please help brian Epis

Many DRCNet readers know the case of Bryan Epis, a medical marijuana patient and provider who was sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted in federal court in 2002.

Bryan was released last year, pending re-sentencing, following the US Supreme Court's Blakely ruling. DRCNet participated in a major demonstration in Sacramento on the day of his sentencing, and we have also gotten to know Bryan personally after he was released, two years later, pending re-sentencing after the Supreme Court's rulings in Blakely and Booker began to change the way federal sentencing works.



Bryan and daughter Ashley reunited on his release


A victory in the recent Raich medical marijuana case would have given Bryan a new trial, during which he presumably would have been allowed to present evidence that he was providing medical marijuana to patients in compliance with California law. Unfortunately that didn't happen. But the Supreme Court rulings now give Judge Frank Damrell the power to give Bryan a shorter sentence this time, toward which the two years Bryan has already spent behind bars would count. Judge Damrell will pronounce his new sentence on August 1, 9:30am. Prosecutor Samuel Wong has asked that the same ten year sentence be imposed again.


We are writing you today to ask that you send letters to Judge Damrell in support of Bryan -- especially those of you who have conditions for which medical marijuana is an effective treatment, those of you who have seen loved ones with painful medical conditions gain some relief from medical marijuana, and those of you who know Bryan personally and can attest with concrete examples as to what a good and kind person he is. Bryan's attorney thinks that Judge Damrell probably does not believe that marijuana is a legitimate medicine, and your personal testimonials could help to persuade him otherwise.


Regardless of what you have to say, please be sure that your letters are respectful. Judge Damrell has the power to sentence Bryan to as much as ten years or as little as time served. This is not a moment when righteous anger will help our cause -- save it for the next time when it will. The same request applies to any of you who attend the hearing to show support in person, as well as to dress conservatively. Letters should be addressed to:


The Honorable Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
US District Court
501 I Street, Suite 4-200
Sacramento, CA 95814

Please write on the envelope and at the top of the letter: "Re: Sentencing of Bryan Epis, #97-381." Please also send copies of your letter to us at [email protected] or by fax to (202) 293-4414, and to Bryan's attorney, Brenda Grantland, at (415) 381-6105 or [email protected]. Also, if you are interested you can read Bryan's Sentencing Memorandum at http://www.bestlodging.com/sentencing.pdf online. (The web site http://www.bestlodging.com is also Bryan's online travel business -- another way you can support an activist if you have bookings to make.)


Thanks for considering this request to help a fellow activist who took a great risk and has already paid a great price.


Sincerely,










David Borden, Executive Director
StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network