cannabisnews.com: Bay Area Pot Guru Busted in Utah Bay Area Pot Guru Busted in Utah Posted by FoM on November 21, 2001 at 07:06:54 PT By Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Source: San Francisco Chronicle The godfather of medical marijuana in California didn't get much respect last week in Cedar City, Utah, where police caught him smoking a joint in his motel room. Facing a felony charge of possessing marijuana for distribution, Dennis Peron said yesterday it was time that Utah had a law like California's Proposition 215, which he drafted in 1996. "I'm going to go back and fight it and going to try to change the state law, " he said. "It's going to be a tough nut to crack, but it's not impossible." Peron said he and fellow Bay Area marijuana activist John Entwistle had been heading for Zion National Park with a Utah friend last Wednesday and decided to sample the marijuana they had brought along, even though "I didn't think it was a good idea." A maid picked up the scent in the hall, and the motel owner called police, who held the three men spread-eagled on the floor for 10 minutes "like we had committed a terrorist act," Peron said. Officers searched the room and two cars outside and found enough marijuana to conclude the three were dealers. Peron said it was only a few ounces, to be used for medical purposes as allowed by Prop. 215. He and Entwistle both have doctors' recommendations to take marijuana as part of their therapy for alcoholism, he said. Iron County Attorney Scott Burns, the prosecutor, said yesterday that police had found nearly a pound, "an amount consistent with persons who possess with intent to distribute." Regardless of California law, Burns said, "In Utah in 2001 it's illegal to possess a pound of marijuana, notwithstanding doctors' orders." Police impounded the cars and all their cash -- about $8,000, according to Burns, or $3,700, according to Entwistle -- and the three were kept in jail overnight until a friend bailed them out. While the cars were returned, Burns said the cash would be held as evidence until the end of the case. The charge is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, but Burns said the usual sentence was 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Note: Dennis Peron caught with joint.Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 Copyright: 2001 San Francisco Chronicle Page A - 23 Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/Related Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana.orghttp://www.marijuana.org/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmStirring The Pot - Sacramento News & Review http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10662.shtmlPro-Marijuana Group Honoring S.F.'s Hallinanhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6001.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Dr Ganj on November 21, 2001 at 21:50:32 PT Prop 216 In Utah? I've been through Utah, and it's full of rotten, filthy pigs. Those boars are so insalubrious, I feel there is no hope for them, or their worthless state. Be warned: Don't go to Zion. Don't go skiing in Park City, and don't drive through Ogden. In time, all those porkers will choke on their own feces at the troughs. Such is their fate. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on November 21, 2001 at 21:14:18 PT Wishful thinking, dude Iron County Attorney Scott Burns, the prosecutor, said yesterday that police had found nearly a pound, "an amount consistent with persons who possess with intent to distribute." Get your own stash, you parasite. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Clint Werner on November 21, 2001 at 17:24:25 PT: Peron & co. Peron and Entwistle could smoke one pound in one week, without distributing a morsal. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by barfingMike on November 21, 2001 at 09:27:39 PT a quote I know of no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution. — Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) [ Post Comment ] Post Comment