Please visit FriendsofCCL.com!

Here’s video of Charlie speaking with reporters before this morning’s hearing.

From the New York Times:

A federal judge here Monday postponed the sentencing of a man convicted of running a [...]]]> Exclusive footage of Charles Lynch from this morning’s sentencing hearing in Los Angeles. The hearing was postponed by Judge George H. Wu until April 30, 2009.

Here’s video of Charlie speaking with reporters before this morning’s hearing.

From the New York Times:

A federal judge here Monday postponed the sentencing of a man convicted of running a medical marijuana dispensary and asked the Department of Justice to clarify its revised position on such cases.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said last week that federal authorities would not seek to prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries if the operations complied with state and local laws, a departure from the Bush administration policy that federal narcotics laws held sway. California is one of 13 states that allow the growth and sales of medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.

“The judge said this statement raises more questions than it answers,” said Reuven Cohen, a lawyer for the defendant, Charles Lynch. “He said he needed an explanation, and he needed it from the Department of Justice, not the local prosecutor.”

Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the United States attorney in Los Angeles, said that he could not comment on the specifics of the request by Judge George H. Wu, but that prosecutors “do believe that Mr. Lynch violated state law.”

Charles C. Lynch is the former owner and managing Caregiver for Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers in Morro Bay.

The dispensary opened on April 1 2006 with the blessing of the city [...]]]> Court Support Needed for

Federal Sentencing of Charles C. Lynch

March 23, 2009 at 10:30am

312 Spring Street, Los Angeles CA

From the Friends of Charles C. Lynch website:

Charles C. Lynch is the former owner and managing Caregiver for Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers in Morro Bay.

The dispensary opened on April 1 2006 with the blessing of the city and even joined the Chamber of Commerce.  In July 2006 the dispensary was granted a Conditional Use Permit from the City of Morro Bay to include a Medical Cannabis Nursery at the dispensary.

The Dispensary operated for almost one year without any major problems or complaints to the owner. On March 29, 2007 the Local Sheriff and DEA agents raided the Dispensary and Home of Charles Lynch. Lynch was not arrested at the time and reopened the dispensary on April 7 2007 with the blessing of the City of Morro Bay. A week after reopening the dispensary the DEA called the Landlord and threatened him with Forfeiture of his property unless he evicted the Dispensary from the building.  On May 16, 2007 the Dispensary closed permanently.

On July 17, 2007 Lynch was arrested at his home and charged with Federal Marijuana Distribution. Lynch pleaded not guilty and went on trial July 22, 2008 in Los Angeles. Lynch was not allowed to discuss state law or mention ‘medical marijuana’ during the trial. Also large amounts of evidence including Lynch’s compliance with State and Local laws could not be considered as factual by the jury. Before opening the dispensary Lynch called the DEA and asked about thier policy regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. The DEA told Lynch it was up to the Cities and Counties to decide how to handle the matter. This was Lynch’s only defense in Federal Court and is called entrapment by estopell when a government agent says something is ok when in fact it might not be. Click here for more information.

On August 5, 2008 Lynch was convicted in Federal Court for operating the Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers. On January 6, 2009 Lynch appeared before Judge Wu to request a new trial on the grounds that he was not allowed to get his defense before the jury and other new evidence. The request was denied. Charles has been out on a $400,000 bail posted by his loving and trusting family and was under house arrest for over nine months.

During March 2009 United States Policy regarding Medical Marijuana changed in favor of states as long as the dispensary complied with state law. Lynch’s dispensary complied with all state and local laws during the time it was open. Click here to read the San Francisco Chronicles report of the new policy. On Friday March 13, 2009 John Stossel and ABC News 2020 aired he story of Lynch on National Television. On Sunday March 15 Al Roker did a documentary entitled Marijuana Inc. Al Roker reporting and focused in on the case of Charles C. Lynch.

Despite the recent policy changes Charles C. Lynch will be sentenced on March 23, 2009 at the Federal Court House in Los Angeles.

I am deeply concerned with the targeting and arresting of cannabis users; this is an economic issue, as well as a social issue. We have a very limited amount of resources here on Maui—even less now that we are in an official “recession.”

Do [...]]]> Fantastic commentary in today’s Maui Weekly from reader Ahiena Yamakawa of Makawao.

I am deeply concerned with the targeting and arresting of cannabis users; this is an economic issue, as well as a social issue. We have a very limited amount of resources here on Maui—even less now that we are in an official “recession.”

Do we really think it is a wise priority to be spending so much of our time and resources going after sick people growing their own medication? I know some think these people are just “potheads” taking advantage of the system, or that cannabis is a gateway drug, but it does not evoke violence or break up families anywhere near the effects of batu, alcohol, methamphetamine, or crack cocaine.

We need to use our resources more efficiently; if we have two years of resources to put into an operation to break up a “medical marijuana drug ring,” can we triple the effort to rid our island of ice and meth labs? What is really more dangerous, the “gateway drug,” or the drugs you find on the other side of the gate?

The realistic, cost-effective solution to dealing with drugs is to use government money to go after the worst drugs in our society: heroin, ice, etc.

If we want to eradicate marijuana, don’t waste government money on green harvest; just allow people to grow industrial hemp for a myriad of organic uses, and it will seed out the drug crops without the government expending money. Annually, our country imprisons 800,000 people for marijuana crimes—just imagine if those 800,000 spaces in our jails were used for serious drug offenses instead.

From The Boston Globe:

“It’s no longer a crime to have one ounce or less of pot in Massachusetts. The state’s new marijuana decriminalization law, approved by voters in a November referendum, goes into effect today. Those who are caught with an [...]]]> A new law that decriminalizes marijuana goes into effect TODAY across the state of Massachusetts.

From The Boston Globe:

“It’s no longer a crime to have one ounce or less of pot in Massachusetts. The state’s new marijuana decriminalization law, approved by voters in a November referendum, goes into effect today. Those who are caught with an ounce or less would get a ticket similar to a building code citation. They could appeal the civil infraction in court within 21 days or pay a $100 fine set in the law.”

Boston.com has a great Q&A interview with Gregory I. Massing, an attorney with the state’s executive office of public safety & security, regarding the impact of this new law.

Q: Are people allowed to smoke marijuana in public now as long as it is an ounce or less?

A: The new $100 civil penalty for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana applies to smoking marijuana in public: you can’t smoke it without possessing it. Question 2 gives municipalities the option to pass ordinances or by-laws to make public use of marijuana a crime.

Q: Are people allowed to smoke or use marijuana in private?

A: The same $100 civil penalty applies to smoking or using an ounce or less of marijuana in private. Question 2 did not change the criminal laws prohibiting possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, nor did it change the laws regarding distribution of any amount of marijuana.

Q: Is it legal to buy or sell marijuana?

A: Question 2 did not change the criminal laws prohibiting the distribution, sale, trafficking, or manufacturing of marijuana, or the possession of any amount of marijuana with intent to distribute, sell, traffic, or manufacture. Someone who buys more than an ounce of marijuana can be prosecuted for possessing more than an ounce of marijuana, which is still a crime. Someone who buys an ounce or less of marijuana is subject to the new $100 civil penalty. It is possible that someone who buys any amount of marijuana could be prosecuted for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The decision whether or not to charge conspiracy is in the discretion of the relevant police department and district attorney’s office.

Q: Do the same laws apply to minors as adults?

A: Yes, except under Question 2 there are additional provisions (including a requirement to attend a drug awareness program) for persons under 18 who possess an ounce or less of marijuana. See our web site for provisions for offenders under 18.