In the continuing attack against medical marijuana collectives in California, DA Cooley refuses to drop charges against humanitarian and cannabis crusader Joe Grumbine. Joe Grumbine has rejected a felony deal that would force him to sign a paper agreeing that he is a criminal for operating a medical marijuana collective as allowed under sb420, California?s medical marijuana program act. Joe Byron offered to accept a plea if the government hacks would drop charges against Grumbine and allow them to operate legally as allowed under prop 215 and sb420.
In a show of defiance against the will of the California voters, the prosecutor refused to drop the bogus charges. They have set arguements about what the jury will be allowed to hear for September 15 and placed the trial date for September 26.
On September 15, it is expected that the prosecutor will try to prevent as much of the legitimate information regarding a medical defense as to proof that the defense has that this collective was operating under state law. Many people don’t know that medical marijuana is an “affirmative defense” similar to a self defense charge, the defendant actually has to prove they are innocent. This is different than almost all other types of criminal charges where the prosecutors always have to prove that the defendant is guilty. The judges then have the power to influence the outcome of the trial if they refuse to allow the defendant to show that he was operating under state law. Politics plays out in the courtooms as District Attorneys commonly can influence judges or work in collusion with them to undermine the will of the people as they voted to legalize medical marijuana 15 years ago.
Over 70 people wearing the green solidarity ribbons showed up in support of Joe and Joe, as well as in a show of solidarity for the rights of cannabis users everywhere, and in protest of the thousands of arrests, prosecutions and imprisonment of our brothers, sisters and friends. Over 50,000 Americans are wasting away in America’s prison system solely for marijuana, not to mention the million or so sitting in cages for other nonviolent “drug crimes”.
It is time for the government to stop trying to put people in jail for trying to provide medicine for patients. Is working together to grow and distribute medical marijuana to doctor recommended patients really a crime? Is it worthy of kicking in doors, with rifle toting thugs, destroying homes, terrorizing families? Should political disagreements over a safe non-toxic plant really be settled at the end of a gun barrel? Really?
What about the misuse of tax dollars in an ever threatened economy? Why have police detectives go lie to doctors and pretend their sick to get legitimate medical cards to pretend to be patients, to fraudulently join collectives, and then go in and destroy peoples lives? Is there no more meth labs to bust? Are the cartels too dangerous? Is it because medical marijuana is an affirmative defense and they know if they take away peoples money and threaten them with prison most of them will sign anything to avoid that threat?
Sept. 15 and trial (expected to last 3 weeks) starts on Sept 26th. Mark your calendars now. We need a huge showing on the 26th!
WHERE: THE LONG BEACH COURTHOUSE!! – 415 West Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90802., DEPT K, 5th floor, Judge Charles Sheldon, if you dont like to sit for long periods we can rally out front. Join the comraderie and make a statement. Please mark your calenders. We need YOU!
THE REASONS ABOVE ARE WHY COMMUNITY SHOWING OF SUPPORT IS VITAL TO ENDING PROHIBITION. WE MUST SHOW UP AT THESE HEARINGS IN LARGE ENOUGH GROUPS TO ATTRACT MEDIA AND MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE OUR RIGHTS BEING TRAMPLED.
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
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Original: SHOWDOWN IN LONG BEACH CONTINUES ? 14 and 17 Felonies for Co-defendants in medical marijua