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A defense expert in a medical marijuana raid gave a much smaller
estimate Monday of how much pot a Santa Rosa man's garden would
yield, contradicting the previous estimate of a sheriff's detective
who confiscated the plants.
Chris Conrad, a marijuana cultivation expert, testified that Alan
MacFarlane's garden would have yielded 3 pounds of marijuana when it
was raided on the first occasion, not the 30-60 pounds estimated by a
detective who testified last week.
Conrad, who has qualified as a court expert on more than 40
occasions, said the estimate by law enforcement was grossly
exaggerated. Under cross-examination by prosecutor Carla Claeys,
Conrad admitted he had not seen MacFarlane's plants and was basing
his estimates on photographs.
The El Cerrito author of several books, including "Hemp for Health,"
has interviewed more than 1,000 users of medical marijuana and
consults for government agencies about cannabis use. He spent all day
on the witness stand in MacFarlane's trial, the first medical
marijuana jury case in Sonoma County and one of only a few so far in
California.
MacFarlane is charged with felony cultivation even though he had his
doctor's approval to use pot under the state voter initiative that
allowed the use of medical marijuana.
Prosecutors said the amount MacFarlane was growing was much more than
he needed for his own medical needs.
On Monday, Conrad testified that the 74 plants and clones seized the
first time at MacFarlane's west Santa Rosa home in May 1999 would
have yielded between 2.1 and 3 pounds.He based his opinion on studies
conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Institute
of Drug Abuse, which conducted studies in Mississippi and published
guidelines for yield based on plant diameter.
In contrast, Detective Sgt. Rob Gordon testified last week that the
plants would have yielded between 30 and 60 pounds of dried leaves
and buds, or up to 1 pound per outdoor plant.
MacFarlane also is being prosecuted for growing an additional 36
plants found when the narcotic task force returned to his home
several months later.
Conrad called MacFarlane's plants "a very basic garden," in contrast
to the detective's description of it as sophisticated.
Newshawk: Alan Silverman
Pubdate: Tue, 24 Apr 2001
Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Press Democrat
Contact: letters@pressdemo.com
Website: Home, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Bay Area Newspaper, CA news
Details: MapInc
Author: Clark Mason
estimate Monday of how much pot a Santa Rosa man's garden would
yield, contradicting the previous estimate of a sheriff's detective
who confiscated the plants.
Chris Conrad, a marijuana cultivation expert, testified that Alan
MacFarlane's garden would have yielded 3 pounds of marijuana when it
was raided on the first occasion, not the 30-60 pounds estimated by a
detective who testified last week.
Conrad, who has qualified as a court expert on more than 40
occasions, said the estimate by law enforcement was grossly
exaggerated. Under cross-examination by prosecutor Carla Claeys,
Conrad admitted he had not seen MacFarlane's plants and was basing
his estimates on photographs.
The El Cerrito author of several books, including "Hemp for Health,"
has interviewed more than 1,000 users of medical marijuana and
consults for government agencies about cannabis use. He spent all day
on the witness stand in MacFarlane's trial, the first medical
marijuana jury case in Sonoma County and one of only a few so far in
California.
MacFarlane is charged with felony cultivation even though he had his
doctor's approval to use pot under the state voter initiative that
allowed the use of medical marijuana.
Prosecutors said the amount MacFarlane was growing was much more than
he needed for his own medical needs.
On Monday, Conrad testified that the 74 plants and clones seized the
first time at MacFarlane's west Santa Rosa home in May 1999 would
have yielded between 2.1 and 3 pounds.He based his opinion on studies
conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Institute
of Drug Abuse, which conducted studies in Mississippi and published
guidelines for yield based on plant diameter.
In contrast, Detective Sgt. Rob Gordon testified last week that the
plants would have yielded between 30 and 60 pounds of dried leaves
and buds, or up to 1 pound per outdoor plant.
MacFarlane also is being prosecuted for growing an additional 36
plants found when the narcotic task force returned to his home
several months later.
Conrad called MacFarlane's plants "a very basic garden," in contrast
to the detective's description of it as sophisticated.
Newshawk: Alan Silverman
Pubdate: Tue, 24 Apr 2001
Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Press Democrat
Contact: letters@pressdemo.com
Website: Home, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Bay Area Newspaper, CA news
Details: MapInc
Author: Clark Mason