[sillygoose]

Of course it's way too harsh. They're making an example out of him. The message here is: "don't even dream of circumventing the monetary system we control".

This is just a part of the American police state's burgeoning.

People will take drugs regardless of whether there's a Silk Road or not. Well, at least as long as we're still mercifully allowed to use cash, which is not for long if the masses can be successfully conditioned to accept banning it.

What's the difference between banning cannabis and banning cash? Both are just orders not to use something, backed by the threat of punishment for disobeying.