George Martorana is our guest for this episode of the Philly Blunt. In the 1970’s and early 1980’s George was selling marijuana in the Philly area. Some reports say that he was moving upwards of $75 million dollars a year of the stuff. He caught the attention of the FBI and they ended up busting a truckload of marijuana that they tied back to Martorano. In 1984, following the advice of his attorney, he pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges, under the impression that he’d be expected to serve 40-50 months, as the prosecution recommended.

George, as a first-time non-violent offender, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The only way he was to leave prison was in a body bag. At the time, it was the longest prison term ever to be imposed on a first time non-violent offender in American history.

While in prison, George was subjected to five years of underground solitary confinement and sentenced to Marion, the worst of the federal prisons.

George served 32 years as a model prisoner and is only a free man due to the President Obama’s prison reform plan for drug offenders who had received harsh sentences.

While in prison George became a prolific writer, having authored over 31 books. He became a teacher while behind bars and worked to take inmates out of gangs and into the classroom. As a teacher, he helped over 8,000 inmates earn their GED. He traded peanut butter for a man’s life. He also is credited with preventing a hijacking of a Con-Air aircraft by prisoners while flying from Philadelphia to Oklahoma for an appeal.

George is now an inspirational speaker and an advocate for cannabis reform. He is also the owner of Hip Hemp Cafe, Philadelphia’s first CBD lounge, on 7th Street just south of South Street.

It’s a fascinating discussion that we hope you enjoy.

LINKS:
HIP HEMP CAFE: www/Instagram/Facebook