Finally Free - Oshan's Next Chapter

Oshan Anand is organizing this fundraiser.

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My name is Oshan. After 13 years, 3 months and 9 days, I'm finally free! On April 22nd, 2010, I was arrested for a single transaction of psychedelics. After 2.5 years of pretrial supervision, 7.5 years in Federal Prison, and over 3 years of supervised release, I am finally done!

On Monday, the court granted my legal motion to end my supervision two years early, taking effect immediately! This is the best news I've had in years. I am so overjoyed. I'm finally done with this nightmare that began so long ago.

In addition to the limitations on my freedom when I was in prison, every day for the past 13+ years I have been under federal supervision:

They could search my person, vehicle, and home at any time without a warrant. Show up at my house at any time.
I could not travel outside of Northwestern California without permission. Unable to make short-term travel plans.
I had to submit to random drug testing: marijuana is still illegal federally and forbidden.
I could get a probation violation for having a single drink or smoking a joint.
I could be re-incarcerated for things that aren't a crime for other adults.
I had to submit monthly reports detailing my finances and other details of my personal life.
I had to deal with the social stigma of being on probation.

Needless to say, this has been a heavy burden to bear for so long - well over a quarter of my life - causing me to feel constrained, stressed, and depressed.

Now that I am off probation and can travel more freely, I've decided to move out of my house and take a little vacation. I've been working really hard since I got out of prison and haven't had a real vacation since 2007!

I've started a GoFundMe (see comments) to raise some funds for this next chapter in my life.

Unfortunately, I'm really broke right now - my business of producing conscious events and setting up tea lounges has not yet made me solvent. In addition to wanting to have a vacation for the first time in 16 years, I desperately need some healthcare that I have been unable to afford. Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much to everyone for all your support on this long journey.

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