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County pays $20,000 to replace medical marijuana

May 25, 2010

By KAREN VELIE

In yet another black mark against the current sheriff’s administration, San Luis Obispo County cut a $20,000 check on Monday to a medical marijuana user whose cannabis was wrongfully destroyed.

In what appears to be the first time a government body has reimbursed a medical marijuana user for destroying their cannabis, the county paid 46-year-old Kimberly Marshall the equivalent of $3,333 per pound, the replacement value for this specially grown outdoor strain.

In a request for prosecution that was ultimately rejected by the county district attorney’s office, Sheriff’s Deputy David Walker noted that Marshall had in her possession a medical marijuana card and a physician’s statement that allowed her to possess up to six pounds of dried marijuana buds.

The district attorney rejected the sheriff’s request for prosecution based on Marshall’s medical defense. A few days later, the sheriff’s department filed a request for an order to destroy the cannabis with assertions that there had been no claims that it was medical marijuana.

“To the best of my knowledge, there has not been any request for return of medical marijuana for medical reasons …, each case of medical marijuana was reviewed and determined not to be for medical purposes,” McDaniel said in his request.

In September, after sheriff’s officials destroyed Marshall’s medical marijuana, Deputy County Counsel Ann Duggan claimed sheriff deputies were unaware the buds were for medical use.

“As far as I understand the factual background, the sheriff’s department has no record of your client’s possession of a physician’s statement,” Duggan said in a letter to Marshall’s attorney.

In response, Louis Koory, Marshall’s attorney, filed a civil claim asking the county to pay to replace Marshall’s medical marijuana.

“The sheriff and the county were aware that under California law the Sheriff was compelled to return the claimant’s property in the absence of pending criminal action,” Koory said in the civil claim he filed on Dec. 23.

Following a liver cancer diagnosis, doctors informed Marshall she had less than a year to live. Though currently in remission, daily nausea, a side effect of the cancer treatment, has caused her weight to drop to as low as 98 pounds.

In addition, a car accident left Marshall with two herniated discs, a fractured disc and a broken disc. Marshall has endured two back surgeries, has constant pain and for days at a time is bedridden.

Doctors prescribed medical marijuana to ease her pain and nausea.


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One would think there would be a way for the citizens of this county to start a class action suit against Hedges for having zero respect for the rights of people, making decisions that have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and complete incompetence. What a sad many years it’s been with him in charge. It seems like his last term has been a total discrace to the department. I have to agree with some of the posters that Lenthal is a close cousin of Hedges. I don’t trust him. Ben Hall or Ian Parkinson would most likely do a better job.


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You would trust Parkinson who lies and can’t even pay his taxes on time over Lenthall? That is sad. Supporting any candidate is fine with me but to compare Lenthall to that immoral, unethical, fraud of a Sheriff we currently have is really below the belt.


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I think we are fortunate that Ms. Marshall only asked that she be reimbursed for her destroyed property.

I find it very disturbing that while she was away on vacation and her son stopped by to feed her pets and water her lawn that a deputy took advantage of the fact that the son was on parole. Despite the fact that the son did not reside at this residence the deputy entered without permission and searched Marshall’s property including her bedroom, where the marijuana was locked in a cabinet. He broke into that cabinet without a search warrant and then seized property that he had no right to seize. That deputy should have been terminated. That deputy is not fit to serve. I would have been furious enough to bring legal action for this intrusion upon my civil rights.


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So the taxpayer gets to pick up the bill for the “marijuana eradicator”


every town has the old outdated sheriff , only uphold the laws that are convenient and when the courts toss it out we pay the damages and sheriff gung-ho gets his mug in the papers


all this over a plant


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There seems to be a settlement agreement that was reached between the parties in an amount of $20,000. The District Attorney did follow the law and rejected pursuing the criminal charges based on review of the evidence. The settlement minimized the expense and financial risks involved in going to trial. Ms. Marshall was reimbursed for her unlawfully taken product. The law provides for these checks and balances. I feel for Ms. Marshall’s pain and stress compounded by the abuse of the local Sheriff Department. In the end there was a settlement for reimbursement which is a good thing despite the wrongs of the officers of the law. The damages were minimized for both the benefit of the county and the wronged party. Holding out for a swollen amount of cash would have caused the case to end up in court and would have cost everyone much more in the end. I don’t believe suing the hell out of everyone is the solution, but weeding out those of authority that are breaking the law themselves is a positive thing. Suit brought against the individuals involved would have likely gone no where since there are built in protections in the statutes on such errors and proving intentions of deliberate wrong doings is harder than many may think. There was a wrong and it was settled. Good for people not bad. And just in case someone implies otherwise, I am not a fan of the misconduct of the Sheriffs or body of government that fails on it’s face. But we must start somewhere at reaching a compromise to move forward while abdicating wrongs.


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Good job! I wish our local officials would do the right thing!!! We have a local deputy stealing medical patients Identitys! (AND NOBODYS DOING A THING ABOUT IT!


A San Andreas resident is battling the Calaveras County District Attorney’s Office over whether he was legally operating a medical marijuana collective.


Jay Smith was arrested Jan. 4 in the Valley Oaks Center parking lot in Valley Springs on felony charges of sales, cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale.


Ean Vizzi, Smith’s lawyer from San Francisco, said his client’s actions were in compliance with California law and that his client was wrongfully arrested, adding that the District Attorney’s Office may not be aware of the laws that apply to collectives.


“I don’t think it’s a disagreement,” Vizzi said. “I think it’s a misunderstanding on their part on what the law is.”


Vizzi is a University of San Francisco law graduate who has been practicing law in California for nearly a decade and has defended medical marijuana patients and growers across the state.


Smith said that he and his partners had spent months in legal preparation before starting their medical marijuana collective, K Care Alternative Collective, in order to make sure they were operating legally.


According to his report, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Detective Steve Avila contacted K Care, which was advertising for new members on its Internet site.

Avila posed as a man named Robert Shaffer who had been arrested for selling marijuana and had his doctor’s recommendation taken as evidence by the Sheriff’s Office. Avila used the man’s legitimate medical recommendation after altering the birth date on the recommendation in order to appear to be a legitimate patient.


Shaffer, 44, Ione, has since filed a complaint against Avila with the Clerk Recorder’s Office.


“It states that one of the Sheriff’s Office employees, Avila, used my identity without my permission or authorization,” Shaffer said.


Avila, posing as Shaffer, first contacted Smith via e-mail and said that he was a medical patient and was in urgent need of some marijuana.


A copy of the e-mail shows that in his first message, Avila wrote, “Call back ASAP … only have two bowls left.”


Smith told the detective that he needed to provide a doctor’s recommendation and would have to wait until it could be verified, adding that Shaffer must join the collective, which included signing a seven-page agreement.


The two men had several phone conversations over the next couple of weeks in which Avila continued to ask Smith for marijuana and to find out more about the collective.


“I asked Jay what types of services he provides and he said he only provides medical cannabis and does not provide any other service to help with my medical needs,” Avila said in his report.


According to Senate Bill 420, which was passed in 2003 and sought to clarify the many gray areas in Proposition 215,which passed in 1996, a collective operator must verify any patient’s recommendation from a doctor before providing them with medical marijuana.


Smith wasn’t able to verify Shaffer’s recommendation for two weeks. When he was finally able to contact Shaffer’s doctor, he was told that the recommendation was valid.


During his next contact with Smith, Avila said he would like to buy 1 ounce of “White Widow” marijuana and Smith said he would sell it for $270, to which the detective agreed. The pair agreed to meet at 3 p.m. in the CVS parking lot to make the transaction.


Avila’s report said that members of the Calaveras Narcotics Enforcement Unit were in place to conduct a takedown operation on Smith, and Robert Huffman was acting as an undercover officer posing as Shaffer. Huffman was wearing a wire, allowing CNEU to monitor the conversation, the report said.


Deputy District Attorney Seth Matthews said in court March 22 that they did not have the audio from the wire recording. When asked by Vizzi for portions of the discovery, Matthews said the district attorney might have some of it.

Huffman said that on Jan. 4 Smith presented the marijuana to him and had him fill out a packet to sign, which made him a member of the K Care, the report said. Huffman signed the packet and gave Smith $270 in cash and Smith handed him the marijuana, the report continued.


Smith admits he should have checked Huffman’s identification more closely. Smith said he asked to see the undercover deputy’s ID but did not thoroughly examine it and compare it to the doctor’s recommendation, which would have revealed two different names.


After the transaction was complete, Huffman signaled the takedown team to conduct the arrest. The report said that Smith sold marijuana to an undercover deputy sheriff with no medical recommendation for cannabis use and while not acting as a primary caregiver.


“As far as a collective goes, he absolutely does not need to be the primary caregiver for the patient,” Vizzi said.


“It’s one thing to lie. They can use a ruse. They can pretend to be somebody that they are not. It crosses the line when there is a defined victim. Shaffer has a claim that they are going around pretending to be him. They are stealing his identity. I agree with them partially that they can use a ruse. If they created a fake recommendation, then they could have done that, but they didn’t do that…. They put him in a false light. I would say they did hurt him in a very real way. He can sue them for damage – being represented as something that you’re not.”


Smith said that according to State Bill 420, he does not have to be a primary caregiver to provide patients in his collective with medical marijuana. District Attorney Jeff Tuttle disagrees.

“My understanding of the law is that, yes, you have to be a primary caregiver to provide (Proposition) 215 people with marijuana,” Tuttle said.


“That is absolutely incorrect,” Vizzi said. “I don’t know if he’s mistaken or he’s purposefully ignoring the law.”


After the arrest, Avila advised Smith of his constitutional rights and asked if Smith would speak with him, the report said. Smith agreed, and said that he was operating K Care Alternative Collective with Larry and Michelle Bridges from San Andreas, the report said, adding that Smith said he had been doing this all legally and had a business license.


Smith said that he picked up the marijuana from Larry’s residence and that he was in possession of about 2 pounds of marijuana and 20 cloned plants, adding that he knew this because the ounce of White Widow came from the 2 pounds, the report said. Smith said they had recently opened the marijuana collective and that the undercover deputy was the second person added. The report said that Smith stated that the collective did not provide any other services to collective members because they were just starting up and that he did not know he needed to provide other services in order to be considered a primary caregiver to medical cannabis patients.


“I absolutely never said any of that,” Smith said. “As part of the agreement that the detective signed, it’s made clear that the collective offers many services, though we are not required to do so by law.”


“I told him right off the bat that I wanted to speak to my attorney. I told him we were registered with the county and the state and we were totally legal and besides that, I said nothing.”


Smith was then transported to the Calaveras County Jail and booked without incident, the report said.


The use of Shaffer’s identification to make Smith believe that Huffman was a legitimate patient was wrong, according to Smith, who said that such actions go beyond a ruse.


However, Tuttle and Calaveras County Sheriff Dennis Downum said that law enforcement officers can take great liberty with their actions in the course of an investigation.


“Law enforcement officers and investigations are allowed to do many things that as citizens we would be penalized criminally for, but the reason they are is that they are doing it as part of an investigation,” Tuttle said. “They can mislead people, they can lie they can try to trick people.”


“Some people might just say we lie,” Downum said. “It is very appropriate for people to use a ruse. It can never cross the line where we are breaking the law to go arrest somebody for breaking the law.”

Downum did add that the courts have ruled such actions appropriate in large federal cases.


In Smith’s case, Downum said it sounded to him like Smith was executing a drug deal in a parking lot and nothing more.


“Quite frankly, it doesn’t sound like he was any part of a collective,” Downum said. “With a collective there has to be a relationship of some sort. It can’t be meeting somebody in a parking lot. In our opinion, you’re just selling drugs.”


After refusing to accept a plea deal offered by the District Attorney’s Office, Smith said that, if not resolved, he’s willing to take it to trial.


Smith is confident that he and his lawyer will prove that the collective was operating legally. Two recent cases that are similar to his support his prediction, as juries have acquitted several individuals over the past months.


One similar case reached the California 4th District Court of Appeal in summer 2009 and the defendant was acquitted in that case. When the law is murky, as it is in Proposition 215, lawyers tend to look to Court of Appeal rulings to help guide their actions.


In People v. Hochanadel, the court concluded that storefront dispensaries that qualify as “cooperatives” or “collectives” under the Compassionate Use Act and Medical Marijuana Program Ac, and otherwise comply with those laws, may operate legally.


The preliminary hearing was set for March 22, but Vizzi said he was forced to continue it because the District Attorney’s Office failed to provide him with the discovery he requested. The judge pushed the hearing forward to early May.


He said that he looks forward to “educating” the district attorney on the law; however Tuttle said his office wouldn’t be pursuing the case if they did not believe they could get a unanimous verdict from a jury.


Deputy District Attorney Seth Matthews is prosecuting the case and did not return several calls from the Enterprise requesting a comment.


“If they read the law, they wouldn’t be prosecuting this case,” Smith said. “I don’t think they know the law.”


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Thats crazy! I recently read abouty a couple, who stole the identity from a senetor and used it to buy pot in Sacramento, any way they had $60000 warrents out for there arrest. A cop steals someones ID medical reccomendation and its considerd ok. At the least isnt our medical records protected under HIPPA!


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Unfortunately for the People, the checks and balances on apply AFTER the mayhem caused by the Sheriff’s office. So Ms Marshall was out her time, pain, suffering, legal advice & medicine (temporarily), and you can that fair?


What might be more fair is for the Sheriff’s Department to be required to obtain its own insurance policy, budget for its own legal expenses, and pay for any amount of settlement beyond what the insurance payout might be.


If it hurt them in the pocketbook, they may be more inclined to bring the department training to higher standards, to minimize such boneheaded moves in the future.


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Okay here’s some thing new and interesting,,,,,….

How come lawyers are allowed to lie there, like a snake in the grass, waiting to bite, this is not right, and it’s so far out of sight, this lawyer should be assigned to the space station,

“In September, after sheriff’s officials destroyed Marshall’s medical marijuana, Deputy County Counsel Ann Duggan claimed sheriff deputies were unaware the buds were for medical use.


“As far as I understand the factual background, the sheriff’s department has no record of your client’s possession of a physician’s statement,” Duggan said in a letter to Marshall’s attorney.


In response, Louis Koory, Marshall’s attorney, filed a civil claim asking the county to pay to replace Marshall’s medical marijuana.


“The sheriff and the county were aware that under California law the Sheriff was compelled to return the claimant’s property in the absence of pending criminal action,” Koory said in the civil claim he filed on Dec. 23.


What a competent attorney, knows the law but judges it alone and then makes up lies to try to cover their own.


This victim of law enforcement abuse should of got at least a million for breach of civil rights to her medication, especially considering this” doctors informed Marshall she had less than a year to live.”


$20,000 is a joke, should have been $200,000 right out of the LEO lawyer and Pat Hedges pockets, I’m sure they could afford it and then it wouldn’t hurt this county financially, why are we to blame for their intentional mistakes, they new what they were trying to pull off.


In closing transparency, accountability and just maybe a little respect for the dying.


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Considering the fact that the police endangered the victim’s life, I’m inclinde to agree that she probably deserved considerably more money than $20th. SLO Co is getting off easy this time. Stop the “War on Drugs”!


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Agree, but this is not the only time!


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Let’s see if memory serves me correctly, in this particular case, Sheriff’s Deputies entered this ladies home on the pretense of checking on her son who was on parole; they noticed a LOCKED cabinet which they forced open even though they did not have a search warrant and then seized the stash, all the while the son stating that it was his mother’s MEDICAL marijuana and she had the proper permits and prescriptions. They take the MM back to the station where it is entered into evidence with no mention that the son had described the MJ as MEDICAL with apparent accompanying documentation, then they destroy the product because no “knew” that it was MEDICAL; is that about correct? I’d say the Sheriff’s Department got off cheap (well, actually the taxpayers … ) and I do wonder if Sheriff Hedges could be sued personally for the actions of his Deputies. And Jerry Lenthall would continue the same mindset as Hedges if elected Sheriff?


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Comparing Hedges to Lenthall is way over the top. Hedges has a long and well documented history of violating people’s civil rights and unethical behavior. Hedges has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars on litigation and attorney’s fees. Hedges has been divorced three times after his infidelities including some domestic violence. Hedges tour is filled with cover up, lies and cash settlements. To suggest that Lenthall, or any of the candidates, share those traits with Hedges and will perpetuate the nightmare is simple misinformed.


Lenthall shocked us all when he supported the needle exchange program while on the Board of Supervisors. That gave me insight to the compassion of the man and indicted that he was open to dialog by health professionals and the community before acting. A Sheriff with an open mind would be refreshing.


Most of us do not have a problem with true medical use of marijuana. However, under the current conflicting laws makes it impossible to apply the laws fairly and consistently. I would love to see marijuana on a prescription form to be filled at CVS rather than to buy it from the profiteers.


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Good comments but the independent outfits should be allowed to make a profit, isn’t that the American way? All this talk about them making money, I don’t get it. Everyone wants to make money at what they do. I don’t recall anyone forcing folks to shop anywhere they do. Ghastly profits (such as big pharma, PG and E, wall street, big oil etc) are not right but let the little businesses have their share.


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Marijuana is a multi-billion dollar business and the stuff doesn’t need to be that costly. My comments were starting with the current medical marijuana law that allows the purchase at co-ops and doesn’t really allow for the retail sales. Obviously, a profit would be required for CVS to carry it and I have no issue with small farmers earning a living. But, bottom line is to work on the laws to take care of the issue properly.


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First off, if you think the people who make the pills you get at the pharmacy arent profiteers, youre a fool. Sorry if that sounds harsh but I got a call it like it is


Secondly, your unfounded accusations about Hedges being a wife beater border on slander, you have no proof other than a couple of very vague newspaper articles that had more to do with the departments response to the sittuation than it ever had to with any accusations of violence. Your comments are ugly and iresponsible and If I had my way Id let Hedges get a couple free shots at you with a tazer. Do us all a favor and keep that kind of wild speculation within your sewing circle


finaly, Lenthal didnt vote for the needle exchange program originaly, in fact I sat and listened as he fiercly criticized the vote to allow a study program to go forward. Several months later when the results were in Lenthal to his credit acknowledged that there were some benefits to public health by issuing clean needles but come on the guy was confronted with overwhelming evidence only Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck would be low enough to deny the science so whoop dee freakin doo Lenthall recognized the obvious, way to lower the bar of expectations


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Gee, he waited to have all of the FACTS before taking a position on the needle program. I wish all of the politicians would base their decisions on fact. That would be refreshing, for a change.


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Im not saying that you shouldnt have all the facts, in fact Im pointing out that your facts are incorrect, Lenthall did not support the needle exchange program as you claimed, when it came to supporting a program that may be something that perhaps would be counter intuitive to a cop like Lenthall he only did so begrudgingly


Nice attempt to change your argument, actually no it wasnt a nice attempt at all it was actually kind of childish and bush league, but hey your keeping things consitent though I got to give you credit for that.


I wasnt going to mention this because but after giving it some thought I want to try and explain my experience with Jerry Lenthall. Many years ago I worked at a local downtown liqour store where Jerry was a regular. The guy always gave the impression that he was trying to intimidate you. He always struck me as the high school bully. He never did anything directly but he definetly leaned his authority over the counter in an attempt to try and intimidate you, and he would use his authority to try and get quicker service to buy his lottery tickets stuff like cutting in front of people. If I ever had to call the cops Jerry Lenthall would be the last guy Id want to see, unless ofcourse it was a sittuation where someone needed to be shot because from what I saw he wouldnt hesitate. Thats just my opnion but its based on aseveral years of contact with the guy.


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I’m sorry, Lenthal did in fact vote for the needle exchange program and it was not begrudgingly, it was with considerable thought. It sound like sour grapes and that you only like the cops when you need one. And if you had, Lenthall would have been the first one to help you.


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He voted for it AFTER voting against it you do realize youve tried to change your own argument a couple times to fit what ever is convienet at the time


I only sound like I like cops when I need one? WTF cant make your case so you just randomly say some crap like that? you are a coward which would explain your support for a bully dueche bag like Lenthall


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“If I had my way Id let Hedges get a couple free shots at you with a tazer.”


Ososkid now that would be communistic, but agree with you about Lental, an example of the level of intelligence, a Lenthal supporter in Los Osos has, the fool duct taped a Lenthal big sign on his pickup’s brand new paint and left it there in the sun for day’s, somebody better tell him that when the duct tape comes off, so does the paint, this is just one individual, but even the most mentally challenged child, would probably realize that this could damage the vehicle, I will up date the damage when the tape comes off,,,,,LOL,,,,,seriously this is brand new paint and duct tape, the two don’t mix, 7th st. Los Osos, drive by for a good laugh!


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You attack because I have a difference of opinion. Grow up, put your joint down. collect your thoughts and then blog nicely. I have not changed by opinion, argument or support nor has a single word you have offered made a difference.


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If Hedges had a long and well-documented history of this behavior, then how could he have held the office for 3 terms? I posit that the power of the office is such that it can potentially corrupt ANY well-intentioned or otherwise qualified candidate, That’s why we need to be very careful about the candidates. I know you have faith in Lenthall. I do not.


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The answer to your question would be so long that it would probably down the entire system. Sheriff Williams held the office for the same length of time without a hint of corruption so I don’t think it is the office itself. One who is prone to corruption will endulge if opportunity presents itself. I do appreciate the civil tone of your comments and the ability to agree to disagree.


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Read today’s Tribune and see how the lawsuits from Lenthall’s “leadership” as “Chairman of the Board” of county supervisors is costing us.


It is fair to compare Lenthall with Hedges.


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That was a mutual agreement between the County and the Sierra Club that was accepted by Judge Tangeman. Besides, the Sheriff has nothing to do with land use.


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My comment about Jerry Lenthall continuing the same mindset as Sheriff Hedges was only meant to infer that Jerry has the same mindset about marijuana; Jerry stated that he felt mj is a “gateway” drug, and that our state law governing the use of co-ops is written too poorly for law enforcement to follow in any meaningful way to continue to “protect” the public. All of this posturing will be for naught if the legalization of mj passes on the ballot; however, someone with a mindset like Sheriff Hedges or Jerry Lenthall to “take on” a federal alignment to challenge our state law. If it is a state law, it needs to be observed by state of California LEOs, no matter what their personal feelings are, and it is not up to them to call in the feds to challenge our state laws. My largest concern about how Jerry feels about mj is that he would most likely entertain the idea of working with the feds somehow to pursue prosecution of those that follow the California law, but violate Federal law, and that is not the place that a county Sheriff should be, period.


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I have a friend who ad the occasion to talk to Mr Hedges about his stance on Prop 215. What he told me was that Hedges told him he didnt have a problem with 215 in the sense that if you wanted to grow your own at home he didnt care what his concern was allowing pot shops to opne on every corner much the way they did in LA. I totaly disagree with him on that and I dont think its his job to decide which businesses open or dont but it is a legitimate opinion for Hedges to have. The feeling I got was that Hedges was genuine in his attempt to do what he saw as good for the community, I disagree with him but after hearing that I realized that there is more nuance to the issue than one might see at first.


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Well done our fumbling public servants. I believe it was clearly pointed out from the beginning this weed was for medical purposes. How a bunch of cops and the DA can stumble around for so long is amazing, what fools. Keystone kops.

I wish we could get Hedges to pay for this boondoggle, why not? Oh, I forgot. Our top cop is not accountable for the follies of his own actions or those of his department. I hope the next one will be a bit more concerned for the law and welfare of the county.


And has anyone wondered if, in fact, this ‘evidence’ was not destroyed? What if some ‘deputy’ is either smoking it or selling it on the street. This is a situation often considered in similar cases…..


Nothing like sleeping soundly knowing your public guardians are adhering to the law!


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Once again, poor leadership at the sheriff’s office has cost the taxpayers money once again. this doesn’t mention the hours the DA and others had to put in to get this resolved. Thank God this will be over soon when we get a new sheriff, hopefully!


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You’re right, it does not mention all the man-hours of DA staff, Sheriff staff, county counsel, and so forth. When you take those hours into consideration, you need to add the vacation and sick pay that accrues, along with the hours that contribute to their health, dental, and vision insurance and their pensions.


And, when they are busy doing all that work, there is real work, for real victims that goes ignored, causing unforeseen costs and human pain that simply cannot be measured.


A new sheriff will not fix this if it is a good-ol-boy.


We have a clear choice here. WE elected Hedges. WE elected Lenthall. WE can only blame ourselves. And, now we can redeem ourselves by choosing wisely.


The ONLY candidate that can clean up the sheriff’s office and return integrity to the units is Joe Cortez. Please learn more about him and get out the vote.


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Lenthal will also clean up the mess left by Sheriff Hedges. He was open enough to listen to and approve the needle exchange program while on the Board of Supervisors. That position was a 180 degrees from the traditional enforcement background position. Lenthall was more interested in stopping the spread of Hep which shows compassion for those suffering with the disease. With marijuana, the conflict between federal law and state law must be conformed in order to avoid the inconsistent application through enforcement. Just last week, an Oranger County judge refused to grant a motion to return medical marijuana to patient citing the overriding federal law.


Paying out $20,000 was a bargain since there is no way to defend Sheriff Hedges on anything, based on all of his wrong doings.


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The war on drugs is a tale of a once great and free nation which fell down a rat hole into a fantasy world riddled with peculiar and dystopian logic.


No amount of money, police powers, weaponry, wishful thinking or pseudo-science will make our streets safe again; only an end to prohibition can do that. How much longer are we willing to foolishly risk our own survival by continuing to ignore the obvious, historically confirmed solution?


For those of you who are still living in some strange parallel universe, one where prohibition actually works, may I suggest that you return to high school economics class, and learn about supply and DEMAND. Learn that you cannot up DEMAND simply by upping supply. Contrary to popular held superstition, drugs are not PUSHED, the drug dealers are filling a DEMAND not creating one. The DEMAND is here in the US and is impossible to control, but what is possible to control, is the income from that DEMAND. All we have to do is allow legal businesses to meet that DEMAND. Under proper regulation drug use will not rise, as it couldn’t get any worse than it is at present.


If you support prohibition then you’ve helped trigger the worst crime wave in history.


If you support prohibition you’ve a helped create a black market with massive incentives to hook both adults and children alike.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped to make these dangerous substances available in schools and prisons.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped raise gang warfare to a level not seen since the days of alcohol bootlegging.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped create the prison-for-profit synergy with drug lords.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped remove many important civil liberties from those citizens you falsely claim to represent.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped put previously unknown and contaminated drugs on the streets.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped to escalate Theft, Muggings and Burglaries.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped to divert scarce law-enforcement resources away from protecting your fellow citizens from the ever escalating violence against their person or property.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped overcrowd the courts and prisons, thus making it increasingly impossible to curtail the people who are hurting and terrorizing others.


If you support prohibition you’ve helped evolve local gangs into transnational enterprises with intricate power structures that reach into every corner of society, controlling vast swaths of territory with significant social and military resources at their disposal.


And one last thought: The real “drug Dons” are the rich and powerful who control the government-licensed drug cartel (Big Pharma). They view people who oppose proper regulation of these unpatentable –thus at present illegal– substances, as “useful idiots”


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