cannabisnews.com: Men Arrested for Growing Pot Plants Acquitted Men Arrested for Growing Pot Plants Acquitted Posted by FoM on April 18, 2001 at 18:03:30 PT The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Two men arrested for growing 899 pot plants were acquitted Wednesday on charges of cultivating and possessing marijuana. A Sonoma County jury found Kenneth E. Hayes and Michael S. Foley innocent after a day of deliberations. The two men had claimed they were growing the plants for the 1,200-members of a San Francisco medical marijuana club called CHAMP -- Cannabis Helping Alleviate Medical Problems. Hayes ran the club. The pair was arrested in May 1999 after a county narcotics task force found the plants in a greenhouse near Petaluma. Prosecutors said Hayes and Foley grew the marijuana for profit and were not the patients' primary caregivers. That definition was at issue because state law, approved by voters as Proposition 215, allows marijuana possession with a physician's approval for medical patients and their caregivers. ``Our contention was that you can't be a caregiver under the definition of the statute to that many people,'' said Sonoma County District Attorney Mike Mullins. ``The jury felt otherwise.'' Source: Associated PressPublished: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:C.H.A.M.P.http://www.champsf.org/Jury Deliberations To Begin in Pot Trial http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9400.shtmlPetaluma Pot-Growing Case Draws To a Close http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9396.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by zion on April 19, 2001 at 16:31:02 PT Never let down your guard i812, it's not the people who have never tried cannabis that are the problem. It's the people who HAVE tried it or grown up with it and no longer care, which are the worst ones. Politicians like Bill Clinton who joked and made light about "wishing he had inhaled" ... and became the WORST DRUG WARRIOR against marijuana in the history of prohibition. His administration was responsible for expanding mandatory minimums, expanding forfeiture, expanding drug testing, expanding such measures as thermal imaging, surveillance of gardening supply shops, invented the charge "manufacturing marijuana" and resisted every initiative to decriminalize or allow medical marijuana EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY.It's those hypocrites who will sell their principles for fleeting political gain that we have worry about. And I fear a lot more came out of the 1960's than came out of the 1940's I hate to say.Never let your guard down until freedom is fully restored and cannabis prohibition is completely repealed.-z [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by i812 on April 19, 2001 at 11:06:11 PT victory congratulations to the folks in california,i sit here and contemplate what the feelings and views are of the people of this country, i find it interesting to note that my father who is 70 years old thinks that incrcerating people for marijuana is a gross in justice and to deny a sick person the oppurtunity to use it as a cheap and effective alternative to the nasty pharmaceuticals that the idiots prescribe to these people is even more intolerable, still to many people that belong to the old guard, but they are dying off and soon you will not be able to find a person that has not tried or still does enjoy cannabis,leave it to old cali to lead the way. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Kevin Hebert on April 19, 2001 at 08:23:39 PT: Thank God For Justice What refreshing news. Just when you think America's too broken to ever be fixed, justice by jury restores my faith again. Thank God that real people can see through the smokescreen the prohibitionists have put in front of their eyes, and choose justice over evil. Great, great day for all of us, and ESPECIALLY sick Californians who can no longer be denied their right to heal themselves as they see fit!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Alofi on April 19, 2001 at 04:18:45 PT enemy of the people Sonoma County District Attorney Mike Mullins [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by zion on April 19, 2001 at 03:19:44 PT Great News Jury aquittal, coupled with those aggressive initiatives to recall DA's and Sherrifs who are acting contrary to the will of the voters, are POWERFUL measures in this struggle for freedom.Renews my faith in God and America!Die, babylon, die....-z [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by military officer guy on April 18, 2001 at 22:02:52 PT one word... HUGE!!!!!we can win this war... [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by freedom fighter on April 18, 2001 at 21:39:26 PT May the bells ring loudly for the freedom!!\/People have spoken loudly and clearly!!!\/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Dan B on April 18, 2001 at 21:17:30 PT: YES! I'll echo MDG, too: What a fantabulous victory for freedom! Let this be a lesson to all California prosecutors and LEOs--indeed, a lesson to all LEOs and prosecutors everywhere. We can achieve victory, we have achieved victory, and we will continue to achieve victory over your senseless, draconian, destructive laws against sincere medical use of marijuana. Prohibitionists like to say that medical marijuana laws are the beginning of a "slippery slope" toward outright marijuana legalization. If that is so, let this case be like a five gallon drum of 30 weight.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Shishaldin on April 18, 2001 at 20:44:15 PT Brought tears to my eyes...a prayer ...I smiled, I laughed, my eyes teared for joy. It inspired me to write a prayer, for ALL of US.May the great open-hearted people of my beloved state of Cannafornia (thanx Toker00) lead the rest of our country (and the World) away from the evil of Babylon back to the promised land of Zion, May they speak with forceful honesty and in strong tongue to Chant Down Babylon, everytime! (A MESSAGE for you and your kind, Mr. Mullins!), May those who are sick *always* receive the herbal medicine they need, at little or no cost,May Emerald fields of Hemp grow 2-Man-Tall all over this world, so that all may prosper from its seed, leaf, stalk, and bud, May our cars and homes be heated, cooled, built, and powered by Jah's gift to us, the Cannabis Hemp plant,May our nights be filled with the aroma of our sacramental and ever soul-building herb, infusing us with the great powers of introspection, empathy, laughter, and love.And May NOT ONE MORE soul be imprisioned with the likes of killers and rapists for owning, growing, selling, giving away, or smoking of this wonderful herb!!!!Jah Bless the jury and all of you,Peace and Strength,Shishaldin [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Charlie on April 18, 2001 at 19:38:40 PT Hemp Hemp Hooray! Sweet! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Toker00 on April 18, 2001 at 19:32:44 PT God bless Cannafornia!!! I agree with you MDG!! FABTASTIC!!! Inch by inch, step by step. Slowly we are winning. I'd give a big buck to have been a fly on the wall in the DA's office after THIS verdict! Rave on, Cannafornia!!Peace. Realize, then Legalize! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Robbie on April 18, 2001 at 19:19:32 PT `Fantabulous' works 4 me :-) ``Our contention was that you can't be a caregiver under the definition of the statute to that many people,'' said Sonoma County District Attorney Mike Mullins. ``The jury felt otherwise.''That's right, dillweed! So stick your tail between your legs and crawl back to the DA's office so you can work on real crime!Prop 215 passes...Prop 36 passes...juries consistently side with the sick in MMJ cases... When will these idiots realize that they are wasting their/our/your time?!?! On May 5th: SPEAK OUT! BE HEARD! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by MDG on April 18, 2001 at 19:01:55 PT: News so great... I have to make up words. It's fantabulous! (or is that already a word?)This is pretty good news for MMJ, as juries are consistently (it seems) siding with Prop. 215 (and obviously the voters of California). Of course, it is but another big chunk out of the dead, decaying tree of prohibition. Chop that thing up, and throw it on the fahr!Mike... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by lookinside on April 18, 2001 at 18:48:14 PT: figure it out the people of california approve of the idea of medicinal marijuana...they approve of sick people having a place to go to buy their medicine without dealing with street thugs...not everyone can grow their own...it can be expensive as well as risky(ripoffs,bad cops)the voters of sonoma county should look at the bill they paid for this trial...and maybe look for a DA with more common sense(and compassion) [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: