cannabisnews.com: Founder Of Recovery Center Remains Optimistic 





Founder Of Recovery Center Remains Optimistic 
Posted by FoM on December 24, 1999 at 15:48:41 PT
By Sherry Coonrod, Daily News Staff Writer 
Source: Siskiyou Daily News 
As the date of his jury trial approaches, Steve Fisher, founder of The Way Back Recovery Center, remains optimistic about the future. "Whatever happens I'll continue my efforts to help people," said Fisher from his Klamath River home. The home also serves as a residential treatment facility and is licensed as a non-profit organization. 
Fisher's dreams for the future of the center are now in jeopardy as he faces criminal proceedings that could send him back to prison. In the early morning hours of Aug. 4 the Siskiyou County Marijuana Eradication Team and the Siskiyou County Sheriffs Department surrounded and stormed the residence as Fisher and two female recovery patients were preparing for their day. After being handcuffed and ordered to co-operate, Fisher was informed that because he had 17-healthy marijuana plants growing behind his home, that he was being arrested for growing and selling marijuana; even though the plants were posted with a copy of a written recommendation from a physician for the use of marijuana under California's 1996 prop 215 law. A search of his home revealed a decorative cane sword hanging on a wall and a few rounds of 22 ammunition in a dish. Fisher, a convicted felon, was then additionally charged with illegal possession of the items. He was also charged with theft by false pretenses after the family of a former resident complained about services provided by the center for their son after they gave Fisher money. "Even if we beat the marijuana charge we're going to have a hard time with the weapon and ammo charge," said Nicholas Holt, Fisher's attorney. "I have filed two motions, one asking the court to find the search warrant invalid therefore eliminating by suppression any evidence seized. The other is for an outright dismissal of four of the charges," he added. Holt explained that as soon as the officers entered the home they received knowledge that Fisher possessed a written recommendation for the marijuana and that any search conducted after that knowledge was obtained was illegal. Holt adds in his motions that law enforcement was aware prior to the overflight and subsequent raid of the home, that Fisher was in possession of the recommendation and was in fact open about it having discussed it with Sheriff Charlie Byrd just days before. According to Byrd, Fisher was not singled out. "He was arrested because he had too many plants," said Byrd. According to Sgt. Guy Ives who heads the Marijuana Eradication Team, the sheriffs department and the district attorneys office got together and discussed what they thought would be considered an appropriate number of plants for someone to grow under the law. "We came up with four plants per person," said Ives. "We agreed that anything more than that is just too much to be used for one person." "Nowhere in the language of 215 does it say how many plants you can have," said Holt. "He was within the law and I think they are being unfair to him." Fisher, who has been to prison twice, makes no amends for his past. He does defend his future though as he continues attending College of the Siskiyous in an effort to become a councilor, even if he does use a substance that is still considered illegal under federal law. "I was messed up on alcohol and drugs," he said. "I did a lot of stupid things but it was all because of my addictions and the inability to find help for those addictions within this community." He emphatically adds that he eventually did find help after he found the Lord Jesus Christ. For the past six years Fisher has remained free of alcohol and methamphetamine. He admits to growing and using marijuana with a written recommendation from his doctor but defends his use as being pharmaceutical. After fighting back from a motorcycle accident that almost took his life several years ago, Fisher states the marijuana allows him to control his moods and concentration. He was in a coma for 29-days and suffered severe head injuries. "Its like any other drug prescribed by a doctor," said Fisher. "Why should I be arrested for it when I was within the law passed by the voters of this state." Fisher added that he does not promote the use of marijuana to anyone who wants to stay at his center to recover from alcohol although he would support their usage if it was their choice as he believes that marijuana is a good alternative to alcoholism. "If they want to use it they better have a written recommendation and they better bring their own," said Fisher. Fisher added that until this whole thing is over he will continue to pursue his dream and seek higher education having already completed many of the necessary courses for counseling accreditation. Recently admitted into the honor society Phi Theta Kappa, Fisher proudly carries a constant B+ average and says he's going nowhere but forward. "I've beaten worst things than this," said Fisher. "They would like it if no one succeeded in recovery and they sure don't want to see marijuana legalized because that would put them out of a job." Pubdate: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 Copyright: 1999 Siskiyou Daily News News Article Courtesy Of MapInc.http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1383/a02.html Please Take A Moment And Sign The Guest Book.http://siskiyoudaily.com/guestbook/guestbook.cgiRelated: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1079/a07.html 
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