Calif. pot dispensary owner given 1-year sentence

[BlueJessamine]

Source: Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California medical marijuana dispensary owner was sentenced Thursday to a reduced term of a year and a day in prison in a closely watched case that could have implications in states where federal and local laws clash.

U.S. District Judge George Wu found that the case of Charles Lynch, 47, merited an exception to a mandatory minimum five-year sentence that guidelines called for.

Lynch's conviction on five marijuana-related offenses was one of the first in the nation to be challenged in federal court after the Obama administration adjusted federal pot policy.

Lynch sought leniency after U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced earlier this year that federal agents will now target marijuana distributors only when they violate both federal and state laws.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9mnrkJu2S7Mly9xuWs4p9_TRkdwD98OO3F00

[Rage for Order]

1. Should've been a suspended sentence

Or at the least, no more than time served

[Downtown Hound]

2. At a time when the state can't afford to maintain its parks

And the federal government is swimming in debt, they're going to spend upwards of $30,000 to incarcerate this man who provided a substance that is literally all over California. His incarceration will not even remotely impact the marijuana supply, it's protected under state law, and our prisons are dangerously overcrowded anyways. What will this accomplish? Trying to think of an answer, but can't.

[Jkid]

5. What will this accomplish?

Absolutely nothing.

[Merlot]

9. Yours is the voice of reason missing in the debate

You make good points, and all true. Except that I've heard incarcaration is upward of $60k per year.

So imprison this man and fire a teacher.

[lob1]

3. He shouldn't have been arrested.

[Jkid]

4. I fear the worst for him.

He'll be forced to be part of prison gangsterism. I heard in a episode of Lockup in regards to California prisons: "You'll have to join a gang. You have no choice."

And all prison gangs in California are racist in a way.

[duhneece]

7. All prisons are racist, period.

I think it was Peace Patriot who said "prisons are cauldrons of hate and racism."

My son, who is white, was raised to be non-racist, and he is. Nathan was sentenced to 8 years in prison for a non-violent drug offense. We have a black pastor who is Nathan's biggest supporter. However, the weird race rules Nathan must abide by include the 'fact' that he can give tattoos to white and Hispanic inmates, but not to black inmates. Hispanics can give tattoos to blacks, whites or Hispanics. If Nathan has traded for something with a black man, Nathan can't give him a tattoo, but must find an Hispanic to give the tattoo and Nath must trade with him. If that makes no sense, I apologize, but it is crazy-making to me.

No non-violent drug offense should mean prison time. Driving while intoxicated IS a violent crime to me because of the strong possibility of someone getting hurt, but I can't think of any other strictly drug related crime that should mean doing time, imho.

Nath has to be careful to follow these crazy-making rules or risk being hurt/killed, but he's not part of a 'gang' per se.

[Metta]

6. Total b.s. Is this more handwringing from a tepid, bipartisan Obama?

Certainly, Holder is a coward.

[timeforpeace]

10. Surprised this is happening during this administration.

[Metta]

11. His masks are coming off at an alarming rate.

He's renegging on many campaign promises. So sad. I feel he's betrayed us.

[Vidar]

16. You're far from alone.

[Metta]

18. So sad to say you're right. How I wish it were otherwise.

I feel we've been duped.

[Politicalboi]

8. He's going to appeal

How does one run a pot shop and do everything state law requires and file federal taxes for selling it in your business? Do the feds ok it then? How does that work? I myself would love to get into that business either selling or growing. I'm going to the THC expox this weekend here in L.A.

[Union Yes]

12. What has our nation become? I guess it's been this way forever.

Americans(excluding progressives) are proof that human evolution hit a brick wall somewhere along the line.

[Union Yes]

13. Karma: Was my 420th post!

FREE Charles Lynch!

[Union Yes]

14. BTW mandatory minimum sentences for pot are fascist laws!

[Taverner]

15. Strange as it may seem, this is a good thing

It means the Mandatory Minimum is on its way out

[Romulox]

17. Another promise broken? nt