The Friends of Charles C. Lynch report
Charles C. Lynch is the former Managing Caregiver for the City Sanctioned Dispensary in Morro Bay California. The Dispensary opened in April 2006 and operated without incident until it was raided by the DEA and the local Sheriff's Department on March 29, 2007. Lynch was not arrested during the raid. Upon return to the dispensary Lynch and his employees found a message from Law Enforcement saying 'All Hippies Die'.
The Dispensary later reopened after the City reissued Lynch's business license, but was once again shutdown after the landlord received notice of possible foreclosure by the Federal Government if the Dispensary was allowed to continue operations. The Dispensary permanently closed in May of 2007.
Lynch was later arrested on July 17, 2007 and taken to the Federal Detention Center in Los Angeles where he spent 4 days and 3 nights in Federal custody. His loving and trusting family posted $400,000 bond to free him on July 20 2007. Lynch was arraigned on August 6th 2007 and pleaded Not Guilty to Federal marijuana charges. Lynch is currently out on bail wating for trial at his home in Arroyo Grande, California.
July 20, 2007 Charles Lynch was released from Federal Detention after his family posted a $400,000 bail. He was placed under house arrest and could only leave the house during 1-5pm Monday through Friday. He was also required to wear an Electronic Monitoring System and spend two hours a day charging the bracelet. Also he was subject to surprise house searches and intensive drug testing by the Federal Pre Trial Services Department.
On December 12, 2007 Charles Lynch was placed on House Detention where he was allowed to leave the house between the hours of 6am and 10pm. He was still required to wear the Electronic Monitoring System and to spend two hours a day charging the bracelet. Also he was still subject to surprise house searches and intensive drug testing by Pre Trial Services.
On April 29, 2008 after 9 months and 10 days the House Arrest and House Detention of Charles Lynch was ended. He is still subject to surprise home searches and intensive drug testing where he has to call in everyday to see if he is required to report to drug testing the next day. Also he must report to Pre Trial Services twice a month in LA and call twice a week.
On June 11, 2008 www.reason.tv aired a documentary on Lynch's case. The documentary is narrated by Drew Carey and features one of Lynch's patients, Owen Beck. Owen was seventeen when he and his parent's came to Lynch's dispensary for services. One of Lynch's conditions for his business license from the City of Morro Bay stated that no one under 18 years of age is allowed in the dispensary unless accompanied by a parent. Owen was 17 when he visited Lynch's dispensary and suffered the amputation of his leg due to cancer. Under federal Law anybody under 21 is considered a minor. The government has charged Lynch with Distributing Marijuana to minors for cases similar to Owen's.Charles Lynch's Trial is set for July 22, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA. Click here for directions to the Federal Court House. Supporters are encouraged to attend the trial.
Thanks to Reason hit and run
To view the Drew Carey documentary on this case click here
Thank you for blogging about this. I've been organizing a peaceful protest against this injustice. Here's the info
FREE CHARLES C. LYNCH peaceful PROTEST 10/6 11am 312 N. Spring Street Los Angeles
Monday, October 6, 2008
U.S. District Courthouse
312 NORTH Spring street (at Temple St)
In downtown LA
8 am new trial hiring - courtroom 10
11 am rally in front of the courthouse
San Luis Obispo County dispensing collective operator Charles C. Lynch was raided by the DEA and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs on March 29, 2007 at Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers (CCCC) in Morro Bay, CA. Lynch stringently followed state, county and city medical cannabis regulations, and developed positive and open relationships with all top local officials. On March 29, 2007, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff called in the DEA to raid the dispensary.
On July 17, 2007, after his collective was already closed, the DEA and local sheriffs arrested Lynch on $400,000 bail, posted by his family and FACES UP TO 100 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON. Lynch was indicted for conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and concentrated cannabis, manufacturing (cultivating) more than 100 plants, knowingly maintaining a drug premises, and sales of marijuana to a person under the age of 21. Additionally, criminal forfeiture proceedings have begun on Lynch’s assets.
On August 5, 2008, in the midst of widespread media attention that highlighted DEA's actions of imprisoning innocent people to send a political message, Lynch was convicted on all counts.
Watch Drew Carey’s account of Lynch’s struggle with the federal government on Reason.tv. For more information visit http://www.friendsofccl.com to give money, assistance, and support. Or, write to Judge Wu directly and plead for Charlie's freedom. Letters of support helped Mickey Martin receive a lighter sentence, so we need to show the same support for Charles Lynch.
After the hearing, please join ASA for a rally at 11am at the federal courthouse to show support for victims of federal interference and to call for an end to raids and intimidation. We hope to have thousands of peaceful protesters there! Please mark your calendars for this important date now.**
Join patients, provider, and supporters for a peaceful protest to stand up for medical marijuana patients and providers and State law.
Help stop federal raids and indictments.
Show your support in court!
(professional attire and respectful demeanor requested)
Join the rally!
Bring: signs, banners, sunscreen, a hat, water and acoustic instruments and bring friends and loved ones to this peaceful protest for medical marijuana.
Organizers respectfully request you leave your medication at home or in your car and refrain from using medication that this event
Please medicate responsibly before or after the event. We do not want to news media to focus solely on protesters medicating. We want them to focus on our issues.
Organizations who have helped with this event:
Americans for Safe Access
Weedtracker
GLACA
Marijuana Policy Project
NORML
Love Systems
Rick Ray (who worked on the ReasonTV pieces) will be at the protest, filming for a documentary about Charles C. Lynch
ASA and GLACA (which are two different organizations) CHALLENGES dispensaries to close until 3pm and bring 20 people (staff, volunteers, patients, supporters, etc) to this protest.
Coops that have agreed to close:
Western Caregivers Group Collective
Humboldt Relief
Some dispensaries would prefer not to be listed
[More to be added as confirmations come in]
Parking:
Parking in downtown Los Angeles is difficult and expensive PLEASE CARPOOL or take PUBLIC TRANSIT. Ask your coop to organize a carpool from or near the dispensary. There is parking below the mall on Main street between Temple and Aliso St. Price unknown
The parking lot on N Spring street directly across from City Hall (between Tom Bradley Blvd and Temple) costs $16.
There is parking on N. Spring Street Arcadia and W Cesar E Chavez Ave which cost $9 but fills up fast.
There is also parking on Main street between Arcadia and W Cesar E Chavez Ave price unknown
[More info to be added]
For public transit information, visit http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/default.htm
Sign making and planning event
Saturday, Sept 20th at the
3rd annual Los Angeles County Medical Marijuana Expo & patient festival
West Hollywood Park Auditorium
647 N. San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood
This will be ASA-LA's September meeting.
Sign making at 1pm
www.LAMedMJExpo.org
Final Planning Event
Saturday, Sept 27 1pm
Patient ID Center
470 S. San Vicente Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(Cross street is Drexel, between Wilshire & 3rd St.)