Federal Guidelines...A Tale of Caution

Hi everyone:
I wanted to warn all of you who grow in medical states, like CAlifornia. My wife and I, were charged by the feds for growing, also called manufacturing in fed language. The prosecuter added up all the plants I grew over a 3 year period to get the numbers over 100. As you should know, 100 plants in fed land means 60 months in fed prison under the minimum mandatory sentencing rules. My wife and I have to surrender on May 2, 2011 to start serving a 60 month sentence in federal prison. If you grow, dont grow over 19 plants in a year so that over the 5 year statute of limitations, you will not grow 100 plants or more. I am leaving 5 kids behind and 2 grandchildren, plus a new grandchild due in October of 2011. I am an Attornery and my wife is a Doctor. Our licenses have been suspended because of the convictions and the feds have driven us to bankruptcy. Our children are going to try to keep our house while we are in custody. If any of you can find it in your hearts to help us, please go to The United States vs. Dale Schafer & Marion P. Fry to make donations. Thank you and grow in peace. Dale Schafer and Mollie Fry

what happened that the feds endd up at your home???

I'm all for helping those caught growing cannabis for their own needs, or caretakers that are busted regardless of being licensed by their state for growing others' meds, but it seems to me there's a bunch we weren't told. Like how did they find your grow, what were the other charges, how do they know you've grown more than 100 plants in 3 years, why is there no mention that you were growing under a doctor's recommendation...and being a doctor, your wife didn't have the ability to provide one?

You being a lawyer, you didn't think of what a bust might do to your family or business...? Was there a manufacturing for sales or distribution charges? Something's not adding-up. Those are just a few of the questions I have, but if you really are a lawyer, you should have a better attention to detail than to just come in and hit us up for financial help under the illusion of half-truths. (you were convicted, right?)

But if you're nothing but a cash-cropper, you knew the risks before you started, and I have no problems with someone that subverts the cannabis laws paying the price.

Hey Rusty, you got that right!

They sarted with a med recommendation for her, when Dr. Fry had cancer and needed the mmj to offset cancer treatments. Not sure why Atty Dale Schafer had his recommendation. But what started out as a medical needs personal grow, turned into a dispencary or as I say "dealer with a storefront".

They came to the attention of the feds two ways;
1) an investigation into 2 former empolyees who got busted for a major grow opperation.
2) a private shipping company intercepted a couple of pkgs containing mj sent by a "Dale", not sure but I think it was interstate.

While this situation is sad in some ways, it's obvious that they were profiting from illegal activity.

Like the saying says, "Don't do the crime, if you can't serve the time."

OM

PS: This does point out why the federal laws need changing. The same federal government that says mj is a schedule 1 drug (has no medical use) also holds patents on marjuanna cannabiniods.

This is an old case, with the defendants initially busted a decade ago. In fact, IIRC it was the first case of a Federal bust of a California medical marijuana dispensary. Moreover, it looks pretty clear from the court records that the Feds didn't bust them so much for the dispensary, though that played into it, but for the alleged shipment of marijuana by Dale.

Word to the wise...the Feds still consider growing more than 100 plants to be a very serious offense, and they do not respect any State's medical marijuana laws when you're accused of breaking that barrier. Don't do it!

Did you bring it up at trial...... that the Feds have no legs to stand on


Your a lawyer right....how can the Federal Government prosecute you based on the fact that there is no medical value on marijuana..... its a Schudule 1 drug

The Federal Government deniies any medical value of marijuana but holds a patent on marijuana till 2020

When I lived in CA, in Los Angeles, (1999-2004), I had to drive over 7 hours to the little town of Cool, CA, to see Dr. Fry - to get a card. She and her husband were cool as hell. Took FOREVER for Southern CA to get with the program. Now, after I left, clinics are everywhere. Still trying to figure out why SoCal lagged for so long.
Turned out, the day the US invaded Iraq, the DEA raided Dr. Fry's clinic. I now live in another MMJ State. I find it incredible that people who live in CA are ignorant about this case. You could all benefit by reading a book called "Cool Madness," I forget the author and publisher, it is the story of how the feds worked with the local leos to ruin their lives. It also tells how they had Tony Serra (Sp?) and another famous lawyer (Lichter), and talks about the protests outside federal court... Come on people, it's your state, for God's sake!:wtf:

OK the book, "Cool Madness, The Trial of Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer" is written by Vanessa Nelson, published by MMA Publishing, copyright 2008, available at MMA Publishing - Medical Cannabis Books. FWIW, I believe these two fine people were singled out by the Feds, because they were outspoken advocates of MMJ, at a time when CA was the only MMJ State, look how far the USA has come, since then. It was pure vindictiveness on the Feds' part. Best wishes to Dr. Fry and Mr. Schafer.