in the name of justice is only going to increase the likelihood of ruining their lives," said Ethan Nadelman, executive director of the New York City-based Drug Policy Alliance. "You're derailing these kids for life. You're eliminating the possibility that they'll become productive adult citizens down the road."

Concerned Citizens for Appropriate Justice has a petition you can sign that will be forwarded to Capeless. It is also working with the Drug Policy Forum of Massachussetts to change the laws.