Medical Marijuana: Eddy Lepp Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison
California medical marijuana grower, spiritualist, and activist Eddy Lepp was sentenced Monday to a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence on federal marijuana cultivation charges in a case where he grew more than 20,000 pot plants in plain view of a state highway in Northern California's Lake County. US District Court Judge Marilyn Patel also sentenced him to five years probation. He must report to federal authorities by July 6.
Eddy Lepp (courtesy cannabisculture.com)
According to California NORML (CANORML) and the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, there were gasps and sobs from Lepp supporters in the courtroom as Patel passed sentence. The sentence was "extreme," Patel conceded, but said her hands were tied by federal law.
In a nod toward the current turmoil over the status of federal prosecutions of medical marijuana providers, Judge Patel said Lepp could apply for a rehearing if the laws changed. Lepp and his attorneys plan to appeal the verdict and the sentence.
Lepp attorney Michael Hall told Patel the sentence was "incredible."
"Incredible is what the law requires," Patel responded, adding that legalizing marijuana appeared to be Lepp's driving passion. "Maybe you want to be a martyr for the cause," she said.
Sentencing Lepp, a 56-year-old veteran in ill health, to prison is a travesty and a waste, said supporters. "This case sadly illustrates the senselessness of federal marijuana laws," said CANORML's Dale Geiringer. "The last thing this country needs is more medical marijuana prisoners. Hopefully, we can change the law and get Eddy out of jail before he completes his sentence."
"Locking up Eddy Lepp serves no purpose and is a huge waste of life and scarce prison space," said Aaron Smith, California policy director of the Marijuana Policy Project. "The community would be a lot better served if we taxed and regulated California's $14 billion marijuana industry rather than continuing to incarcerate nonviolent people like Eddy, who are clearly of no danger to society."
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Another sad day in the USA
Comment posted by SallyOh on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 10:26amWhat a sad sad day. The judge could have kept him out. Judges have a lot of power and she could have allowed his testimony and she could have abated his sentence. But she has no guts. Vote her out if you can. "Maybe you want to be a martyr for the cause." Patel sure ain't gonna be no martyr for nothing.
Land of the Free?
Comment posted by Uzz Baldrin on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 11:44amWhat kind of people incarcerate their own for using and/or growing a non-toxic plant? Ten years in prison is BS!
Uzz
Useless atagonism
Comment posted by glenstark on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 11:09amThe attitude you are expressing is extremely stupid, poorly thought out, and the antagonism is extraordinarily harmful to our movement
At the moment we are desperately trying to remove the stigma and dogma associated with cannabis. The goal is stop having people jailed for possession and trade of cannabis. The goal is to allow people to get access to the medicine they need, or the recreation they want without suffering terrible persecution.
Thus, the goal right now is get discussion started on regulating marijuana in a similiar way to alcahol: taxation and regulation are a part of this discussion, both as a selling point, and as a reasonable method to go forward (it is unacceptable to suggest that marijuana should be available to everyone regardless of age, for example).
Once we, as a nation, have decided to go forward with legalisation, taxation, and regulation, then we can decide exactly how to conduct this regulation. Probably the first iteration won't be entirely to my liking, but almost anything is better than the situation as it stands.
Regardless, your delusional, freakish rantings come completely from left field. Most discussion regarding cannabis regulation and taxation tend to center around following the alcohol model. I have several friends who brewed their own wine or beer, to drink themselves or share with friends. None of them had any fear of any kind of prosecution for these activities. Wouldn't you like to be able to do the same with growing marijuana?
If you hope to grow and sell cannabis commercially, it's entirely reasonable to register with the government and pay taxes. This protects the consumer.. you would have to do the same if you wanted to sell food.
In short, if you don't have anything helpful to contribute, please keep quiet. If you'd like to have a dialog about how to contribute in a positive way, please contact me through my website.
www.glenstark.net