cannabisnews.com: Pot User Sentenced To House Arrest Pot User Sentenced To House Arrest Posted by CN Staff on October 05, 2004 at 08:16:14 PT By Ian C. Storey, Record-Eagle Staff Writer Source: Record-Eagle Traverse City -- Matthew Barber will pay a fine and submit to house arrest after pleading guilty to the use of marijuana, the drug he says curbs his multiple sclerosis symptoms. District court Judge Michael Haley sentenced Barber - arrested in June with two ounces of marijuana - to 90 days of probation, $345 in fines, and 30 days of "intensive" house supervision through Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan. The misdemeanor offense is punishable up to 93 days in jail. "I don't doubt what Mr. Barber is telling me, but that doesn't mean I can excuse that behavior given the state of the law," said Haley. Diagnosed with M.S. in 2001, Barber said he has exhausted all of the acceptable forms of treatment for a disease that affects the central nervous system. "I want to say it is criminal to keep medicine from patients," Barber told Haley before being sentenced. "Marijuana has helped me. I know it has. I get out more. I am more active." Flanked by his three attorneys, Barber sat in a wheelchair during the late morning hearing also attended by Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Dennis LaBelle. Part of a pre-sentencing report called for Barber to be placed on an electronic tether, a recommendation argued against by his attorney, Dean Robb. "He is already on a tether," said Robb, joined by Marian Kromkowski and Matthew Posner in defending Barber. "This wheelchair is enough of a tether for him." Haley agreed, but sentenced Barber to the 30 days of Goodwill supervision, tantamount to house arrest. Barber will be able leave for medical visits, but had to cancel a trip to Washington, D.C., planned for this week to speak about his condition with other members of the M.S. Patients Union. "Under the circumstances, I am happy with (the sentence)," said Robb afterward. "Matt will be a significant player in taking this fight to the next level."Note: M.S. sufferer is also fined.Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle (MI)Author: Ian C. Storey, Record-Eagle Staff WriterPublished: October 5, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Traverse City Record-EagleContact: letters record-eagle.comWebsite: http://www.record-eagle.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmMarijuana Charge May Be Reduced http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19576.shtmlNew Attorney Takes Case http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19400.shtmlMS Sufferer Vows To Fight Pot Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19145.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 19, 2004 at 22:27:44 PT ekim I guess I really am a loyal fan of Neil Youngs. Not like some long time fans though. You know something? I love Greendale. I played it everyday practically forever it seems. I now have stopped listening to it. I put it away and thought how special Greendale is to me. This election is so intense even Greendale won't make me feel more comfortable until we know who our next president is. If Kerry wins I will dust off Greendale and will celebrate!I don't know that Neil could do anymore then he has without getting in trouble with his fans. I unsubscribed to a political NY list because of the fighting. I still get the really big list for music info though. Just Neil standing up as a Canadian for Kerry was enough to make me happy. Your idea is really sweet though. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by ekim on October 19, 2004 at 22:03:44 PT Mat speaks out i was up in Traverse City last Fri and heard on Radio 90.5 interlocken. it was the show Northern Lites or something like that it was on at 9:00 am and repeated later that nite like 9 pm the show was a hour. the show was on Mat Barber a Gulf War Vet.i wonder whast kinds of illnesses have been found in those Vets. seems that mat was popped for cannabis and he was given jail time9 months and probation which lasted for 3years. the agency that had a say over him offered him a job which he took. mat has been fighting MS and i wonder how long he has had it and how has cannabis helped him and what did those years of being stopped from using it done to mat. after a while learning all this --the interviewer goes to the phone its a man doctor in a MI Univ or College i did not get that. He did say that now there are 7 criteria to be classed a addict, and of those you only have to have three of said to be logged in as addict. addict might be a strong word but hear the interview and write what you hear. The shock doc said that joints were three times worse for you than tobacco. some one Garry i think called and said look all i just got back from Amsterdam and they use a heater that raises the temp to 176.6 but don't quote me on that but some where in there which releases compounds but does not burn the plant causing NO smoke. mat was rittled with pain surrounded by docsover at Wayne St wondering what other meds to give him for MS when a caring member of the union stepped over and said that cannabis has been known to help. with those few words mat said that he had to look into his guts and say i am not afraid anymore. now get this the guys that stood over him gave him a job -- i would like to hear more about this sometime-=- but mat sayen that he said openly that he was being helped by the very plant that had lost mats freedom was pretty hard on mat, but what about his wife that had stood by and watched it all unfold. she was a great speaker i am sorry that i did not remember her name. but she and a mrs karr from the Cannabis network had mats back. Dean Rob is mats lawyer and a decent sounding and acting human said that mat has someting to say and he Rob was going to help him say it. after the show i was talking to others and it was said that mat who caught 30days at home can go to talk about the case and will go this coming weekend to a church to speak and maybe Gov. Jenny will be there. I want to see that. anyway FoM a while back i was dreaming that cannabisnews had a small logo and it was being reported seen. i feel that you have been one of the most loyal fans of O'Neil that one could hope to find. like a nascar== please Mr. Young wear this most humble of caratatours American man knows as Cannabisnews.com a pin that just has Cnc will do just fine.i hope that Dick Cowan will now get someone to write about the fact == use is being treated as a disease, and how the Freedom Initiative is being set up and who is setting it up and what public in put is going on. up in the yupper where it has been reported that sane humans have evolved news comes about how just like we were blinded by the money we over lawed in allowing homes and cars and anything else be taken and sold for the use of those that do the taking. when it is said that history repeats itself i prey that such a gifted bunch is spared the heartbreaking hardship handed down in such a cold manner. with all the Cannabis Hemp farmers looking and thinking those can be our jobs no need to spend billions in prohibition while we go broke and collect no taxes. how did the drinking prohibition finally come to an end was it because so many were making hoch the people stood up and said regulate the stuff already. http://www.aammi.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on October 06, 2004 at 19:01:58 PT Disgusting It is so disgusting seeing people suffering with serious health problems being punishment by ridiculous laws for simply trying to get some relief from their distress. I hope this will soon change. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on October 05, 2004 at 08:47:57 PT barbarian District court Judge Michael Haley sentenced Barber - arrested in June with two ounces of marijuana - to 90 days of probation, $345 in fines, and 30 days of "intensive" house supervision through Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan. "I don't doubt what Mr. Barber is telling me, but that doesn't mean I can excuse that behavior given the state of the law," said Haley.Oh yeah? Why not? If you'd issued a suspended sentence, what would've happened? Who would have recalled you or punished you? The voters? Are you kidding? The politicians? Doubt it.No, Michael Haley, the truth is, you're a sadist. You get a thrill from "doing your duty" and making people suffer. How else could you possibly explain this? This poor man has to suffer a life in a wheelchair, suffering every waking minute until he dies.This goes far beyond duty - this is blatant cruelty. I know MS patients on disability, they can't afford $345. That will effectively take another month's supply of medicine from this terminally ill man. Judge Haley is a primitive, evil person. So is every cop and prison guard that encountered this guy along the way & didn't stand up and do something. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment