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Medical-marijuana users raise money for cost of legal defense

SCF

Bong Smoking News Hound
Veteran
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_9857236
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 07/11/2008 08:54:13 PM PDT


It was an August day like any other a year ago.
JoAnn Cates was inside her Johnson Valley home preparing to lie down for a nap with her great-grandson, while her husband, Rich McCabe, watered the front yard outside.

Moments later, as many as 12 armed sheriff's deputies rushed through their mobile home and made their way to a greenhouse filled with thriving marijuana plants.

Once the deputies - who claimed they were looking for stolen goods - located the crop, the couple were handcuffed and taken to jail.

The lives of the medical-

marijuana patients have been a legal nightmare, complete with court appearances and costly attorney fees.

"What we were doing was not against the law. We voted for this years ago," said Cates, who like her husband uses pot to alleviate the pain of arthritis, cancer and other ailments. "All we want is for this to end so we can get back to our lives."

To speed up a return to normality, Cates, 74, and McCabe, 66, are holding a fundraiser today at the Castle Inn in Landers.

The music fest and barbecue to keep Cates and McCabe out of jail will be hosted by comedian Teri Joyce.

There will also be entertainment provided by local rock, country and bluegrass bands, and a barbecue.

The couple, who have raised $7,000 at previous fundraisers, need to come up with $8,000 more for their Bay Area attorneys.
Lanny Swerdlow, the director of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition


Project and a staunch supporter of the couple, said the effort should not even be necessary.
"My concern is they are

legitimate medical-marijuana patients who were handcuffed and taken to jail," he said. "It's like they are sending out a message to other grandmothers who are thinking about using marijuana to treat their arthritis that they better think twice."

The couple's legal battle is part of a bigger picture that pits the state against counties and federal authorities.

Swerdlow said San Bernardino County is one of the worst in the state when it comes to refusing to recognize the

medical-marijuana law.

At issue is the medical-marijuana ID card.

"State law in existence since 2003 says people can't be arrested with a medical-

marijuana ID card, but the county refuses to issue them and keeps going after medical- marijuana patients," he said. "It's lawlessness on the part of the county."

But Michael Abacherli, a prosecutor with the district attorney's Marijuana Suppression Unit, said there is nothing lawless about it.

The couple were charged with cultivation of marijuana and possession for sales of marijuana because they had an excessive number of plants, more than they could use for themselves, he said.

"The couple's age and medical conditions do come into play," he said. "But the bottom line is, there are laws limiting the amount of marijuana grown."

Meanwhile, the couple hope the lawyers they have hired will get them off the hook.

"We are not the type of people who are selling marijuana on the corner," Cates said. "We just use it because it makes us feel better."

deborah.pfeiffer@

inlandnewspapers.com

(909) 386-3879



These are true fighters! Good vibes.......
 

Storm Crow

Active member
Veteran
Look at their faces!

Look at their faces!

http://panorg.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html (old post from Feb.)

They could be me and the hubby (dude even looks like my hubby)! They could be your grandparents or parents! Arrested for growing a medical herb! :fsu: That's not a smiley I use a lot, but in this case, it is absolutely appropriate!

Granny
 

Babbabud

Bodhisattva of the Earth
ICMag Donor
Veteran
I so agree Storm. We shouldnt have to spend thousands of dollars to defend ourselves. They come in and take all our stuph and leave it up to us to prove ourselves innocent. While they have the best Offense our tax dollars can buy we have to put ourselves into deep hock to defend ouselves. There is something seriously wrong with this picture.
 

BiG H3rB Tr3E

"No problem can be solved from the same level of c
Veteran
Babbabud said:
I so agree Storm. We shouldnt have to spend thousands of dollars to defend ourselves. They come in and take all our stuph and leave it up to us to prove ourselves innocent. While they have the best Offense our tax dollars can buy we have to put ourselves into deep hock to defend ouselves. There is something seriously wrong with this picture.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Babbabud again. :joint:
 
If anyone can please donate to the McCabes for their legal fees please do so..

If you can Contact Lanny Swerdlow at Lanny@marijuananews.com anything that can be raffled off or cash is great...These people really need us... now...

and if you know any companies that might donate...ask them too...I got two other companies to donate just by telling them the story...it is a "No Brainer" to help these great Americans...

Much Respect Lanny and SCF for posting this story...
 
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to BiG H3rB Tr3E again.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to SCF again.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Storm Crow again.

the only one that had not received rep in a while is Babba...haha good thread....Great people :joint:
 
:rant: what the fuck is go'n on out there?
is it legal or not, what the fuck :bashhead:

talk about liying out both sides of your mouth! :dueling:
where is the governator where is anybody! :spank:

the people made a compromise and they are still kicking doors in? :fsu:
get these useless people a job in a shri lanka shoe factory!!! :rant:


blaze on, they will come anyway.,, :badday:
 
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