cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Activist, on Bail, Re-Arrested Medical Marijuana Activist, on Bail, Re-Arrested Posted by FoM on September 02, 2000 at 12:52:41 PT By Kristi Belcamino, Times Staff Writer Source: Contra Costa Times A medical marijuana advocate out on bail after being charged with cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana in July was arrested Thursday night after police found 650 marijuana plants in his house. Ken Estes, 36, was arrested on suspicion of cultivation and possession of marijuana about 5:30 p.m. at his residence on Via Roble, said Chief Hank Davis. In June, Estes was charged with cultivation and possession of marijuana after a police raid at the Concord home where he was living found 1500 marijuana plants. In July, he turned himself in and pleaded not guilty to two counts of cultivation and two counts of possession of marijuana and was released on his own recognizance.On Thursday night, Lafayette police served a restraining order and eviction notice requested by Estes' live-in girlfriend. They found more than 650 plants in rooms, the wine cellar and storage sheds, all nurtured with indoor grow lights, Davis said.On his booking form, Estes gave his occupation as "herbal distribution," Davis said.Police searching Estes' Berkeley business, Medicinal Herbs, Friday morning found equipment used to manufacture hashish -- a concentrated form of marijuana -- an undisclosed quantity of marijuana and 30 pounds of marijuana brownies, Davis said.Estes and another man at the house, Randy Moses, 41, a transient, were arrested on suspicion of cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana. A third man, Michael Martin, 36, of Antioch, was arrested for outstanding warrants, Davis said.In a jailhouse interview Friday, Estes said he feels obligated to continue dispensing medicinal marijuana to the 500 clients he serves. He said he is justified in doing so under state Prop. 215, which voters approved in 1996, allowing seriously ill patients to grow and use marijuana for pain relief if they have a doctor's recommendation."Police are still thwarting the voters of California who believe that us patients are really trying to find an alternative medicine," said Estes.Paralyzed in a motorcycle crash when he was 18, Estes said he became an advocate of medicinal marijuana some 20 years ago after discovering the drug eased his chronic pain."I want people to know that marijuana is actually a medicine for some people who suffer daily and when nothing else will work," he said.Implementation of Prop. 215 has been tied up in the courts for the past three years.The proposition runs counter to federal law, which says marijuana has no medical purpose and cannot be administered safely under medical supervision.In July, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative could distribute marijuana for medicinal purposes based on a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling.But on Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court barred distribution of marijuana to people in California whose doctors recommend it for medicinal purposes. The 7-1 vote postponed the effect of federal court rulings that would have allowed the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative to distribute the drug. If courts don't rule in favor of Prop. 215 before his trial, he'll most likely go to jail, Estes said.In July, when Estes turned himself in at the Martinez Detention Facility, he held a press conference at which he was escorted by his attorney and friends holding "Free Ken" and "California voted yes on 215" signs.On his way into the jail, Estes told reporters he had just smoked marijuana. Thursday's arrest occurred without fanfare. This time, he spent the night in his wheelchair in a holding cell and still wore a black "Pulp Fiction" T-shirt Friday morning instead of jail-issue clothing.Estes said while he was nervous about the thought of a jail sentence, he can't wait for the courts to see his side -- that what he does is legal as approved by the state's voters. "People are dying and people are suffering right now. I don't have the luxury of waiting or I would wait."Kristi Belcamino covers police, crime and public safety. Reach her at 925-945-4782 or kbelcamino cctimes.comPublished: Saturday, September 2, 2000 Source: Contra Costa Times (CA)Copyright: 2000 Contra Costa Newspapers Inc.Address: 2640 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598Website: http://www.contracostatimes.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Cooperativehttp://www.rxcbc.org/Girlfriend's Tip Leads to Arrest of MMJ Advocatehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6912.shtmlSupreme Court on Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6906.shtmlOfficial Reefer Madnesshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6894.shtmlFeds' Needless Pot War http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6889.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: