Joe Grumbine (14 felonies) and Joe Byron (17 felonies) medical marijuana trial set to begin
PRETRIAL CONFERENCE SET TO BEGIN TOMMOROW - TUESDAY for arguments about jury instructions and what the jury will be allowed to hear. Trial is currently set for August 22, the trial date will be affirmed or changed at the pretrial conference
August 16, 2011 - 8:30am - 5:00pm
Long Beach Courthouse
Department K - Judge Charles Sheldon Long Beach Courthouse
415 West Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Joe Grumbine and Joe Byron have been offered a two felony deal with no jail time if they plead guilty. Both have refused, insisting that their medical marijuana collective activities are legal under state law. Medical Marijuana is an affirmative defense meaning the defendants must prove their innocence similarly to a self defense level of proof. This gives tremendous power to California judges who can ensure a guilty plea by denying a medical defense. Judge Charles Sheldon, Dept. K has already declared that he will not allow a jury to hear the truth, he will not allow patients to testify or expert witnesses on California medical marijuana issues. Joe and Joe are counting on a jury to see through serpentine maze that makes up California's medical marijuana law and exonerate them from any criminal accusations.
If they are convicted, both face up to 7 years in state prison. They feel that it is time for the government to stop trying to undermine the will of the California voters who legalized medical marijuana 15 years ago. This is a trial based on principle and they have attracted a huge amount of support in Southern California's medical marijuana community. Joe Grumbine is the founder of the Human Solution, a group that supports medical marijuana defendants and speaks out at city councils on behalf of medical marijuana. Joe created the solidarity ribbon for all those who stand united in their advocacy of medical marijuana. This solidarity ribbon has attracted so much attention that prosecutors have attempted to get it banned from courtrooms.
To read more about the case go to AmericanCannabisFoundation.com
http://americancannabisfoundation.com/?p=6071 Human Solutions website
http://the-human-solution.org/pre-trial-conference-joe-byron-joe-grumbine For those filling out Media Request Applications! Please note the following: Case # is: NA08478 (that's a zero)/Title of Case: People of the state of California vs. Def. #1. Joseph James Byron & Def. #2. Joseph Mathew Grumbine/Rm. # is: Dept. K/ Name of Court is: Long Beach Superior/ Name of Judicial Dist: Long Beach/ Name of Judge is: Charles Sheldon