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JURY NULLIFIES GEORGIA WEED LAW, FINDS MAN NOT GUILTY DESPITE ADMITTEDLY GROWING MARI

Rocky Mtn Squid

EL CID SQUID
Veteran
A MARIJUANA USER WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF DRUG CHARGES—NOT BECAUSE HE DIDN’T DO WHAT HE WAS ACCUSED OF, BUT BECAUSE THE JURY DISAGREED WITH THE LAW.
Laurens County, GA – (TFTP) Javonnie Mondrea McCoy is a medical marijuana patient in a state where the plant is still illegal and was recently in court facing charges of possession and manufacturing. McCoy grew cannabis for his own personal consumption to treat severe headaches and other pain that he has suffered since he spent two weeks in a coma in 2003 after being severely beaten.

Instead of attempting to fight the case on the grounds that the evidence against him was wrong, McCoy instead argued that the laws were wrong. He was honest about his experience and his medical use of cannabis during the trial, and the jury acquitted his case, despite the evidence against him.

McCoy’s lawyer, Catherine Bernard, said that McCoy is not the type of person who belongs behind bars.


“The jury appreciated his honesty throughout the case—including testimony at trial and statements to police—and recognized that a good, hardworking man living a quiet life and not bothering anyone didn’t deserve a felony conviction for his actions,” Bernard said.

This is just the most recent case of a jury nullification victory for cannabis users, but this strategy is becoming increasingly popular.

For those who do not know, jury nullification is basically the right for any juror to not only judge the facts of the case but to also actually judge the validity of the law itself. This means that if a jury feels that a defendant is facing an unjust charge, they actually have the right to rule in the defendant’s favor, even if they are technically guilty under the court’s standards.


Considering the fact that most of the nonviolent offenses on the books today are extremely unpopular for a variety of reasons, you would think that jury nullification would be household knowledge, or even taught in schools. However, this is a very well guarded secret, with many judges actually preventing the defense from informing juries of their right to nullify laws that they feel are unjust.

In fact, in 2016, New Hampshire House became the first state in the nation to consider a bill that would require courts to inform juries of their right to vote not guilty when the verdict would produce an unjust result.

Attorney Catherine Bernard could not be immediately reached for comment, but posts on her Facebook page suggest that the judge attempted to block her from discussing jury nullification in court.

“Today, I quoted Article 1, Section 1, Paragraph XI of the Georgia Constitution to the jury. The judge interrupted and told them it was ‘not a correct statement of the law.’ The judge took an oath to uphold that Constitution. What’s going on here?” Bernard wrote.



It is sadly common for judges to prevent talk of jury nullification in their courtrooms, as cannabis activist Ed Forchion, aka “NJ Weedman,” learned during one of his jury nullification victories.


Forchion was passionate in the closing arguments of his 2012 trial, wearing a shirt that said “Marijuana … It’s OK. It’s Just Illegal,” and telling the jury that he had been munching on edibles throughout the whole trial. Then at one point, he was nearly held in contempt of court for trying to advance his jury nullification argument.

In the years since Forcion has faced constant harassment from the authorities and has been arrested on numerous occasions. Luckily, he was still able to win over the jury earlier this year when he was found not guilty after spending over 400 days in jail on trumped-up witness tampering charges, which were related to a prior marijuana case.


Source: https://www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/top-news/jury-nullifies-georgia-weed-law-finds-man-not-guilty-despite-admittedly-growing-marijuana/


RMS

:smoweed:
 

yesum

Well-known member
ICMag Donor
Veteran
It took him being put into a coma and needing some pain relief/ptsd before they would give him any compassion, but anyways good nullification.

When a 'recreational' user gets let off for growing, let me know. If you use pot at all then in a sense it is medical. You do it to feel better so?
 

Gypsy Nirvana

Recalcitrant Reprobate -
Administrator
Veteran
Cannabis is THERAPEUTIC, whether you use it as a medicine or for relaxing or for recreation.

Having a good effect on the body or mind; contributing to a sense of well-being.
‘a therapeutic silence’

More example sentences of whats therapeutic.

‘They began to look into the reasons why crystals and stones were supposed to hold therapeutic qualities and exactly how people can use them.’

‘He spent a lot of time at the prison, while giving the prisoners art lessons for creative and therapeutic reasons.’

‘Paradoxically it is this smell that contributes to the therapeutic effect of garlic on the body.’

‘More than anything, the book is a testimony to the therapeutic and palliative effects of time and travel.’

‘The last decade has seen a revolution in healthcare as more and more hospitals become convinced of the therapeutic power of humour.’

‘Although many hold the view that drawing and painting can have a therapeutic and calming effect, Morris feels otherwise.’

‘There is no evidence to suggest which types of games have a greater therapeutic or educational effect.’

‘Jo told me to close the lid and turn off the lights as soon as I felt comfortable, to get the full therapeutic benefits.’

‘It is believed that swimming with dolphins has a therapeutic effect.’
‘‘Voluntary work is very therapeutic for people with mental health problems,’ she says.’

‘Apart from the renowned medicinal value of the water, the air itself may be therapeutic.’

‘Perhaps it is the therapeutic effect of chocolates that is driving sales.’

‘Just watching the artificial stream and listening to the sound of falling water is so therapeutic that it induces my mind to relax until I fall asleep.’

‘They seldom answer questions directly, and use silence as a therapeutic tool.’

‘Some brands of yogurt contain sufficient quantities of viable organisms to have a therapeutic effect.’

‘Allicin is a bioactive compound from garlic with a number of therapeutic effects.’

‘Apart from its therapeutic benefit, a shower is also a great way to start the day.’

‘The work in the open air was therapeutic, even though he made no money, and he was away from the stresses of his former life.’

‘However writing these posts is therapeutic and for some reason does attract a readership.’

‘You couldn't agree more as you inhale the pure, clean, almost therapeutic air in his room.’

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/therapeutic


It took him being put into a coma and needing some pain relief/ptsd before they would give him any compassion, but anyways good nullification.

When a 'recreational' user gets let off for growing, let me know. If you use pot at all then in a sense it is medical. You do it to feel better so?
 

JustSumTomatoes

Indicas make dreams happen
It's a pretty good feeling when you see court cases turn out like this, but it is a rarity. I was once on jury duty and the prosecutor explained to the pool before selecting the panel, then jurors, that regardless of your interpretation or personal feelings on the law that you still had to make a judgement based upon it. What wasn't mentioned was that jury nullification was also legally sound if you found the law for which the defendant was being prosecuted to be unjust.

Imagine jurors realizing this as a whole and taking control over many corrupt laws. I don't think this law would fly very long in the courts. That or they would start to do crazy shit like holding jurors in contempt of court.

I can't help but think how ridiculous it is that people have been put in prison and are still being sent there over things like this. Meanwhile on the west coast and northern boarder of the US, a rec user much less a med patient wouldn't have to live in terror like this. Just bonkers.
 

Gry

Well-known member
The myth is as free men, we get the right to vote, and we can have our day in court.
In truth, they love nothing more than to steal our vote, and deny us a day in court.

Having done so they congratulate each other on their morality and wit, and on the
ease with which they bullshit and pencil whip us.

They call it an old boys network. I view it as a stacked deck.
 

P-NUT

Active member
Veteran
Can you volunteer for jury duty? I wonder how many more jury nullifications would happen if people refused a plea and took it to trial.
 

Itsmychoice

Well-known member
ICMag Donor
Proud

Proud

I can’t help but think this will help set a precedent that will eventually get the laws where they need to be throughout the country.
 

armedoldhippy

Well-known member
Veteran
Can you volunteer for jury duty? I wonder how many more jury nullifications would happen if people refused a plea and took it to trial.

nope, no volunteers. prosecutors don't want intelligent folks on juries either. if you are bright enough to realize that cops routinely lie, you will NOT be allowed on a jury. they want morons that think all LEO are honorable and NEVER lie...
 

BushyOldGrower

Bubblegum Specialist
Veteran
Judges intimidate jurors and lie to them...they say jurors cannot consider anything but the evidence and the charges and not the law or the person. Jury’s can decide however they like. BushyOG ��
 
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