Saving Charlie Lynch - Wednesday, April 29, 2009
by: John Hamilton
If you’ve been listening to Speaker’s Corner for any length of time, you’ve heard me cover the plight of Charlie Lynch; if the name doesn’t ring a bell, allow me to digress for just a moment.
As you’re undoubtedly aware, the state of California is one of many that allow for the prescription and use of marijuana for various medical conditions. California is also one of the states where the heavy boots of the Federal Government’s thugs have trampled the lives of people who run and work at these legal, state-approved marijuana dispensaries.
Charlie Lynch was such a person. His marijuana dispensary opened in April of 2006 in the city of Morro Bay to much local fanfare and hoopla; even the mayor was there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It seemed everyone in the town was happy to see this dispensary open – except for one, it seems.
That one would be the ignorant, foaming-at-the-mouth chucklehead of a sheriff, Pat Hedges. This bozo couldn’t stand the fact that the Evil Weed was legally being provided to people who were suffering from pain, or from some medical condition that the drug helped alleviate. Totally pissed off that there didn’t seem to be a damn thing he could do about, this freak of nature decided to see if maybe the DEA wouldn’t ride into town and eliminate the source of his unreasonable consternation. Hedges had the gall to say that allowing medical marijuana to be provided to suffering patients was "not in the best interest of a community that prides itself on providing a healthy, family environment."
You know, if I were a Boone High School student, I’d probably say that Sheriff Hedges was a “dumb-ass.”
Be that as it may, the DEA, being the DEA, said “Sure, we’ll bust the living daylights out of this guy.” And they did in early 2007, back in the last half of the Bush administration’s second term. As you know, the Bush Justice Department sported wood whenever they even thought about busting anyone for drugs – the notion that they could hang a legal medical marijuana dispenser out to dry must have been better than Viagra to these nitwits. Charlie was prosecuted with zeal and vigor by the Feds, under what some may call questionable legal proceedings. He was convicted on federal charges of trafficking in marijuana in August of last year – despite the fact he was running a legal, state-compliant business. He faces up to 100 years in federal prison.
Supporters of Mr. Lynch in particular and supporters of medical marijuana in general were given a glimmer of hope when the Obama Administration signaled a shift in policy regarding medical marijuana away from the stupidity of the Bush Administration and its Justice Department. Sadly, the Obama Administration chose not to set aside this outrageous miscarriage of True Justice. The sentencing judge, however, delayed Lynch’s March 23rd sentencing to await clarification from the Obama Feds.
Lynch was supposed to be sentenced on April 23rd. Once again, however, in attempting to find a way out for Mr. Lynch, Judge Wu has delayed sentencing yet again. Here’s hoping that the Good Judge does, indeed, find a way to get Lynch out of this obscene predicament. And if you ask me, if the Obama Adminstration was really about “Change,” the president will immediately pardon Charlie Lynch the second after he is sentenced. If not, well, remember that great song by the Who? "Won't Get Fooled Again" is the title, and towards the end Roger Daltry invites us to "meet the new boss -- same as the old boss."
Comments: 4
I think I remember hearing about this case last year. I can't believe that this miscarriage of justice is still going on.
WTF is wrong with Obama's Department of Justice? Or Obama, for that matter? This man no more belongs in prison that Mother Theresa; in fact, he should never have been arrested and prosecuted. This country needs a serious enema.
I heard this Speaker's Corner; this is a sad day for our country when the federal government decides it wants to screw someone for doing something entirely legal in the state they reside in.
Thanks for posting this blog. Everyone in America needs to know about this!
STUPIDITY RUNS WILD IN THIS COUNTRY. POWER HAS CORRUPTED ALL THINGS.
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