Lend a Hand To A Medical Marijuana Caregiver

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Please Help Charles C. Lynch...April 29th Deadline

Rather than tell the story myself, shall post the article I stumbled across (thanks to Twitter) in the hopes it will get some of us motivated this Easter Weekend to write a personal letter to Judge Wu on behalf of Charles C. Lynch. A lot of people wrote letters, but they were FORM LETTERS, and that is not going to help Charles C Lynch who was the former owner and managing Caregiver for Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers in Morro Bay. His crime...doing what the local community said he was entitled to do, help sick patients, act as a caregiver, and dispense Medical Marijuana. He faces sentencing on April 29th, and some letters from the heart could greatly HELP HIS CAUSE.

If you wish to write a letter of support regarding sentencing please use the Letter salutation "Dear Judge Wu" and then send the letter to:

Reuven Cohen
Federal Public Defender
321 East 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012-4702

Here are some pointers on what you might want to put in this letter...the real key to helping Charles C. Lynch is appropriate personal experiences, and a letter WRITTEN FROM THE HEART.

Mention the recent change in Federal Policy mentioned by Eric Holder.

If comfortable, touch on, "The conflict of State vs Federal Law".

Mention the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, states rights and how lawmakers swear to uphold the constitution.

Discuss your belief that the harsh mandatory minimums meant for drug king pins were not meant for medical marijuana providers who in effect are Health Care Providers.

Your own personal experiences as a patient or with a friend, son, daughter, brother, sister or relative of somebody you know that benefits from the medicinal use of marijuana.

Talk about the thirteen states that have legalized medical marijuana. Michigan just came on board as a Medical Marijuana State.

A front line leader in the Medical Marijuana is facing some very serious prison time, and your letter could be the one that touches Judge Wu's heart, gets him to take a serious look at California's laws and their position on Medical Marijuana, and hand down a just ruling, even if that means going against the Federal Sentencing guidelines. Charles took at stand for every Medical Marijuana patient in America by opening up his storefront, and in his hour of need we in the 420 community need to come to his aid.

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Welcome to Friends of CCL Charles C. Lynch is the former owner and managing Caregiver for Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers in Morro Bay. The dispensary opened on April 1 2006 with the blessing of the city and even joined the Chamber of Commerce. In July 2006 the dispensary was granted a Conditional Use Permit from the City of Morro Bay to include a Medical Cannabis Nursery at the dispensary. The Dispensary operated for almost one year without any major problems or complaints to the owner. On March 29, 2007 the Local Sheriff and DEA agents raided the Dispensary and Home of Charles Lynch. Lynch was not arrested at the time and reopened the dispensary on April 7 2007 with the blessing of the City of Morro Bay. A week after reopening the dispensary the DEA called the Landlord and threatened him with Forfeiture of his property unless he evicted the Dispensary from the building. On May 16, 2007 the Dispensary closed permanently. On July 17, 2007 Lynch was arrested at his home and charged with Federal Marijuana Distribution. Lynch pleaded not guilty and went on trial July 22, 2008 in Los Angeles. Lynch was not allowed to discuss state law or mention 'medical marijuana' during the trial. Also large amounts of evidence including Lynch's compliance with State and Local laws could not be considered as factual by the jury. Before opening the dispensary Lynch called the DEA and asked about thier policy regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. The DEA told Lynch it was up to the Cities and Counties to decide how to handle the matter. This was Lynch's only defense in Federal Court and is called entrapment by estopell when a government agent says something is ok when in fact it might not be. Click here for more information. On August 5, 2008 Lynch was convicted in Federal Court for operating the Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers. On January 6, 2009 Lynch appeared before Judge Wu to request a new trial on the grounds that he was not allowed to get his defense before the jury and other new evidence. The request was denied. Charles has been out on a $400,000 bail posted by his loving and trusting family and was under house arrest for over nine months. During March 2009 United States Policy regarding Medical Marijuana changed in favor of states as long as the dispensary complied with state law. Lynch's dispensary complied with all state and local laws during the time it was open. Click here to read the San Francisco Chronicles report of the new policy. On Friday March 13, 2009 John Stossel and ABC News 2020 aired he story of Lynch on National Television. On Sunday March 15 Al Roker did a documentary entitled Marijuana Inc. Al Roker reporting and focused in on the case of Charles C. Lynch. Sentencing which was scheduled for March 23, 2009 was postponed because the judge requested information from the Government regarding the New Policy regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. Despite the recent policy changes Charles C. Lynch will be sentenced on April 30, 2009 at the Federal Court House in Los Angeles. Supporters who wish to write a letter of support regarding sentencing should use the Letter salutation "Dear Judge Wu" and then send the letter to: Reuven Cohen Federal Public Defender 321 East 2nd Street Los Angeles, CA 90012-4702