MMJ TRIAL, Day 2

The Monica Ginn trial proceeded today in Olympia. Monica was barred from
using the medical defense, as expected. Unexpectedly, the prosecutor asked
questions that opened up lines of testimony that clearly alluded to medical
marijuana. The term "medical marijuana" was even used in testimony, and
several jurors wrote it down on their pads. The judge removed the jurors
from the courtroom 4 separate times so attorneys could discuss the line of
questioning before continuing. In all, a show was made to cover up the
issue of medical marijuana, and it seems that many of the jury must have
understood that they were not hearing the full story. In fact, Judge Mcphee
confronted a reporter for the Olympian newspaper in the courtroom, vowing to
instruct the jury against reading the newspaper before reaching a verdict.

Most of the afternoon was taken up by deliberations on the prosecutor's
request for an added school zone enhancement that could add another two
years to the sentence of this victimized marijuana patient. The marijuana
patient could be sentenced to a total of 7 years in state prison for using
marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.

Jury deliberations begin again tomorrow at 9 AM in courtroom 229 of Building
2 of the Olympia Courthouse on Lakeridge Drive SW.



Review:

Monica Ginn is a licensed ethnobotanist and a qualified medical marijuana
patient. She was also a qualified caregiver to a multiple sclerosis patient
when she notified state authorities that she possessed 25 small marijuana
plants. She told the arresting officers that she was qualified under the
law, but she was put in jail for many months. After over a year of legal
wrangling, months after her MS patient died, Monica's case went to trial,
on Monday January 12th, 2004.

Following Jury Selection, Judge Mcphee heard arguments and testimony on the
use and cultivation of medical marijuana from medical experts, including a
medical scientist studying marijuana at the University of Washington. The
doctors, lawyers, and marijuana experts gave testimony on the most important
factors for determining medical marijuana patient use to satisfy the court's
demand for dosage information. Along with that huge amount of data, the
Judge was also treated to a very strong verbal confirmation of Monica's
medical authorization by her recommending physician. After an entire
afternoon of testimony, Judge Mcphee granted the state's request to deny
Monica the medical defense. The Judge clearly disregarded her doctor's
testimony. Judge Mcphee decided that his authority to limit Monica's
defense is superior to the recommendation of her doctor under a law enacted
by the people of Washington State. Judge Mcphee is, in effect, practicing
medicine without a license.



The Lifevine Foundation
provides public education
and legal assistance for
medical marijuana patients
in Washington State.

Find us at:

http://www.cannabismd.org