So if had possessed 20,000lbs of Marijuana, would I be released too?
If not you should be. Or 20,000lbs of any other plant.
I'm not a big marijuana fan to begin with but passing it off as "just another plant" is akin to passing off a Lamborghini as "just another car".
There is a difference and there should be
controls around it like any other drug.
I don't think anybody has ever advocated for there to be no controls around it. It should absolutely still be criminal behavior to sell it outside of regulation and make a profit (as a policy we should want that tax revenue!), sell it to kids, drive under the influence of it, etc.
But imprisoning people for simply possessing it is an injustice. I don't think this statement is all that controversial.
In short, treat it like alcohol and a fair balance seems to be struck between the libertarian ideals of government hands off and ensuring the safety of others.