DEA Secures Another Medical Marijuana Conviction by Lying in Court
The highly controversial Charles Lynch trial has reached a disappointing conclusion:
The owner of a Morro Bay marijuana dispensary was found guilty today in federal court of five counts of distributing drugs.Charles Lynch, the owner of the dispensary, faces a minimum of five years in prison.
His closely watched trial involved conflicting marijuana laws and went to a federal court jury Monday. Jurors were asked to determine if Lynch was guilty of violating federal drug laws.
During a week-and-a-half-long trial in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, federal prosecutors sought to depict Lynch as a common drug dealer who sold pot to teenagers and carried a backpack stuffed with cash.
Lynch was charged with distributing marijuana, conspiring to distribute marijuana and providing marijuana to people under the age of 21. [LA Times}
Like other medical marijuana convictions, federal prosecutors were only able to prevail by blocking testimony about medical marijuana and misleading jurors about the true nature of the defendant's actions. reason.tv tells the truth about the Lynch case here:
Fortunately, while the federal government can lie to a jury, they cannot conceal their contemptuous conduct from a public already sickened by the vicious and embarrassing war on medical marijuana patients and providers. Their manipulative tactics will be fully exposed in the aftermath of today's result and will be greeted with the same widespread disgust that has characterized past persecutions prosecutions.
We must never mistake today's events for anything but what they are: a pathetic and purely symbolic attempt to obscure the obvious benefits of state medical marijuana laws. They are powerless against the tide of public opinion and the booming industry that has spawned amidst their intransigence. They now resort to petty martyrings, the brutal last resort of a disgraced tyrant, in the fading hope of intimidating a nation that has embraced democracy itself to subvert their hideous war.
Even in its hour of victory, the war on medical marijuana shivers naked before us, spitting desperately into the eyes of a public whose support it lost long ago.
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Comment posted by rita on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 3:24amat least has the balls to stand accountable for the destruction and suffering they cause.
Personal Touch
Comment posted by ph0ed1n on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 9:42amUntil the public majority feels the drug prohibition pain on a personal level, they won't care enough to demand change.
People reading this site are awake.
It's the public majority trusting law enforcement and community leadership that remain in the dark, with no mainstream media to scrutinize the clear injustice of drug prohibition, to shine a bright light on truth and Liberty clearly supporting its end.
Society generally believes any instance of illicit drug use is unhealthy. This is incorrect. You cannot equate risk and health.
They must learn that drug abuse is a problem, not drug use. A good example is the lack of solid evidence confirming an instance of marijuana use is automatically harmful.
They must learn that the founding principles of our nation have been sacrificed in the name of drug prohibition, that politicians who support drug prohibition defy our Creator (e.g. God) and our Founding Forefathers.
They must learn that with individual Rights is the need for individual Responsibility (a.k.a. maturity), and such Responsibility is never created by placing a law to someone's head to scare them, but by teaching the real value in being mature.
How do we teach them?
By communicating simple messages directly with them on their turf, not ours.
Unhealthy Stress
Comment posted by ph0ed1n on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 9:39amThey must also learn unhealthy stress (not drug use) is arguably the leading cause of drug abuse.
Just ask the prohibitionist U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse who wrote, "Researchers have long recognized the strong correlation between stress and substance abuse.", among other quotes found here.
They must also learn a 'war' on unhealthy stress does not exist even though it should.
Who owns your body, if not you??
Comment posted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 10:50amSurely the one thing that each individual truly owns, and is sovereign over, is his/her own body. If the individual can not decide for himself what to put into his body, the society in which that individual lives is not a free society.
The USA kidnaps individuals, tortures them, spies on its own citizens, and denies them the right to Habeus Corpus (due process).
Obviously, the USA is a highly controlled police state, the opposite of a free society.
Authority
Comment posted by ph0ed1n on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 1:12pmThe U.S. government is not authorized to defy individual Rights.
They do so, because "We the people" allow them to.
Most of us are too busy with our families and jobs, and don't want to risk harming ourselves by opposing (for the sake of posterity) the stealing of power by our government.
Most of us are unaware that the American foundation (the U.S. Declaration of Independence) is very clear in supporting us:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men ('A human regardless of sex or age; a person.') are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, that to secure these Rights, governments are instituted among men..."
I have the Right to do what I want until what I want violates another's Rights. The U.S. government has the authority to step in to prevent that violation.
When someone uses marijuana, how is that violating someone else's Rights? It isn't, because there is no evidence confirming an instance of marijuana use is harmful. Therefore the U.S. government has no authority to ban it.
Drug prohibitionists lie by convincing the public that evidence exists (by swapping the words use and abuse to their convenience). We need to focus efforts on at least nationally exposing that lie by constantly advertising (via media, t-shirts, etc.) the proven distinction between harmless drug use and harmful drug abuse. We are not doing this enough, if at all.
The U.S. Declaration of Independence is the best weapon we have against U.S. government abuse, and yet it is generally ignored.
Why? Because at least some people hypocritically support gun prohibition, for example. They support the defiance of individual Rights for the sake of the collective (strengthening centralized government) as a means for opposing the irresponsible who abuse their individual Rights (including abuses in the private sector). These people support banning all use to eliminate abuse (unless that ban negatively effects them, of course). May you never be one of those people.
No U.S. politician could survive publicly saying they don't believe in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, because to do so is to defy God and our Founding Forefathers (political suicide).
We need to advertise ourselves, wielding simple messages based on patriotism and truth, showing the public majority how prohibitionists are defying patriotism and truth (we are the good guys, they are not).
We don't advertise ourselves very much, and what little we do, doesn't target the public majority.
That is our greatest weakness IMHO, and it needs to be competently addressed by people with more resources than yours truly.
Thank you for picking up this story, I live here.
Comment posted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 7:00pmI live here in this cozy beach community of Morro Bay. I have been to the place of Charles Lynch. He was very professional and helpful. It was our Local Sheriff that called the DEA into our sleepy town. I thought that the local Sheriff was sworn to uphold State law. Pat Hedges (Sheriff) has overstepped his boundry in my opinion and when the next election happens, he has to GO!
This is a travesty to the law the people voted in and to a very good man. I'm just sick about it.
That f***king sheriff did this.
Local newpaper article which you will find interesting as well!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 7:02pmI notice that the headline
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 8:41pmI notice that the headline is once again conclusory with no evidence to back it up.
It's like speeding- we all know the law, but when you get caught, you bitch anyways. I say tough cookies for Mr. Lynch. Don't distribute marijuana if you don't want to go to the big house. Now, if his goal was to be the martyr, his actions certainly got a lof of bang for the buck.
Did you watch the reason video?
Comment posted by Scott Morgan on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 9:12pmLook how the whole chamber of commerce supported him. He was respected in the community. You can carry on about federal law and yes I know what it says, but at the end of the day whose interests are served by this? Lynch had enemies in Washington, D.C. but not in his neighborhood.
Given the vast discretion federal law-enforcement possesses, would you really defend this as the most logical and appropriate use of those infinitely valuable resources?
Speed unlike weed can kill
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:01pmComparing speeding and pot is a dumb analogy. And for all the damage caused in accidents due to speeding the penalty is minimal, while pot is of the most least toxic substances, the penalty is overkill. Mr. Lynch's life is ruined over this conviction and you could careless. Although if it were your family member or friend I doubt your "tough cookies" motto would apply.
I notice that the headline
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 8:16pmYou are obviously ignorant as to the laws of California. State law says that Medical Marijuana Dispensaries are legal. Which of course, you should know by now. I guess everyone should ignore state laws, such as speeding, driving while drunk, shooting someone, blah blah blah. If you are a Californian you abide by the laws of California don't you? WEll?
charles lynch jury selection
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/08/2008 - 5:12pmI am the mother of Charles Lynch and of course am devasted at the verdict of the jury. At this time I have only a couple of comments to make. The first is that the Jury foreperson Kitty Meese, an RN, admitted in jury selection that she had herself administered Medical Marijuana to patients.
This was done IN THE COURTROOM. Is she not to be held liable for adminstering an "illegal drug" to patients? She is a danger to society, and must be removed from the streets. Also for anyone's information, let it also be known, that 18 year olds can not only vote, go to war, but they can ALSO SERVE ON JURYS. Too bad we didn't get one of those 18 year olds on the jury. The sheriff of San Luis Obispo had a personal or political agenda that he was operating on. He WILL get his day in court, I assure you. We will continue to fight for Charlie's Freedom. In a "sidebar" note, I had to leave during Charle's trial to be with another son that was operated on for colon cancer. He is 44. Do you think he might be entitled to the benefits of Medical Marijuana to endure the horrors of chemotherapy? Yes I am angry, my son Charles adhered to the laws of California and the City of Morro Bay. The jury had absolutely no idea as to what they were doing.
Who rules?The People of the State of California, or the Federal Government.
Please support Charles in any way you can.
Thank You
Proud and Loving Mother
Charles C. Lynch, Tom Lynch, Patrick Lynch, and Amanda Garcia
The actual heirarchy is
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 5:09amThe people are supposed to have the greatest freedom and power, the state comes next in the power pyramid, and the federal government last and least. At least that is the way the Constitution laid it out. The federal government has usurped the power of the states, and of the people. It is now our right to dismantle that federal government and begin anew. We must convince the majority of voters to rise and demand the end of EVERY government agency (not just the DEA and ONDCP), all those bureaucracies are responsible for most of the loss of freedoms over the past century; congress set them up, but now they write the rules, and their own budgets. Demand a return to Constitutional government, states rights, and individual rights to property (especially one's own body), from which right all other rights derive.
Seems sheriffs all over the country are violating, or at the v ery least abdicating, their purpose. They are supposed to be the highest law enforcement authority, because they are elected by the people of their community, they are accountable, or supposed to be, to the people. The communities must begin to make better choices for this position, and make sure the sheriff is truly accountable to the community. Federal law enforcement agencies are unconstitutional and must be disbanded.
A return to election of federal senators by state legislators would help to maintain the supremacy of the individual, sovereign, states over the federal government, instead of the topsy turvy setup we now endure.
The federal government is out of control, and has been for a very long time. SCOTUS has not protected the Constitution from the government for at least the last century, we must allow for a way to remove justices from that court when they violate the Constituton in their decisions.
There is a lot more that needs doing and changing, but I do not have all night to list them all. Just begin DEMANDING that your members of congress start listening to YOU instead of their Big Whatever donors. The more of us who do this, the more likely we can make the necessary changes without violent revolution. Begin using DownsizeDC and other similar sites to increase the impact of your correspondence with your "representatives" in congress. Read the Declaration and Constitution, so you KNOW how the federal goverment is limited in its scope by the Constituton and insist the federal government reduce itself to be again within the boundaries of that document. Read Dr. Ron Paul's Manifesto for the fastest education about our government as it is and as it is supposed to be. The get to work. If you are not part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.
John Conyers Investigation into the California DEA
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 8:56amWe MUST take action. Fax a letter to John Conyers Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee demanding answers into his investigation in the California DEA. His fax # is 202 225 0072. Or CALL his office and ask for CAROL PATTON legislative counsel. She DOES answer her phone.202 225 5126. I spoke with her myself. She will tell you to contact your congressman. Tell her you have already done that. Refer to Charles Lynch Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers. Charlie's dispensary was on the list sent to the DEA demanding answers. DO NOT BE AFRAID. ASK FOR ANSWERS FROM CONYERS AS TO HIS INVESTIGATION.
One more brick...
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 10:49am...Lynch stepped to the line and took the hit. Good for him, and all the others who resist the stupid,phony,"war on drugs".Because of Charlies actions, or those against them,notice has been received. Some smoke has been smelled. Many are saying"enough". A long sought victory is at hand. RE-LEGALIZE! And what about the other hundreds of dispenseries in CA.?
DownsizeDC.org
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 1:25pm"We're pushing the idea that we ought to pursue a broad-based legislative attack on all aspects of the Bush-era assault on the Constitution. We have a perfect vehicle to use for this approach, Congressman Ron Paul's "American Freedom Agenda Act." This bill was created by a number of progressive and conservative organizations and introduced by Ron Paul." There is no reason the WoD cannot also be included in this.
Friends for Charlie Lynch'
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/16/2008 - 10:45pmNow America should truley awaken Herself from the Hipocrisy of slumber.And challenge the very disease that threatens to rape and deny it's citizen.There individual right.Let us all pray for strenght and resolve for the injustice that is running amok in this so called United States Government. May God have mercy on all of them that takes our freedom'
People, WAKE UP!!!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 12:34amThis man's conviction in this farce of a trial is beyond disgusting. As an Army veteran who loves this country but despises much about its governance, this wasn't what I had in mind by defending freedom. It is CRITICAL that the populace AWAKEN and DEMAND TRUE PERSONAL FREEDOM. People like most of those at the DEA who promote the suffering of terminally ill people are sick and evil beyond words. These are just the opening shots in the war being waged by our own government that will bring the downfall of this nation. DEA, you're no different than Al Qaeda...