Posted on 01/17/2015 6:02:04 AM PST by Wolfie
Washington Man Who Faces Years In Prison For Growing Medical Marijuana Has Cancer
A Washington state man who is facing at least 10 years in prison if convicted in a high-profile federal case over growing medical marijuana for personal use has been diagnosed with cancer.
--snip--
Harvey, along with his wife, Rhonda; their son, Rolland Gregg; Rolland's wife, Michelle Gregg; as well as close family friend Jason Zucker are all facing federal marijuana charges for growing about 70 cannabis plants for their own medical use at the Harveys' rural home. The family's defense attorneys have maintained the pot patch complied with state law. Washington legalized medical marijuana in 1998 and recreational marijuana in 2012. Still, federal law classifies marijuana a Schedule I substance "with no currently accepted medical use."
The federal government has charged each with multiple felonies, including manufacturing, possession and distribution of marijuana, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The family has said the firearms charge is due to the fact that they keep numerous firearms at the house, which is located in wilderness of northeast Washington state, near the U.S.-Canada border, for hunting and defense. But federal prosecutors say the presence of firearms shows the defendants were involved in drug trafficking.
--snip--
In 2014, a federal judge ruled that the family cannot defend themselves against the charges by arguing their cannabis plants were for medical purposes and legal under state law.
(Excerpt) Read more at huffingtonpost.com ...
Please tell me you are kidding. Why should a family not be able to grow whatever plant it wants on its own property? This is a property case.
Just tell’em its for Barry and the Chum Gang.
What business is it of yours if this sick man wants to treat himself with marijuana? I suppose during Prohibition you would have been cheering the police busting beer shipments.
Frankly, I don’t care. But growing 70 plants isn’t what I’d consider “for personal medical use” for just one self-prescribed patient.
Homemade beer brewed in their own basements.
So, if they try to distribute or do something illegal, pop them then.
“...federal prosecutors say the presence of firearms shows the defendants were involved in drug trafficking...”
Natch.
Please tell me you are kidding. Why should a family not be able to grow whatever plant it wants on its own property? This is a property case.
*************************
And a states rights case... Washington (state) should challenge D.C. on this one.
Seventy plants for personal use? They really need to come up with a better story than that.
Sorry that the guy has metastatic pancreatic cancer - Sounds like he won’t have long term problems with the feds - if they are telling the truth about this.
Quite a stretch of logic.
Who’s to say they didn’t already. I just find it very hard to believe one patient needs a 70 plant cache to sustain.
Stretched almost to the breaking point.
“Who’s to say they didn’t already. I just find it very hard to believe one patient needs a 70 plant cache to sustain.”
It’s a slippery slope to try to determine what someone else needs. How much money does one person need? How many guns go you need? How much property do you need?
I agree with yldstrk. Own/Do what you like on your own property.
It could also be a “slippery slope” in blindly accepting excuses. So if the needs of the patient are more than served by the crop and they decide to sell off the excess to your or my kids, that’s okay?
I’m okay with “strictly personal” and property rights and all that, but this libertarian attitude totally neglects other unseen effects and possiblilities - and we are supposed to just take these peoples’ words for it all. No thanks.
It is possible that it took that many plants to make hemp oil from the seeds, which some people believe is effective against cancer.
To my knowledge, valid medical needs for marijuana can be fulfilled with a doctor’s prescription. Why was this option not available to this ‘patient’. It is more cost effective for him to plant, cultivate and process than it is to purchase legally (with a prescription?).
Something is missing here, in my opinion...
How long has he been growing MJ and how long has he had cancer. Which one came first?
The Washington State medical mj law allows somebody with a doctor's prescription for marijuana to grow up to twelve plants for their own use. If they cannot grow it themselves they are allowed to designate a person, in writing, to grow it for them. A "collective" can be formed for up to 5 patients with a total plant count of 60 plants.
This family had more than that, and thus attracted the attention of law enforcement. Now on the recreational side 70 plants is a small grow. I would imagine this family started growing with medical cards and then realized they could make a little money on the side by growing a little more.
Is it possible to determine exactly when a cancer started?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.