4/29 in Fresno: Protest at MMJ Trial

Luke Scarmazzo, Ricardo Montes and Monica Valencia of the California
Healthcare Collective in Modesto are facing a federal trial in Fresno
beginning Tuesday April 29th. Supporters are urged to join them
there for a rally at noon (trial begins at 8 am).
- D. Gieringer, Cal NORML

>From: luke scarmazzo

>Subject: Protest Tuesday, April 29 @ 8:00am

> The reason I am sending this email is to ask for your
>assistance.(Please refer this message to any lists as well) Tuesday,
>April 29Th California Healthcare Collective starts trial. This is
>the first day the jury pool will arrive at the federal courthouse in
>Fresno (2500 Tulare Ave.) We would like there to be a protest to the
>federal prosecution of CHC as well as jury nullification information
>distributed. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated as
>far as getting volunteers and mobilizing our movement for support in
>any way.
>
>
>
>A quick update on our pretrial motions that were ruled on today. The
>good news first. For the first time in medical marijuana history,
>our compassionate use medical cannabis cards and/or doctors
>recommendations have been ruled admissible in our Federal Trial as a
>defense. Not as a legality issue but as a defense to the
>distribution charges. We are still awaiting a ruling on the motions
>to use a good faith, advise of counsel defense and to dismiss the
>continuing criminal enterprise charge which carries the 20 to life
>mandatory sentence (the ruling for those is due this Monday April
>28Th). The entrapment by estoppel and medical necessity defense were
>denied. We also have been assigned to a new judge, the Honorable
>Oliver Wanger. It was this judge that is responsible for these
>favorable rulings.
>
>
>
>Thank you in advance for ANY help you can offer on this.
>
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>
>Ricardo Montes
>
>Luke Scarmazzo
>
>Monica Valencia