Ross Ulbricht? He was given a life sentence without possibility of parole for the heinous crime of operating a website that facilitated peaceful transactions between consenting adults. Meanwhile, murderers, rapists, and con artists get off with almost nothing.

Here’s an article about it by libertarian-leaning magazine Reason, and some quotes:

From a libertarian perspective, it is obvious that no one should go to prison for facilitating peaceful transactions among consenting adults. But Ulbricht’s grossly disproportionate punishment should give pause even to supporters of the war on drugs.

…

Silk Road not only protected consumers against the risks of arrest and black-market violence. It also protected them against rip-offs through an escrow system that delayed payment until shipments were received.

In contrast with the potentially lethal uncertainty regarding drug composition that users typically face as a result of prohibition, Silk Road offered some assurance that buyers were getting what they expected.

…

As Forrest saw it, these benefits magnified Ulbricht’s offenses because Silk Road encouraged drug use by making it less dangerous and more convenient. Even if you are sympathetic to that view, a life sentence for a first-time, nonviolent drug offender is hard to fathom, let alone justify. It was far more severe than the sentences imposed on other Silk Road defendants, including people who actually sold drugs, as opposed to assisting those transactions.

…

Forrest also seemed to believe that Ulbricht’s libertarian views, to which she repeatedly alluded, were relevant in determining how many years he should serve. As you might expect, she said his moral opposition to drug prohibition “provides no excuse.” But she also thought it was “notable” that “the reasons you started Silk Road were philosophical,” adding, “I don’t know that it is a philosophy left behind.”

Hopefully that gives some context, but please read the article if what I’ve quoted interests you.

I absolutely abhor Trump, but I also believe that Ross Ulbricht should be free and that we should have a path to legal consumption of recreational drugs.