Lynn and Judy Osburn are long time medical marijuana
advocates who were using cannabis as patients protected under Prop. 215, California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996. They have been members of
the largest patient owned and operated medical marijuana cooperative in California,
the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Cooperative (LACRC), since 1997. Judy
is on the board of directors. They tended one of the two LACRC patient-owned
gardens until the DEA raid on LACRC West Hollywood headquarters in October
2001.
Judy and Lynn were arrested by the DEA on August 13, 2002 for cultivating 32
plants completely protected under state law. Judy was held in federal prison
for one month before making bail. Lynn
was held five months. They are now facing federal charges that carry five-year
mandatory minimum sentences.
Lynn and Judy Osburn’s new website www.OsburnDefenseFund.com
officially launches on Saturday, 2-15. The site is intended to bring attention
to the last case to be tried in federal court against medical marijuana
patient/providers assaulted during the Ashcroft Justice Department patient
round-up last year. All of the other cases have been decided, and all of the
other defendants were prevented from presenting a medical defense in federal
court.
Ed Rosenthal went to trial and America
was astonished to see that he was not allowed to even say why he grew the
marijuana. Many of the jurors were made sick at heart and spirit when they
realized how they were used to convict an innocent man. Since then two other
patients facing the same gag rules have been forced to take deals and plead
guilty to the federal “crime” of following California
state law. Where is the justice!
The Osburn’s case is unique among the other federal cases
against medical cannabis patients/providers in California.
LACRC worked closely with local, state, and federal officials in the
implementation of Prop. 215. Lynn and Judy fully disclosed everything thing
they did under Prop. 215, including paying state and federal
income taxes.
The feds have seized Lynn and Judy’s ranch home of 26 years
and are bankrupting them, giving them no quarter in this Ashcroftian attempt to
destroy American compassion for the sick, and a sovereign state’s right to make
its own laws protecting the health and safety of its citizens. If the Bush
administration succeeds here there will be no more state sovereignty in the USA,
no more compassion: only a jack-booted tyranny ushering in a new Dark Age for
all Americans.
On April 7th the Osburn’s attorneys will argue
precedent-setting motions that will determine how much of the truth will be
allowed into federal court.
