Elon Musk took an important stand for Americans who are serving time for crimes that involve marijuana. I support this stand he took and have my own thoughts about it. But first, I’d like to share why he took the stand, and why it’s important that he did.
Maybe free some people in jail for weed here too? pic.twitter.com/AYo0ZC79lZ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2022
Freeing A Russian Arms Dealer
The New York Times reported that the U.S. offered to trade a Russian arms dealer known as the Merchant of Death for Brittney Griner, an American basketball player who got caught with cannibis oil.
Griner got herself into a pretty bad situation and I’m sure she and her family would love for her to be home safe and sound. It’s a bad situation where the U.S. wants to free an actual bad person to save a citizen who made a mistake.
Elon Musk is right and here’s why
Marijuana is becoming legal in many states. Personally, I support the changing of this law. If we can have alcohol and cigarettes, why not an herb that is known to be beneficial? Although this makes sense, it is not the case–yet.
What’s worse is that despite legalization in some states, there are still people serving time in prison for possession.
Too many Americans are being arrested over weed.
In 2018, Forbes reported that the FBI released data that showed an average of one marijuana bust almost every 48 hours. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 52% of all drug arrests in 2010 were for marijuana.
The ACLU also published a research report in 2020 that focused on the racially targeted arrests of Americans over marijuana. The report examined marijuana arrests between 2010 and 2019 while analyzing racial disparities at the national, state, and local levels.
One Man Is serving a life sentence over marijuana.
In Mississippi, Allen Russell was sentenced to life in prison for possessing marijuana. In June 2022, KPLC News reported that the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that Russell’s life sentence was not a violation of his Eighth Amendment right.
His crime was being in possession of 43.71 grams of marijuana which normally carried an up to three-year sentence.
We live in an age where marijuana is becoming legal in many states. Life in prison over an herb is, in my opinion, cruel. It’s slavery.
2 Life Sentences and 20 years for Marijuana
Russell isn’t alone. John Knock is serving two life sentences plus 20 years. For marijuana. This was his first offense.
And up until two years ago, John was housed in a high-security institution due to the length of his sentence.
John has served 23 years at the time this article was written.
Life in prison for selling $20 in marijuana
Here in Lousiana, Kevin Allen was sentenced to life without parole for selling $20 in marijuana to a childhood friend. He’s currently serving his time at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
He works in the prison kitchen making juice for a few pennies a day.
“All I did was get set up from some drugs. I still feel to this day that I’m not supposed to be here.”
Elon Musk took a stand and I support him.
The U.S. can give Russia an actual war criminal to free an Amerian busted for cannibis oil, but won’t do anything for Americans serving long sentences for a similar crime.
This is why Elon Musk taking a stand is so important. People like Kevin Allen, John Knock, and Allen Russel shouldn’t be imprisoned for life over their mistakes.
Especially if those mistakes are now being legalized across the country.
With one meme and a thought, Elon Musk took a stand for Americans serving time for crimes related to marijuana.
I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, or concerns, see a typo, you can email me at johnna@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @JohnnaCrider1
Tesla has landed a massive deal to expand its charging infrastructure for heavy-duty electric trucks — and not just theirs, but all manufacturers.
Tesla entered an agreement with Pilot Travel Centers, the largest operator of travel centers in the United States. Tesla’s Semi Chargers, which are used to charge Class 8 electric trucks, will be responsible for providing energy to various vehicles from a variety of manufacturers.
The first sites are expected to open later this Summer, and will be built at select locations along I-5 and I-10, major routes for commercial vehicles and significant logistics companies. The chargers will be available in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
Each station will have between four and eight chargers, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power at each stall.
The project is the latest in Tesla’s plans to expand Semi Charging availability. The effort is being put forth to create more opportunities for the development of sustainable logistics.
Senior Vice President of Alternative Fuels at Pilot, Shannon Sturgil, said:
“Helping to shape the future of energy is a strategic pillar in meeting the needs of our guests and the North American transportation industry. Heavy-duty charging is yet another extension of our exploration into alternative fuel offerings, and we’re happy to partner with a leader in the space that provides turnkey solutions and deploys them quickly.”
Tesla currently has 46 public Semi Charger sites in progress or planned across the United States, mostly positioned along major trucking routes and industrial areas. Perhaps the biggest bottleneck with owning an EV early on was charging availability, and that is no different with electric Class 8 trucks. They simply need an area to charge.
Tesla is spearheading the effort to expand Semicharging availability, and the latest partnership with Pilot shows the company has allies in the program.
The company plans to build 50,000 units of the Tesla Semi in the coming years, and with early adopters like PepsiCo, DHL, and others already contributing millions of miles of data, fleets are going to need reliable public charging.
🚨 Pilot working with Tesla to install and expand Semi Chargers is a perfect example of two industry leaders working together for the greater good.
As more commerce companies expand into EVs, Semi Charger will be more commonly available for electrified fleets, making efforts… pic.twitter.com/VPLIYyq15b
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 27, 2026
Tesla is partnering with other companies for the development of the Semi program, most notably, a conglomeration with Uber was announced last year.
Tesla lands new partnership with Uber as Semi takes center stage
The ride-sharing platform plans to launch the Dedicated EV Fleet Accelerator Program, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind buyer’s program designed to make electric freight more affordable and accessible by addressing key adoption barriers.”
The Semi is one of several projects that will take Tesla into a completely different realm. Along with Optimus and its growing Energy division, the Semi will expand Tesla to new heights, and its prioritization of charging infrastructure.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, has welcomed its newest Vegas Loop station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Fontainebleau Loop station
The new Vegas Loop station is located on level V-1 of the Fontainebleau’s south valet area, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the resort, guests will be able to travel free of charge to the stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations in Encore and Westgate.
The Fontainebleau station connects to the Riviera Station, which is located in the northwest parking lot of the convention center’s West Hall. From there, passengers will be able to access the greater Vegas Loop.
Vegas Loop expansion
In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Those trips include a limited above-ground segment, following approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
Under the approval, airport rides are limited to no more than four miles of surface street travel, and each trip must include a tunnel segment. The Vegas Loop currently includes more than 10 miles of tunnels. From this number, about four miles of tunnels are operational.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. That extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station located just north of Tropicana Avenue.
News
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
Tesla has expanded its footprint near its Fremont Factory by leasing a 108,000-square-foot R&D facility in the East Bay.
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
A new Fremont lease
Tesla will occupy the entire building at 45401 Research Ave. in Fremont, as per real estate services firm Colliers. The transaction stands as the second-largest R&D lease of the fourth quarter, trailing only a roughly 115,000-square-foot transaction by Figure AI in San Jose.
As noted in a Silicon Valley Business Journal report, Tesla’s new Fremont lease was completed with landlord Lincoln Property Co., which owns the facility. Colliers stated that Tesla’s Fremont expansion reflects continued demand from established technology companies that are seeking space for engineering, testing, and specialized manufacturing.
Tesla has not disclosed which of its business units will be occupying the building, though Colliers has described the property as suitable for office and R&D functions. Tesla has not issued a comment about its new Fremont lease as of writing.
AI investments
Silicon Valley remains a key region for automakers as vehicles increasingly rely on software, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. Erin Keating, senior director of economics and industry insights at Cox Automotive, has stated that Tesla is among the most aggressive auto companies when it comes to software-driven vehicle development.
Other automakers have also expanded their presence in the area. Rivian operates an autonomy and core technology hub in Palo Alto, while GM maintains an AI center of excellence in Mountain View. Toyota is also relocating its software and autonomy unit to a newly upgraded property in Santa Clara.
Despite these expansions, Colliers has noted that Silicon Valley posted nearly 444,000 square feet of net occupancy losses in Q4 2025, pushing overall vacancy to 11.2%.
Tesla lands massive deal to expand charging for heavy-duty electric trucks
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
