cannabisnews.com: Up in Smoke Up in Smoke Posted by FoM on April 21, 2001 at 10:18:38 PT Press Democrat Editorial Source: Press Democrat In the aftermath of a second major defeat, it's no susprise that Sonoma County District Attorney Mike Mullins will reconsider his judgments about medical marjuana cases.After seven weeks of testimony, a jury on Thursday took less than five hours to acquit two Petaluma men. It doesn't make sense to continue to spend taxpayers' money on the opportunity to suffer embarrassing defeats. The quick verdict could only be interpreted as an unqualified endorsement of the defense's assertion that the marijuana was being grown to provide relief for people who are sick. Until now, Mullins has said such cases should be prosecuted because the state's current medical marijuana law is vague and leaves basic issue unresolved.While the 1996 initiative, Proposition 215, suffers from legislative negligence, it doesn't necessarily follow that the prosecution can persuade a jury that the facts of a specific case justify a conviction.Plus, the actions of Deputy District Attorney Carla Claeys added fodder to critics' claim that the DA's office can't control its biases in medical marijuana cases.After the verdict, Mullins acknowledged that during the trial, Claeys went to a shooting range and fired at silhouette targets with the names of two defense attorneys written on them.Mullins said Claeys characterized the target practice as a joke. But there's a difference. Jokes are supposed to be funny, not reprehensible.What this case demonstrates -- again -- is that California needs coherent, statewide standards for medical marijuana -- rules that guarantee that sick people are helped without giving license to people who merely want to sell dope for fun and profit.Unfortunately, as often happens, the state Legislature has failed to fulfill its responsibilities.So, it may fall to Attorney General Bill Lockyer to pull together prosecutors, Proposition 215 advocates and others to fashion standards that are consistent and enforceable.Note: California still lacks coherent standards on medical marijuana.Source: Press Democrat, The (CA) Published: April 21, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Press Democrat Contact: letters pressdemo.com Website: http://www.pressdemo.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:C.H.A.M.P.http://www.champsf.org/D.A. To Seek Medical Pot Rules http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9438.shtmlAcquittal Doesn't Ease Grower's Fears http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9429.shtmlPair Innocent in Medical Pot Bust http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9414.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Dr. Ganj on April 21, 2001 at 16:05:25 PT One More Trial, One More Acquittal I sat in the audience for a couple of hours during this trial, and watched in disgust how the D.A.'s office clearly wasted tens of thousands of dollars "testing" the boundaries of Prop 215. Yes, on the surface it looked like the prosecutor had a good case, being that there where 899 plants, 14 pounds of dried ganj, one pound of hash, some money, a rifle, plus a scale, but after careful review by the jury, they deduced correctly that NOWHERE in 215 does it say HOW MUCH a person can grow-either for him/herself, or for others as a caregiver. So, the jury has once again sent a clear message to other prosecutors like Ms. Claeys- that although it might appear like a lot of plants, or selling medical marijuana might be illegal, jurors are not going to convict medical marijuana users, or vendors, and these cases should never go to trial in the first place.I am very proud of Ken Hayes and Michael Foley, as I know firsthand how intense a felony bust in Sonoma county can be. To stand up against these brutes is the epitome of courage. If they were to lose, they would have been given three years in prison, I'm sure. They stood up for what they believed, and were rewarded with freedom. What a happy ending-and how truly rare in this country.Cheers to all of you who have the guts to go to trial!As I said before, if we ALL did this, we wouldn't have a drug war. I know it's difficult, but look at the alternative.Dr. Ganj http://www.champsf.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on April 21, 2001 at 15:26:35 PT: Uh, feeling a bit...stressed...Ms. Claeys? Someone in the DA's office should have a look at this...before Ms. Claeys decides to have even more 'fun'.On second thought, scratch that. If Ms. Claeys does indeed go, as they say, 'postal', it's entirely possible that she will kill several other co-workers and finally herself. That's the usual pattern. Which means fewer Nazi wannabes to roust MMJ users. Who have, on top of having to deal with chronic pain and/or life-threatening illnesses, certainly have had to deal with entirely too much DA-sponsored stress themselves, lately.Mind you, I'm just...'joking'. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by lookinside on April 21, 2001 at 13:17:40 PT: sanity? it's obvious claeys has no conscience....if she had one,she'd need only one bullet(maybe dr. kervorkian could helpher out?)...typical criminal asst. DA... [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on April 21, 2001 at 11:54:11 PT That is news! "After the verdict, Mullins acknowledged that during the trial, Claeys went to a shooting range and fired at silhouette targets with the names of two defense attorneys written on them."Claeys appears as a joke. A bad reprehensible joke. Claeys is paid to protect society. Who is going to protect us from Claeys? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on April 21, 2001 at 11:16:06 PT: Recall It's time to see about recalling Mullins so as to fire that bitch Claeys.We are not amused ... 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