Federal Judge Says No To Washington Family's Medical Marijuana Defense

[Garion_55]

its amazing to me a) that we are still ruining peoples lives, sick people, over a fucking plant and b) where are all the anti fed states rights god loving merikans when it comes to this issue? hypocrites all of them.




A federal judge won't allow a family of a medical marijuana patients from Washington state to defend themselves against drug trafficking charges by arguing their pot plants were for medical purposes.

U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle of the Eastern District of Washington on Tuesday rejected the planned medical marijuana defense of Larry Harvey, 70, his wife Rhonda Firestack-Harvey, 55, and three others facing trial next week, saying they could not argue that growing marijuana was for medical purposes and legal under Washington state law.

"The intent of the defendants is not relevant to the issues," Van Sickle said. "There's this concept of reliance on state law and the like. That's not relevant either."

Because the federal government considers marijuana illegal, federal courts generally don't allow evidence that the drug may have been used for medical purposes, even when medical marijuana is legal under a state's law, as it is in Washington. The Harveys, their son, Rolland Gregg, 33; Gregg's wife Michelle, 35; and family friend Jason Zucker, 38, sought to describe their doctor-recommended medical marijuana cultivation at their upcoming trial on federal drug charges.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/06/harvey-family-marijuana-court_n_5275806.html?utm_hp_ref=new-york&ir=New+York


The family kept numerous firearms at the home, in the wilderness of northeast Washington state, near the U.S.-Canadian border, for hunting and defense, their lawyers said. They have encountered black bears, cougars and coyotes at their front door on several occasions, according to the lawyers.

"It doesn't matter that we used the shotgun to hunt turkeys and the hunting rifle for deer," Rhonda Harvey said in a statement to the media last week.

Federal prosecutors say the presence of firearms shows the defendants were involved in drug trafficking.


look at these dangerous looking drug dealers!!

[pipoman]

1. Hopefully jury nullification occurs

And Washington (DC) takes notice.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. Vior dire is carefully crafted to prevent that.

Sometimes it still happens, but rare.

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. This is why rescheduling is imperative. nt

[fredamae]

4. Hey-The Judge is doing his Job

This family is worth about $3000.00 per month, per head for Prisons.

You surely don't believe Justice is relevant here, do you? Theres Tax Dollars to Rip here! Fk these sick, old people--we'll simply force them to omit (lie under oath) critical facts so we can convict on the partial truths We like.

Jury Nullification is in order here, imo.

Look at this case:
http://the420times.com/2011/05/dr-mollie-fry-and-dale-schafer-go-to-federal-prison/

[Supersedeas]

5. only when corporations control what is grown and dispersed will this be allowed