While campaigning for Governor of Minnesota, in 2018, Governor Walz said he would be working to legalize marijuana and commute the sentences of those convicted of possessing marijuana in the state.

In 2016 Karl Heinrichs, AKA Minnesota Vikings Superfan Sir Death, was arrested in Wisconsin with 130 pounds of marijuana and in Stillwater, MN with 30 pounds. In Wisconsin Karl received, and has completed his sentence, of 18 months. Minnesota sentenced Karl to an unreasonable 6 years for 30 pounds, even though the state prosecutor only recommended probation. A much longer sentence than Wisconsin for less than one quarter the amount.

As of May 2019 Karl had successfully completed Boot Camp, an intense 6 month program for non-violent offenders, to be released early. Since that time he has been brought back to court three times. This last time for not applying for a job he wasn’t interested in, which was not part of his terms of release. As of 10/21/19 Karl Heinrichs is back in prison.

While in prison his 75 year old father had two heart attacks in the Spring of 2019, and was given the information that he only had about a year to live. Karl’s 74 year old mother has been raising Karl’s teenage daughter for the last 3 years while Karl has been in prison.

Karl’s daughter, Justice, who was 14 at the time he was arrested in 2016, is now 17 years old and a senior in high school. She has missed her father in her formative years of high school and still misses him.

The last three years have been very hard on his family and on Karl himself. He has had to worry about his father, who might not be with us very long, his mother who has been traumatized, as have her son and granddaughter, over not knowing when he will be home for good, and his daughter who has had to grow up without a father figure in her life. A father that has been there for her. All the stress to all involved has almost destroyed this family. All over 30 pounds of a plant that is legal in many other states. The heartache, the unknowing, the stress, the mental anguish has taken its toll not just mentally, but also physically. This will also be the 4th Christmas he will kept from his family.

Those who know Karl, and there are thousands, know him to be kind, caring to a fault, compassionate, giving, and always willing to help someone out, whether they be friend or stranger. As a Vikings Superfan he has made it possible for people to attend games that might not have been able to, even giving up his season tickets to do so. He has raised thousands of dollars for charity. Donated dozens of personal items for charity, given to those in need, organized charity drives, visited children’s hospitals, and so many other pay-it-forward events and situations. He never hesitates to help where and when he can in any way he can. Karl has also set his life plan to become a counselor. A plan he wasn’t able to put into action after his May 2019 release due to being arrested 3 more times for very minor infractions. Another way he plans to give back to the community. He has the ability to be successful. He wants to be successful. He has so many people, thousands, helping him, lifting him up, having his back. But for all he wants to do with his life, he needs to be home. Surrounded by those he loves and those who love him.

We call on Governor Walz to commute Karl Heinrichs’ sentence for possession of 30 pounds of marijuana. We ask that you honor your promise to right the injustice that has taken hold of our communities in a disproportionate way. We ask that you recognize that 6 years for 30 pounds is a ridiculous and unjust amount of time for the crime.