Roger Mentch, a local medical marijuana provider and caregiver, currently faces up to seven years imprisonment for possessing 1 1/2 oz. of marijuana. Come out to the Santa Cruz County Courthouse steps on Monday, May 2 at 8 am and stand in solidarity with Roger as he faces sentencing. Please demonstrate through your presence that you support honest medical marijuana providers and reject the current politically-movtived oppression of medical marijuana providers in California and the rest of the United States.
Besides Roger Mentch being prosecuted, Santa Cruz's Pacific Cannabis Collective was shutdown in the last month. Since the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana was raided in September 2002, the two most recent actions have effectively cut off the medical marijuana supply in Santa Cruz County. The only option for many medical marijuana patients is to travel an hour and a half or more to the San Francisco Bay Area to a medical marijuana dispensary. For many, this is not an option because of immobility and lack of financial resources. It is also problematic because many Bay Area medical marijuana dispensaries are coming under law enforcement scrutiny and several have recently been shut down.
Medical Marijuana Provider and In-Home Caregiver On Trial in Santa Cruz
santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/16819/index.php
Reopen The Pacific Cannabis Cooperative
santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/17328/index.php
Listen to Interview of Roger Mentch Interview on Bathrobespierre's Broadsides (interview is halfway through file)
www.santacruzcopwatch.org/robert/brb050310.mp3
Comments
Mentch on Free Radio Today Perhaps
Also it's the Pacific Coast Cooperative not the Pacific Cannabis Coopeative, though cannabis was definitely involved until city authorities shut it down nearly a month ago.
See you all tomorrow morning on the steps of the County Building.
Does anyone know of other cases currently pending?
I hope to make a Public Records Act of D.A. Bob Lee, requesting to know how many cases involving marijuana possession and/or sales have been charged since Lee assumed office compared with the several years before.
Why is our own DA prosecuting medical marijuana providers?
Jurors noted that when they examined Roger Mentch's financial records for a year, that if he made any money from the sales, it was not much.
Prop 215 provides for legalizing caregivers for medical marijuana.
AB 420, which was passed AFTER Mentch's arrest, provides for reasonable compensation to medical marijuana providers for their costs. Mentch's fees appear to have fit this guideline.
Why did DA Bob Lee prosecute this case in the first place?
Why didn't Judge Sam Stevens allow the jury to consider whether Mentch qualified as a medical marijuana provider?
Why does ANY JURY in Santa Cruz County EVER convict people for growing, using, or distributing medical marijuana in Santa Cruz County?????
Demand Justice for Roger Mentch!!
NO JAIL for Roger Mentch!!
May 2 - Rally for Roger Mentch at County Courthouse
Re: May 2 - A Mench recieves leinient sentencing
For the ones that don't know yet, I was sentenced to 5 days in jail, time served, and probation for 3 years. Fine reduced from 500 to 200.
The Judges instructions were that I was allowed to participate in the business I offer as long as I abide by state and local laws.
THANK YOU JUDGE STEVENSON! for listening to the people and patients in need.
Althought the outcome of the sentence was great, I am now considered a felon and can not own a gun for protection or for fun.
I did sign papers today to start the appeals process.
Peace
R-