The Federal Government Wants Those Eastern Washington Medical Marijuana Growers in Jail Right Now
In a federal courtroom last week, onlookers were silent as a court clerk read a verdict that almost entirely exonerated an Eastern Washington familythe "Kettle Falls Five"that was facing 10 years in prison for growing marijuana they said was simply for personal, medical use. But the crowd of friends and activists couldn't stay quiet any longer when a federal prosecutor asked the court to detain one of the defendants until her sentencing, scheduled for three months later. A few people gasped. One whispered, "Are you kidding me?"
A jury had just found the three defendantswhom I wrote this feature aboutguilty of growing fewer than 100 marijuana plants, but not guilty on the more serious and dangerous charges that carried mandatory minimum prison sentences, including distribution and owning a gun "in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime." Yet the government still wanted to lock them up right away.
The judge wasn't having it. He told the feds to submit the request in writing and he'd deal with it later. Now, the prosecution has done that and is asking the court to lock up all three of the defendantsincluding Rhonda Harvey, who is caring for her 71-year-old husband as he battles late-stage pancreatic cancerbecause they're a flight risk. Prosecutors also claim Harvey wrongly e-mailed a government witness (Jason Zucker, a family friend who had been a defendant until he cut a deal with the government) before the trial began. Harvey and her lawyers say she only e-mailed Zucker's wifenot a violation of the rulessaying she was disappointed he'd taken a plea and would be testifying against the family.
Read the rest at: http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/03/11/21865342/the-federal-government-wants-those-eastern-washington-medical-marijuana-growers-in-jail-right-now
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)All charges will be dropped.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)bemildred
(90,061 posts)N.Y. to Paris
(110 posts)Never mind about that 6 fingered-hillrod from Orkansas
and his band of 46.... we need to get to the bottom of
America's REAL problem....marijuana!!! Riiiight!
dougolat
(716 posts)...don't wash away easily - still a lot of true believers in "Devil Weed" - besides, it's a job for some!