http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/states.../la080708.html

News Release
August 7, 2008
Contact: SA Sarah Pullen
Public Information Officer
(213) 621-6827

I would hate for patients to call and harass her.

California Marijuana Dispensary Owner Convicted
Morro Bay resident found guilty of federal drug charges

False Statement #1: Charles Lynch does NOT live in Morro Bay.

The defendant faces a minimum of 5 years in prison after selling $2 million worth of marijuana in nine months.

Miss Leading Statement #1: Charlie Lynch did NOT make $2 million in profits. That figure does NOT reflect his business expenses, monthly lease, payroll, vendor pay outs, etc.

AUG 7 - (LOS ANGELES) - United States Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent-in-Charge, Los Angeles Field Division, Timothy J. Landrum announced today that a federal jury returned guilty verdicts late yesterday against Charles C. Lynch of Morro Bay, California.


Who are these guys? They were NOT at the trial. They must be "spin doctors" because they spun this story like Charlotte spun her web, yet the Department of Justice spins webs of false and misleading statements.


LYNCH was convicted of Conspiracy,

The conspiracy was alleged between his employees, vendors, and patients. No one else was tried for this conspiracy yet.

Possession with Intent to Distribute,


To dispense medical cannabis in California, one has to possess with intent to distribute or else it would not be a medical marijuana dispensary, duh.

Two Counts of Distribution of Marijuana to a Minor

Meaning adults under the age of 21 years of age but above 18 years old. Or if it the patient was under 18, the patient had to be accompanied by a parent.

and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises.

Again, it's difficult to dispense medical cannabis to patient without maintaining a drug premises, double duh. The word "involved", as far as I remember, was NOT used during the trial. This must be add for this article.

These charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Misleading Statement #2: The DEA fails to mention that these 5 cannabis-only charges carry a maximum of 85-100 years in prison.

Drug Enforcement Administration SAC Timothy J. Landrum said, "Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States, and more young people today are in drug treatment programs for marijuana dependency than any other drug.

[SIZE="5"]Misleading Statement #3: COMPOUND SENTENCE Special Agent Landrum mentions to misleading statistics in one sentence.

1) Marijuana is the commonly abused illicit drug. He is implying that there is a high rate of abuse of cannabis because it's widely used.

A) The Stanford Daily released a study proving that cannabis is less addictive than alcohol, heroin, and tobacco.

B) Cannabis is only illicit because the DOJ says it is. They have cannabis as a schedule 1 drug along with Heroin, Meth, and E. Cocaine is a schedule 2 drug. Schedule 1 drugs are thought BY THE DOJ to have NO medical benefit and to be highly addictive. As far as medical benefits, UC San Diego released a study proving SMOKED marijuana with moderate amounts of THC, the key therapeutic component in cannabis, helps ease neurological pain. Ask anyone suffering from neurological pain if that should be considered a medical benefit and you will hear a resounding yes.

2) The second-half of the compound relates to young people and "treatment" programs. SA Landrum fails to mention that a large majority of young people in these "drug treatment programs" was forced into the programs from the justice department for possession. The Justice department mandates this for reduced sentences. Many of these young people have NO addiction problems.

Since 1992, drug treatment admissions for marijuana dependency have risen to more than 16 percent, up from six percent.

Misleading statement #4: Of course the rate is up. The rate is so high because the DOJ creates these "treatment programs" and forces young people into so that they can say there are so many young people in the "treatment programs". They are NOT there for "dependency" issues they are required by the court to attend or face jail time. The DOJ and the DEA conveniently leave out this information because it makes it seem like there is a huge "dependency" problem in reality its just a waste of our valuable tax money.

The consequences of marijuana use extend far beyond those who abuse and traffic the drug.

Again, they focus on the word "abuse" but there is little scientific evidence to back up this "abuse" theory. The DOJ seems to abuse they authority to mislead the public into seeing cannabis inaccurate ways.

The outcome of this trial shows that marijuana distribution is a serious offense, with the possibility of long term penalties.

The outcome of this trial shows that the most devastating aspect of cannabis is the Federal mis-scheduling of cannabis as a schedule 1 drug and most dangerous aspect is when the DEA raids businesses and homes para-military, guns drawn on armless individuals like Charles Lynch. (He was naked and unarmed and forced ground at gun point when the DEA served a warrant on his home last year). The penalties for a drug are more dangerous than actually consuming the drug there's something wrong, triple duh.

DEA and our law enforcement counterparts will not turn a blind eye to flagrant disregard of our nation’s essential drug laws—laws designed to protect our citizens, communities, and children.”

By "law enforcement" he means county Sheriff's department who began its own independent investigation into Charlie Lynch's city-approved dispensary without the consent of the mayor, city attorney or local police. Once the Sheriff was unable to get a search warrant for Charles Lynch under state law they turned to the DEA to use Federal force. In coordination, the sheriff and DEA raid Mr. Lynch.

By essential, he simply aims to justify and unjust law by giving it a crucial adverb.

Charles Lynch is a productive citizen in his community. He followed ALL of the cities requirements of him. The mayor passed out her business cards to business near Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers (Mr. Lynch's business) and ask his neighbor to contact her if they had any complaints. She never heard ONE complaint the entire time he was in operation. Mr. Lynch complied with ALL 8 of the requirements on his business license. The City Attorney even testified on Charles' behalf during the trial; giving character testimony about Lynch's law-biding nature. The DEA aims to discredit Charles by acting like they are protecting citizens, communities and children from people like Charles Lynch. I want to know who is protecting California citizens, communities and children from the DEA and DOJ.

According to the United States Attorney's office, trial testimony and documentary evidence established that Lynch sold more than $2 million worth of marijuana in nine months, which included numerous sales to young people under the age of 21, many of whom were repeat customers.

Misleading Statement #5: Charles Lynch's business did the amount of business it did because it was the ONLY medical marijuana dispensary in San Luis Obispo county. Patient in SLO county would have to drive at least 20 miles away to purchase their medicine under state law.

The young people ALL OVER THE AGE OF 18 or ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT all had valid California ID, valid physician's recommendations to use medical cannabis and signed rules for before being allow to purchase marijuana. All of which was confiscated by the DEA and some of which was publicly shown during trial against Charlie Lynch's Public Defenders OBJECTIONS. They objected EVERY TIME patients privacy would be violated in court. Judge Wu overruled Charles Lynch's defense every time.

Two specific counts at trial concerned sales by the store to one of Lynch's minor employees. Receipts and the defendant’s own testimony established that the store sold marijuana to this employee numerous times and even gave the employee free marijuana on his 20th birthday.

Again, the employee was OVER the age of 18 at the time of employment and had a valid physcian's recommendation to use medical cannabis for his condition. All medicines for chronic conditions have to be purchased numerous times. Unfortunately, they do NOT come in unlimited supply. Free medicine on ones birthday is consider compassion NOT A CRIME.

The indictment and evidence at trial also showed Lynch's employees distributed marijuana on numerous occasions outside of the store, including one instance where the store's chief security officer sold more than $3,000 in marijuana to undercover officers.

This this evidence showed wrong doing by an individual other than Charles Lynch and without Lynch's knowledge. And that individual was NOT even included in the trial.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2008.

I'll be there to celebrate Charles Lynch's freedom. It's the day before my birthday.

[dorknob]

osfucating bureaucrat how this person is able to sleep at night,disgusts me.

[flylightly]

You think the DEA would enjoy an order of 1000 pizzas? I mean with all that stolen weed someone over there has to have the munchies. Ill order for them.

Originally Posted by flylightly

You think the DEA would enjoy an order of 1000 pizzas? I mean with all that stolen weed someone over there has to have the munchies. Ill order for them.

Funny you say that...I'm munching on pizza right now.