Free Eddy Lepp!

Free Eddy Lepp!
Monday, 18 May 2009 15:34

U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Patel threw the book at California medipot grower Eddy Lepp, who received the federal mandatory-minimum sentence for cultivating more than 1,000 plants.

The flamboyant Lepp ran the Ministry of Cannabis and Rastafari, where more than 25,000 plants were grown in 2004 on his Upper Lake property. All the marijuana was earmarked for medical use only.
Eddy Lepp Ministry
However, Lepp's original plan of less than 10,000 plants ballooned in size, and was visible to traffic on Highway 20.

In 2004, Kyle Kushman wrote in High Times Grow America: "Lepp's cannabis ministry allows patients and caregivers to tend up to six plants for a flat fee of $500 per plant... The ministry's need for more acreage was met when Lepp bought 20 acres right across the road from the ministry, on the plains of the dormant Mt. Konocti volcano." Lepp's farm was dubbed: "The biggest medical-marijuana grow-op in the world."

For his part, Lepp has said, "All I did was make (the land) available to the ministry."

Lepp was arrested for cultivation in 1997 (acquitted) and his property was raided in 2002 (266 plants seized). He was convicted of the 2004 charges last September.

California NORML's Dale Gieringer states: "This case sadly illustrates the senselessness of federal marijuana laws. The last thing this country needs is more medical marijuana prisoners. Hopefully, we can change the law and get Eddy out of jail before he completes his sentence."

In addition to the 10-year sentence, Lepp will be under supervised release for five more years. He must turn himself in by July 6.

FREE EDDY LEPP!