Thousands of people have signed an online petition advocating for the release of a blind, 79-year-old Missouri pot farmer currently serving time in federal prison.

The Change.org petition encourages state and federal lawmakers to step in and help Charles F. White, who was sentenced in 2017 to 10 years in prison for growing more than 1,000 marijuana plants on his Polk County farm.

"This man has not hurt anyone while child molesters walk free," the petition says. "[A] 79 year old half blind man will spend probably what's left of his life in prison ... We can[']t fix the world but we can start by fixing the justice system."

As of 11:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4, 30,200 people had signed it.

The petition was posted after the News-Leader reported a federal judge had denied a motion from White for compassionate early release.

In court documents, White's attorneys argued the 79-year-old was legally blind, making life difficult among "an aggressive prison population."

Federal prosecutors filed a motion in opposition, saying White had not proved "extraordinary and compelling" circumstances that would merit an early release.

The judge ultimately sided with prosecutors and denied White's motion.

White will be eligible for release in October 2023 but can file the motion again if his condition deteriorates.

His case started in March 2012 when law enforcement officers happened upon his property in rural Polk County as part of an unrelated identity theft investigation, according to court documents.

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Detectives suspected a marijuana growing operation, and upon further investigation determined he was growing more than 1,700 marijuana plants.

White argued in court motions that he had been targeted by law enforcement and said detectives violated his rights by entering his property on false pretenses.

White eventually pleaded guilty to manufacturing more than 1,000 marijuana plants and was sentenced to prison.

In June, White was still being held at the prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. In an email to the News-Leader, White said the Bureau of Prisons would likely move him to a medical facility which will have a higher security level with more restrictions on prisoner activities.