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Indybay Feature

Medical Marijuana Prisoner Released!

by ASA
Keith Alden, who has served more than a year in
Federal prison for a conviction of cultivating
marijuana was released on bail pending appeal on
Thursday night from Federal Prison Camp Sheridan. He
had to come up with his own money for the bus trip to
his home in Sonoma County.
Keith Alden, who has served more than a year in
Federal prison for a conviction of cultivating
marijuana was released on bail pending appeal on
Thursday night from Federal Prison Camp Sheridan. He
had to come up with his own money for the bus trip to
his home in Sonoma County.

The 9th Circuit court heard Keith's appeal on Feb. 2,
2004. Appellate Judges Alfred T. Goodwin, A. Wallace
Tashima and Richard R. Clifton ruled that the case was
vacated and deferred pending the issue of the mandates
on two cases: U.S. v. Stewart, No. 02-10318, and
Raich v. Ashcroft, 03-15481. The motion to grant
appeal was filed Feb. 25, 2004 and was granted by the
Judges Alfred T. Goodwin, A. Wallace Tashima and
Richard R. Clifton on March 23, 2004. Keith was
notified 9 days later on April 1, 2004 (of course, 9
days more funding for the warden and prison guards for
this prisoner).
After Keith realized this was no April Fool's Joke, he
packed his legal research and writings in some boxes,
was escorted out the front door of the camp, and he
found his way to a bus and the way home.

Keith sends his thanks to all of you who sent good
wishes his way, who supported him by their presence at
his hearings, and who wrote him letters. He thanks
Angel Raich and Diane Monson and their lawyers for
presenting a convincing argument on the fed's lack of
jurisdiction in intrastate commerce. He leaves two
buddies behind, Tom Kikuchi and Kevin Gage, who are
serving time for being handed over to the DEA by a
rogue SF cop, even though DA Hallinan promised no bust
under his watch for cultivating medical marijuana.
Tom called to his mate Stephanie (who is waiting to
serve time when Tom is let out so she can care for the
children) and told her of Keith's being let out. She
called me and I then called Keith's mom. Yeah for
continued communication with prisoners of conscience!

I am attaching the latest essay Keith and I have
finished on Common Sense Law - The Controlled
Substance Act. It is in pdf format. You can also
order it from us at commonsenselaw [at] yahoo.com.

Rejoice, one of our own is free. We pray for many
more of these victories.

Ken Norton

p.s. We have secured the URL http://www.CommonSenseLaw.com,
so keep it mind to check out in the near future. We
will be adding more parts of Common Sense Law to the site.
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