Drew Carey on DEA Raids & Medical Marijuana Use by Minors
June 10th, 2008Posted by Rebecca Saltzman
reason.tv just came out with its second video on medical marijuana, featuring Drew Carey talking about one young man’s battle with cancer and use of medical marijuana. While his parents approved of his medicine, the DEA did not and shut down his local dispensary:
Owen’s parents knew the idea of giving medical marijuana to a 17-year-old strikes many people as scandalous. Local Sheriff Pat Hedges even asserts that allowing medical marijuana is “not in the best interest of a community that prides itself on providing a healthy, family environment.”
But the Becks weren’t concerned about what other people thought; they were focused on helping their son. So with a written doctor recommendation in hand, they purchased medical marijuana for their teenage son. The new medication eased Owen’s pain and nausea like nothing else had, and the Becks grew fond of Charlie Lynch, who would sometimes refuse payment because, says Steve Beck, “He was just a compassionate kind of a guy.”
But one day, Owen’s life took another abrupt turn. Federal agents and local sheriff deputies raided Charlie Lynch’s dispensary, and seized nearly everything inside, including Owen’s medicine. “He had a prescription from a doctor at Stanford, and they took his stuff!” says Debbie Beck. Federal agents cuffed Lynch, and put him behind bars. Even though state and local laws allow for it, medical marijuana is still illegal under federal law. And because he had clients like Owen who were under age 21, Charlie Lynch faces heightened penalties. In California the average first-degree murder serves 20 years behind bars; Charlie Lynch could face a sentence as long as 100 years in prison.
It’s a hard hitting video – check it out:
Charles Lynch will be facing trial this summer. We’ll be posting his court dates on on our upcoming court dates page so please check back.
Also, if you missed it, take a look at the first reason.tv video on medical marijuana, featuring ASA’s Executive Director Steph Sherer:
June 13th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I live in SLO and was a patient of Mr Lynch’s dispensary and did not know about this. Usually I’m proud to call this beautiful place home, but right now I’m ashamed of my sheriff!!!!
June 17th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I was also a patient of the Morro Bay Dispensary and always found Mr. Lynch and the entire staff at the business very compassionate and professional. What has happened to him is a travesty of justice. Sheriff Pat Hedges should be removed from office!
June 17th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Bravo! Thanks for posting this. Drew Carey is the perfect engine to get the word out.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Thank you Drew, thank you very much
we need more celebs to shove accurate into in the face of america
June 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I am very touched by this report. My late father whom was an advocate for medical pot is probably turning in his grave seeing how the federal goverment is treating this much needed medicine. I personally voted for this issue and was very proud when the bill was passed just to see that the feds were not gonna reconize this as law. This and a few other issues that i voted for yet were held up because of Federal resistance (such as indian casino’s) has made it so i do not want to vote anymore. Why just to have it over turned by the Feds. Well I am not a quitter if we all voice what is right eventually we will be heard.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:28 am
[...] month, reason.tv released a video about Charles Lynch and one of the patients he served before being raided by the DEA. Now that the [...]