cannabisnews.com: Pot Backer Convicted of Tainting Jury










  Pot Backer Convicted of Tainting Jury

Posted by CN Staff on December 17, 2002 at 09:10:00 PT
By Denny Walsh -- Bee Staff Writer 
Source: Sacramento Bee  

A leader in California's medical marijuana movement was convicted in Sacramento federal court Monday of attempting to influence the outcome of a fellow pot advocate's trial.Jeff Jones, who has gained national notoriety as executive director of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, was found guilty by a magistrate judge of passing out a flier in front of Sacramento's federal courthouse designed to sway prospective jurors for the trial of Bryan Epis.
Jones' non-jury trial came to an abrupt end in the early afternoon. Prosecutor Christopher Hagan rested, and defense attorney Michael Bigelow moved for a dismissal, arguing that the government's evidence did not support the charge and that Jones has been unfairly singled out.In denying the motion, U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter A. Nowinski rejected a free-speech argument. He also declared that the contents of the sheet Jones handed to people entering the courthouse on the June morning Epis' trial was to begin "was clearly an attempt to influence jurors."Recalling Bigelow's argument that the flier's content was purely "informational," Nowinski said that "it is too much information for an improper purpose."At that point, Bigelow decided to forgo the presentation of any evidence, and both attorneys waived closing arguments."I find the defendant guilty as charged," Nowinski then said. Sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 27.Hagan called a number of prospective jurors who testified that Jones handed the sheet to them in the courtyard of the building at 501 I St. as they approached the front door. He also played a videotape from a surveillance camera showing Jones' encounters with several people.Some witnesses recalled Jones urging them to "Vote your conscience"; telling them, "I have a friend on trial for growing medical marijuana"; or saying, "The feds haven't caught up with state law" allowing medicinal use.Bigelow said there was no evidence his client "didn't have a First Amendment right to be there" and that there were others distributing and displaying material in support of medical marijuana. He also said the flier Jones was distributing "had been disseminated over the Internet and available to the entire world for months.""Why we are singling out one individual for passing it out is, to me, incomprehensible," Bigelow said. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/jj.htm Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)Author: Denny Walsh -- Bee Staff WriterPublished: Tuesday, December 17, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Sacramento BeeContact: opinion sacbee.comWebsite: http://www.sacbee.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:OCBChttp://www.rxcbc.org/Medical Marijuana Protest Pictures http://freedomtoexhale.com/protestpics.htmFirst Federal Medical Marijuana Conviction http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13398.shtmlConviction in Federal Pot Trialhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13389.shtmlMarijuana Grower Convicted in Jury Verdicthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13383.shtml 

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Comment #8 posted by FoM on December 17, 2002 at 11:43:24 PT

knox42897 
I actually don't know what bi-polar is. I don't have mood swings anymore but I did when I was younger. Is that what bi-polar is? I don't get real happy anymore but I never get really down either. I just figure life is the way it is and nothing gets me really sad or happy. I do take SJW everyday for years now and that has helped me more then any drug ever did.
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Comment #7 posted by knox42897 on December 17, 2002 at 11:38:56 PT:

MEDICAL MARIJUANA-ITS THE LAW!!!!!
I can wait for the news! That's the perfect case.
Thank You FoM for all the work you do. 
Hey FoM, are you Bi-Polar?
One of the conditions is a manic behavior. Example, My first doctor thought my efforts to "Free the Weed" were part of a manic behavior, a form of Bi-Polar. This is the same doctor that said my marijuana use was acyually marijuana abuse. I now have nice piece of paper that says I am bi-polar and abuse marijuana.I don't go to stupid doctors no more. I accept and now believe that I am bi-polar but only becuase I found the doctors that recommended marijuana for my bi-polar condition. I fear that I will be manic for the rest of my life or until we (re)Legalize Marijuana. I think by then I might be cured.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 17, 2002 at 11:31:39 PT

The GCW 
Thank you for posting the Letter to the Editor!
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on December 17, 2002 at 11:28:04 PT

US NJ: PUB LTE:  from Jim Miller
VIDEO DOCUMENTS THE NECESSITY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA Over the past 10 years, I have written about my wife Cheryl, who now can move only her head after 30 years of multiple sclerosis. Fortunately, in 1992 we found a drug she can take that eases the pain of her ever tightening muscles. Unfortunately, that drug is marijuana. I was morally drafted to fight against the medical marijuana front of the war on drugs because Cheryl and I became lawbreakers in the eyes of the lawmakers for daring to do anything we could to help her ease her pain. I had no idea when we exchanged wedding vows in 1984, as she was in a wheelchair, that my promise to help her in all ways possible would, at times, make me a criminal. Last year Cheryl agreed to a request from Next Play Video to do a documentary. The final cut is 28 minutes. The end stages of multiple sclerosis can be very personal and unflattering. Still Cheryl has made her life an open book to help others after she is gone. She is my hero. If anyone would like to have a copy of "Cheryl Miller: The Case For Medical Marijuana Necessity," I will send you one free. Call ( 732 ) 255-1713 and leave a message containing information on where to send it, or write to me at P.O. Box 4781, Toms River, NJ 08753. This is my present to my wife. Jim Miller Toms River http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2278/a05.html?397 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 17, 2002 at 11:09:51 PT

Hoping for Some Good News Soon
Hearing on Historic Medical Marijuana Patients' Lawsuit Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA -- In an historic hearing set for Dec. 17, two medical marijuana patients and their caregivers will ask U.S. District Court Judge Martin J. Jenkins for protection from the federal government.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread14419.shtml#8
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Comment #3 posted by pokesmotter on December 17, 2002 at 10:45:34 PT:

this is horrendous
This guy was convicted of handing out fliers. Wow.
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Comment #2 posted by BigDawg on December 17, 2002 at 10:19:42 PT

Remind me not to use this lawyer.
"At that point, Bigelow decided to forgo the presentation of any evidence, and both attorneys waived closing arguments."

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Comment #1 posted by Morgan on December 17, 2002 at 09:50:14 PT

Cain't have dem uppity neg... I mean potheads...
"it is too much information for an improper purpose."Too much information. Can't have that. We all might get too smart, too informed, too independent... even uppity.
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