1/26: Sonoma MMJ Coop Sues for Return of Medicine

Sonoma County Americans for Safe Access

News Advisory: January 24, 2006

Sonoma Medical Marijuana Co-op, Cleared on All Charges
Sues for Return of Confiscated Medicine
Hearing this Thursday, 9 am, Santa Rosa

WHAT: Medical marijuana 'return of property' hearing, with supporters,
defendants, and their attorney available for interview afterwards.
WHEN: Thursday, January 26th, 2006 at 9am
WHERE: Sonoma County Courthouse, 600 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa
WHY: Shawn Pina, a 41 year old AIDS patient and a caregiver-operator of
Marvin's Garden's, a Guerneville medical marijuana cooperative, and his
father, will be suing in county court to have all the medical marijuana
returned that was confiscated March 1, 2005 by Sonoma County sheriffs.

SANTA ROSA - This Thursday, Sonoma medical marijuana caregivers and patients
will again argue that California law enforcement is obligated to return
their lawful medical marijuana to them. The County Sheriff has refused to
return their confiscated medical marijuana, although the other confiscated
property was eventually returned.

Shawn Pina, a 41 year old AIDS patient and a caregiver-operator of Marvin's
Garden's, a Guerneville medical marijuana cooperative, and his father, were
cleared of all charges after their March 1, 2005 arrest by Sonoma County
sheriffs. The county determined that the medical marijuana found was all
produced for Marvin's Gardens, a licensed cooperative in operation since
1999, currently the longest consistently open dispensary in the county.

The facility has struggled to stay open and continue serving their
patient-members, despite the considerable hardship caused by the raids and
the subsequent loss of all the fresh plants and dried matter. Their
attorney, Bill Panzer, will argue to the court that the medicine was
obtained, stored, and cultivated lawfully, and therefore must be returned.

Shawn Pina stated, "Our garden was under the state limit and the raid was
inconsistent with previous (county) policy. I am a 41 year old crippled AIDS
patient who under my state's mandate has a right grow my own medicine and to
help others receive this medicine - I have broken no laws."

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Rebecca Saltzman
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
p (510) 251-1856
f (510) 251-2036
http://www.safeaccessnow.org