24 March 2010 - The poet, writer and political activist John Sinclair paid a heavy price for assuming a high profile in the counterculture of the 1960s. Arrested in 1969 for giving two joints to an undercover narc sentenced to 10 years, he served 29 months in prison - attracting widespread attention and a slew of high-profile supporters, most famously the late John Lennon - before the Michigan Supreme Court heard his appeal and ruled the state's marijuana law was unconstitutional.Now, at an age when most people have retired, he's about to join the vanguard again, preparing to help push the envelope of the state's medical marijuana law as he and a group of fellow travelers prepare to open what will be Detroit's first "compassion center."
John Sinclair (1941) American poet, writer and radio maker. Founder of White Panther Party and manager of rock band MC5, busted after being set up by undercover agents in 1967. Poet John Sinclair Detroit was chairman of the White Panther Party from November 1968-July 1969. From 1969 he served two years of a ten year sentence for the sale of two joints to undercover narcotics officers. His case recieved international attention when John Lennon performed at a benefit concert on his behalf. Sinclair was managing the MC5 at the time of their free concert outside the Democratic National Convention of 1968. The band was the only one to play before the police broke up the rally, calling it a riot.
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