MORRISTOWN -- An ex-Navy SEAL who has admitted to his role in bringing $1.4 million worth of marijuana into New Jersey to sell to recreational users gave an impassioned speech at his sentencing on Friday in which he acknowledged he broke the law but argued he believed the prohibition on marijuana was morally unjust.

James Matthews, who lives in Santa Cruz, Calif. and has no prior criminal record, was one of three men arrested in March 2015 in connection with the largest marijuana seizure in Morris County. Law enforcement seized 365 pounds of high-grade marijuana in the bust, as well as marijuana wax, $124,000 in cash proceeds, a Ford F-350 and a trailer.

"I feel that cannabis, the plant that I'm being prosecuted for, in my humble opinion, should not be illegal," Matthews said. "For years, this substance has been misrepresented and has been used for persecution. In my personal experience with this plant, I've seen almost miracle-like properties similar to the healing properties of a mold that we call penicillin. The state of New Jersey by having a list of accepted medical uses is contradictory to the list of (Schedule I) drugs that have no medicinal value."

Matthews, who served in the Navy for eight years and as a Navy SEAL for two years, was initially charged in an indictment with drug distribution, money laundering and conspiracy, but only pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

Matthews admitted to driving marijuana from the West Coast to New Jersey and unloading several large cardboard boxes at the residence of Salman Khalid, of Wharton, on March 3, 2015. He said he didn't open those boxes but acknowledged they contained marijuana. Khalid, who was also sentenced on Friday, allegedly ran the local marijuana distribution network.

Matthews previously told NJ Advance Media in an interview on Thursday he's only distributed marijuana and has only done business with those who do the same.

Authorities said during the sentencings of Matthews, Khalid and a third defendant, Kernley Saint-Victor, this trio wasn't the primary target of the case, but an individual known as Christopher Delgado, who evaded charges.

Matthews, during his statement prior to sentencing, also pointed to what he viewed as an apparent hypocrisy in his prosecution. According to Matthews, officers and court officials during this process have told him candidly they believe marijuana shouldn't be illegal but nonetheless they adhered to the law by prosecuting individuals for it.

"I could never be a lawyer under those circumstances or condition, because I cannot separate what I believe with what I do," he said.

He continued: "It's so confusing to get obvious signals from this side of law that feel the way I do, but still continue to prosecute. Your Honor, if I said I didn't do this for money or for the thrill, I'd be lying. But above all else, I would not be here today if I thought the substance was bad. I could not morally do what I did."

Judge Stephen Taylor, sitting in Morristown, said Matthews' case was a "unique circumstance," and that Matthews has his "moral beliefs but the law says otherwise."

"Oftentimes prosecutors and some judges for that matter, may not necessarily believe in certain laws that are on the books," Taylor said. "But the judges and the assistant prosecutors take an oath to uphold the laws, and we are a nation of laws, and when public servants such as judges or prosecutors and military personnel take an oath to uphold the law, or to protect the country, they follow through on that oath."

He continued: "And even though, like views on abortion, people may not have the same views as the legislature, they may have issues with certain laws. It's not up to the individual public servant to make a determination on which laws to enforce or not to enforce."

Taylor added the prosecution had exercised discretion in offering Matthews a plea that treats his first-degree charge as a second-degree charge in terms of his sentencing.

Matthews was sentenced to six years in prison with no parole ineligibility, instead of seven years sought by the prosecution or five years sought by the defense. Taylor said the number of mitigating factors, including his lack of a criminal record, military service and his deeply held beliefs, were weighed in his favor.

Matthews could expect to be up for parole in 14 to 18 months, according to Taylor.

Also sentenced on Friday were Matthews' co-defendants, Khalid and Saint-Victor, both of whom have prior drug convictions.

Khalid was sentenced to seven years in prison with 33 months of parole ineligibility, and Saint-Victor received five years with 18 months of parole ineligibility.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.