Obama Administration Throwing Medical Marijuana Patients Into Federal Prison

[emilya]

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."

[painretreat]

Aaron Sandusky was, denied a defense, in Federal Court




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."




Aaron Sandusky of G3 Holistic Sentencing Hearing

Court Support NEEDED!
Monday January 7th, 2013
8:00am
United States Courthouse.
312 N Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Courtroom 15
Hon. Judge Percy Anderson
CONTACT:
Darlene 909-486-1196 (tel:909-486-1196)

On Monday January 7th 2013,

8:00am,
supporters will collaborate for court support for Aaron.
We will gather at the
US Courthouse on 312 N Spring Street in Los Angeles
G3 Holistic vs Upland CA case is still being reviewed by California's Supreme Court alongside the Inland Empire Health and Wellness Center, determining cities' right to ban cannabis clubs. On Nov 01, 2011, the day before their case was reviewed by the 4th District Court of Appeals, G3 was raided. Aaron Sandusky and 5 co-defendants were later arrested on June 14, 2012 by the Federal Government. All 5 co-defendants have taken plea deals, leaving Aaron and his attorney, Roger Diamond, to fight for Aaron's freedom.
Unfortunately, Aaron was convicted of 2 counts. He was unjustly tried and was not allowed a defense. He is now facing 10 years to life in prison. It will be a powerful message for supporters to show. Let us show the Judge that there are still people that stand behind Aaron and the cannabis movement.
With respect to the sensitive nature of this hearing, we ask court attendees to wear a dress shirt or appropriate attire, as a gesture of respect for the defendant.





Aaron Sandusky, Upland, California..


:jointsmile:Sign the Petition for a Presidential Pardon on WhiteHouse.gov (http://inlandempireclsa.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=18a0b3533c88bc39e6f319da0&id=ba9f36f3ed&e=048c635f7c)




I have met Aaron and many of the patients, of this G-3, "Co-Op." And
I have spoken with the City Council Members, in Upland, as well.
As much as, the town council, seemed to understand "medicinal" use, it seems; Not too many Cities, even in this legal MMJ State of CA (15 years) support "Access."

Hopefully, the California Supreme Court decisions, will prevail, over these Federal "Invasions."
State vs Federal Gov't.. Why the State doesn't step up and take our power...idk.:mad: pr

[picklesrskankin]

Joined and signed. Just wish I could be there to show support.

[painretreat]

Aaron Sandusky, sentenced to 10 years, by Federal Judge, Percy no-mercy Anderson. :mad: pr

[painretreat]

Cannabis Chronicles (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/cannabis_chronicles/)
Aaron Sandusky, Inland Empire Marijuana Dispensary Operator, Gets Ten Year Prison Term

By Nick Schou (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/author.php?author_id=328) Mon., Jan. 7 2013 at 1:14 PM

Categories: Cannabis Chronicles (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/cannabis_chronicles/)




In just the latest and perhaps harshest example of the schizophrenic nature of California's medical marijuana industry, the owner of a trio of Inland Empire medical marijuana clubs has been sentenced to serve a decade in federal prison. As Dennis Romero of the Weekly's sister paper LA Weekly just reported (http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2013/01/aaron_sandusky_marijuana_10_year_sentence_g3_holis tic_us_attorney.php), Aaron Sandusky, 42, of Rancho Cucamonga and president of G3 Holistics, Inc. was sentenced to a mandatory minimum of ten years behind bars with an additional five years of supervised probation for allegedly selling pot in violation of the federal ban on marijuana.

Specifically, according to a press release issued by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles, Sandusky was convicted last year of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, both counts involving more than 1000 plants. Prosecutors allege that Sandusky is nothing more than "an unrepentant manipulator who used the perceived ambiguity surrounding 'medical' marijuana to exploit a business opportunity for himself."

Furthermore, the feds claim, he "used G3 as a means to replace the vast income he lost from the collapse of his real estate business. Defendant built a veneer of legitimacy around his criminal enterprise using his customers' good-faith search for pain relief. There is absolutely no altruistic component to defendant's continued and sustained criminality."


According to a member of the marijuana activist group The Human Solution (http://the-human-solution.org/) who spoke with the Weekly today he and at least 30 supporters were on hand in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson as he read out the sentence. Sandusky spoke in his own defense, trying to explain that he was simply following state law, and trying to help sick people, to which Anderson replied that clearly, the defendant felt no remorse.


"We were just shaking our heads in disbelief as he mentioned problems with drug cartels and he associated Aaron with them. We are trying to get rid of them and it's the federal government that arms the cartels with weapons. It's a sick joke."


Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly (http://www.twitter.com/ocweekly) or on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OCWeekly)!
Aaron Sandusky, Inland Empire Marijuana Dispensary Operator, Gets Ten Year Prison Term - Orange County - News - Navel Gazing (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2013/01/aaron_sandusky_inland_empire_m.php)

[ifluro]

Talk about backwards. 10 years for planting a few seeds, (Perfectly natural and harmless to others) Vs A fine and possible small stint in jail for Assault (Not natural and potentially harmful to others).
Im sorry, I just can't get my head around this. :confused:

[boaz]

Thank you, emilya.

"In October, Sandusky was denied a defense in federal court and convicted at trial."

I am no attorney, and I'm sure his attorney's looked into this, but wasn't there a ruling that declared the fed's convictions in those trials years ago, where the feds purposely misled the jury by blocking critical testimony, as null and void because they are unconstitutional? I'm going to look into this, I can't remember if it was a fed ruling or California state ruling but I remember seeing something about this years ago after Shrub pulled this crap in California. pretty scary. way to go, Barry. :wtf:

I do remember jury nullification was one they dealt with this at the time. :greenthumb:

[painretreat]

All this, in Southern California, where medicinal marijuana, is legal!
Well, Aaron Sandusky, was the President of a Co-Op!

It was more than, a few plant. I am not sure how many patients received their medicine from G-3; however, I met many of the patients from there, receiving their medicine for free. The warehouse for the grow, was a very large, city block, with 3 dispensaries.

A defense and then, Jury Nullification was something, he was hoping for.

I was at the arraignment; I could not hear the speech, however, I heard the judge repeat, 'you re-opened, because your lawyer told you to?' Then the judge would not let his lawyer, speak on his behalf and the 'court' appointed lawyer, did not show up.

Joe Grumbine, well, read the red...


In Long Beach Federal Court. Nine medical marijuana collectives that were raided by Long Beach Police officers in the past two years have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city. The case, which was filed in the U.S. District Courthouse in Los Angeles, alleges a total of 21 raids involving strong-arm tactics and missing or incomplete search warrants between January 2011 and December 2012.

Along with the city itself, the lawsuit, filed by attorney Matthew Pappas, also names a pair of police officers who have been at the heart of the recent controversy over the city's police on medical marijuana clubs, which involved a lottery system that allowed some locations to operate legally (in return for expensive fees) while subjecting the vast majority to frequent police harassment.


According to the lawsuit, one of the officers, Dave Strohman, led a team of cops who raided the NatureCann collective on March 21, 2012, using a battering ram to knock down the door. "The police officers entered guns drawn and ordered everyone on the ground," the lawsuit states. "They immediately arrested everyone (four volunteers) for violating LBMC Chapter 5.89," the city's ordinance banning marijuana clubs. The lawsuit adds that Strohman and his team "interrogated those arrested," then seized "all medical marijuana, cash registers, computers and patients records" and that the club was "utterly destroyed."

Elsewhere, the suit claims Strohman routinely failed to provide exculpatory evidence, such as information showing that the clubs were legal under state law, when filing search warrant affidavits.

Another cop mentioned in the lawsuit is Oscar Valenzuela, a detective whose prior claim to fame is star witness for the prosecution against Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine, both of whom have the distinction of being the only Long Beach pot purveyors who were prosecuted for doing the same thing that city-permitted clubs were going, i.e. selling pot. (The two men were convicted, but have won the right to a new trial thanks to judicial misconduct (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/04/joe_byron_and_joe_grumbine_win.php)).



Valenzuela wrote the affidavit that led to the April 5, 2012 raid of the Green Earth Center collective. In writing up his argument for a search warrant, the lawsuit claims, Valenzuela stated that he had a reasonable belief that club was being used to commit a felony. However, all the facts he presented involved activities that actually amount to a misdemeanor--violating the city's ban on medical marijuana clubs.


Pappas' lawsuit seeks damages for the clubs that were raided as well as injunctive relief, which would prevent the city from engaging in similar tactics in the future. According to Pappas' spokesperson Sergio Contreras, however, only five of the plaintiffs mentioned in the lawsuit remain open.


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[boaz]

thank you PR, this just keeps getting more interesting. Long Beach city cops busting coops using some sort of a kickback 'lottery' system and then trying them in federal court. :wtf:

interesting, I don't recall ever seeing anything in Prop 215 about 'lotteries' and such but it sounds like the coops have mounted a good legal offensive in response, so best of luck to them. may justice prevail.

[LOC NAR on probation]

Sqaush it or Allow it to KICK UP propper like. Which is it going to be ?