A Look at the Intersection of Mental Health and the Justice System
Rare but Serious: Justice Served amidst Marijuana Psychosis
The Tragic Case of Chad O’Melia
In recent years, after the legalization of marijuana ( Cannabis), the notion of marijuana-induced psychosis has seized the stage of public discourse. The tragic case of 26-year-old Chad O’Melia accentuates the voices of those arguments in California.
The death of Chad O’Melia in the hands of his girlfriend, Bryn Spejcher, sparked a public outcry when she was found guilty of stabbing his boyfriend, Chad O’Melia, 108 times. Against what the public expected, Bryn only received what would be considered a slap on the hand, two years of probation, and community service.
The public found the sentencing of Spejcher shockingly lenient, leaving many, including the victim’s father, feeling that justice had not been served.
The case unfolded in Thousand Oaks, California, where the 26-year-old man with a promising future became a victim of domestic violence at home at the hands of his 32-year-old girlfriend, Bryn Spejcher. She was then found guilty of “Involuntary manslaughter” after a jury deliberated for less than four hours.
Justification: based on the…
