http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2013/01/04-1
January 4, 2013
Americans for Safe Access
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/
Obama Administration Throwing Medical Marijuana Patients Into Federal
Prison at Unprecedented Rate
This month will see a number of patients sentenced, sent to prison
despite compliance with state medical marijuana laws
WASHINGTON - January 4 - Fallout from the Obama Administration's
aggressive federal enforcement in medical marijuana states has
reached a fever pitch this month with three people being sentenced,
two others due to surrender to federal authorities to serve out
sentences of up to five years in prison, and one federal trial in
Montana currently scheduled for January 14th. Two of the three people
being sentenced in the coming month -- Montana cultivator Chris
Williams and Los Angeles-area dispensary operator Aaron Sandusky --
face five and ten years to life, respectively.
"The number of sick patients being locked up by the Obama
Administration is unprecedented and deplorable," said Kris Hermes,
spokesperson for Americans for Safe Access, the country's leading
medical marijuana advocacy organization. "Aggressive enforcement is
an unacceptable means of addressing medical marijuana as a public
health issue," continued Hermes. "The Obama Administration is lying
to the American people when it says it's not targeting individual
patients and these cases are clear evidence of that." Montana patient
cultivator Richard Flor died in August while serving out a 5-year
prison sentence.
Five cultivators claiming to be in compliance with Michigan's medical
marijuana law were sentenced in October. Two of the cultivators --
Jaycob Montague and Jeremy Duval -- are already serving their prison
terms of 18 months and 5 years, respectively, and two others -- John
Marcinkewciz and Shelley Waldron -- are scheduled to surrender to
federal authorities on January 8th and 10th, respectively. Waldron
will be imprisoned for 18 months and Marcinkewciz for 5 years. The
fifth cultivator, Jerry Duval (Jeremy's father), was sentenced to 10
years, but has not yet been given a surrender date.
More than a dozen people were indicted after federal agents conducted
raids on state compliant medical marijuana businesses throughout
Montana in March 2011. Only one, Chris Williams, went to trial and,
like all other medical marijuana defendants who are tried in federal
court, was denied a defense and swiftly convicted. While facing more
than 80 years of mandatory minimum sentencing, Williams accepted a
rare post-conviction plea deal that reduced his charges and possible
sentence to 5 years to life in exchange for his promise not to appeal
his conviction. Williams, who is scheduled to be sentenced on
February 1st, worked at Montana Cannabis with Chris Lindsey, another
indicted cultivator. Lindsey, who testified against Williams at his
trial, is expected to be sentenced today. Medical marijuana
cultivator Jason Washington has one of the last unresolved federal
cases in Montana. Washington is currently scheduled to go to trial on
January 14th.
Aaron Sandusky operated G3 Holistic in Upland, California when he was
federally indicted in June. Though Sandusky was arrested with several
others, he was the only one who took his case to trial. In October,
Sandusky was denied a defense in federal court and convicted at
trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7th to a minimum of
10 years to life.
Far surpassing his predecessor George W. Bush, President Obama has
conducted more than 200 SWAT-style raids on state-compliant medical
marijuana businesses and has indicted more than 80 people since he
took office. "How many medical marijuana patients is President Obama
going to imprison before he considers other, more humane options,"
said Hermes. "The president must answer for why he's going against
his earlier pledges by spending Justice Department funds in this way,
especially at a time of fiscal crisis."
###
Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of
patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens
promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and
research.
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