Medical Marijuana Inc (MJNA)

[NYBob]

Medical Marijuana Grower Chris Williams Faces 80 Years in Prison - Rebecca Richman Cohen - NY Times -

Published on 4 Dec 2012

BEWARE:
Medical Marijuana Grower Chris Williams Faces 80 Years in Prison -
Rebecca Richman Cohen - NY Times

On September 27th, Chris Williams, co-founder of Montana Cannabis,
was found guilty on eight counts of marijuana and related
firearms charges, despite his state's medical marijuana law.
These charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of more than 80
years in prison -- and expose the grave human consequences
resulting from the existing disparity between 666 federal and state
laws pertaining to the medical use of marijuana.

I started filming Chris and his business partners during the last
Montana state legislative session, as part of my feature-length
documentary Code of the West. They seemed determined to create a
model for a responsible medical marijuana caregiving operation,
and routinely offered growhouse tours to law enforcement
officials, politicians and community leaders, any number of which
accepted this invitation.

Chris Williams had reason to believe his risk of federal
prosecution was minimal, following the release of a 2009 memo
by the Justice Department stating that the federal government
should not focus federal resources on medical marijuana growers
and patients who complied with their own state laws. But in March
2011, federal agents raided Chris' growhouse during a statewide
crackdown across Montana.

In spite of a 2004 voter referendum legalizing medical marijuana
in Montana, supported by 62 percent of the voters, states like
Montana can't stop the federal government from enforcing its own
drug laws. The Controlled Substances Act considers marijuana as a
schedule I narcotic (along with heroin), which de-legitimates its
medical use.

At his trial, Williams was prevented from invoking his compliance
with state law as a defense against the federal charges. As a
result, the jury heard a partial, and profoundly distorted
version of Chris' story -- and on this basis convicted him on
eight counts, which carry a mandatory minimum of more than 80
years in prison.

Chris Williams' story is now the focus of a newly released New
York Times Op-Docs video, which functions as a sort of epilogue
to Code of the West. It is a both a cautionary tale and a call to
action to address these legal inconsistencies.

In the wake of Tuesday's votes to legalize adult use of marijuana
in Colorado and Washington and medical marijuana in
Massachusetts, there is a great deal of uncertainty about how
federal 666 authorities will treat patients, consumers, and growers
complying with state marijuana laws.

As People like Chris Williams fall through the widening cracks
between state and federal 666 law, it's time we reform federal law to
be consistent with the states, lifting cloud of uncertainty that
puts law abiding 888 Citizens at risk.

For More Information, Please visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/opinion/the-fight-over-medical-marijuana.html

AND

https://secure.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-richman-cohen/medical-marijuana-mon...

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By state law, medical marijuana is legal in Montana.
Federal law, however, is another matter, as
Chris Williams sadly found out.

http://www.dailypaul.com/263521/guy-facing-80-years-in-prison-over-medical-marijuana-in-montana

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