'The Only Country That Gave Juveniles Life In Prison For Anything Other Than Murder:' White Boy Rick Speaks Out On America's Over-Incarceration

"We say we're the most humane country, but we were the only country in the world that gave juveniles life for anything other than murder," asserts Richard Wershe Jr., known widely as "White Boy Rick." These are more than just words for Wershe Jr.; they are reflections of his life's narrative, having served more than three decades behind bars for non-violent drug offenses committed when he was just a minor.

Wershe Jr. recently spoke at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami. Released from prison in 2020, he is now an advocate for those who, like him, have experienced the brunt of harsh legal repercussions for actions taken as children.

"I was 17 years old. My friend sitting here, Kevin, was 16 years old. They actually gave us life without parole as kids for a drug crime," he says. Wershe Jr. spent 33 years in prison, a circumstance he terms as being "overly incarcerated."

As someone who faced an uphill battle upon release, Wershe Jr. acknowledges the support he received. "I have a good team. I have people sitting here that support me. They're like my brothers, my family, my partners. So the team that is around me when I have a struggle, they're there. So it's not easy. But I get through it."

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While reestablishing his life, Wershe Jr. launched his own cannabis company, The 8th, named after the 8th Amendment that prohibits cruel and unusual punishments. His aim is to raise awareness and support for those wrongfully or overly incarcerated. His brand is more than a business; it's a platform for his advocacy.

According to Wershe Jr., "The brand for me, we give back to overly incarcerated because if you're overly incarcerated, you're wrongfully incarcerated. So a kid from the suburbs gets two years, a kid from the ghetto gets ten years. That's not the way our laws are written that they're supposed to work. Unfortunately, in our society, that's the way that it still works."

Aspiring to learn more about the industry? Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is scheduled to return to Chicago on September 27 and 28, with more information available at bzcannabis.com.