Posted on 03/13/2013 in Medical Marijuana Patient Stories
California state law declares that medical marijuana patients are permitted to cultivate as many cannabis plants as is medically necessary to sustain adequate medicinal treatment. Dennis and Deborah Little, two elderly medical marijuana patients in their 60’s believed they were following state guidelines. After all, they both suffer from debilitating and chronic illnesses and are medical marijuana patients. Deborah Little is in fact terminal and uses medicinal marijuana to alleviate her pain.
But unfortunately for the Little’s, the DEA and San Diego Sheriff’s Department have refused to acknowledge the Littles’ rights under state law. During the fall months of September and October 2012, San Diego Sheriff’s Department helicopters patrolled the rural land of San Diego county looking for large grow operations acting incongruently with state law. However, the joined efforts by the DEA and its costly “marijuana eradication” efforts no longer made it a state operation but instead a federal operation. Under Federal Law, marijuana is considered an extremely dangerous and addictive substance and the cultivation of just 1 cannabis plant can land a citizen in jail for 5 years.
But unfortunately for the Little’s, the DEA and San Diego Sheriff’s Department have refused to acknowledge the Littles’ rights under state law. During the fall months of September and October 2012, San Diego Sheriff’s Department helicopters patrolled the rural land of San Diego county looking for large grow operations acting incongruently with state law. However, the joined efforts by the DEA and its costly “marijuana eradication” efforts no longer made it a state operation but instead a federal operation. Under Federal Law, marijuana is considered an extremely dangerous and addictive substance and the cultivation of just 1 cannabis plant can land a citizen in jail for 5 years.
A Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the Little’s cannabis garden from the helicopter and immediately filed for a search warrant to raid the property. No due diligence or prior contact was established to determine if the Littles were legal medical marijuana patients. Instead, the department called in DEA, and on October 17, 2012 at approximately 5:30 am, a small platoon of DEA Agents armed with assault weapons busted through the walls of the Littles’ residence to execute the warrant.
Despite their poor health, the Littles’ were still handcuffed and subjected to police interrogation techniques. After several hours, the agents dug up and destroyed all of their medicine plants. On November 27, 2012, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis filed felony criminal charges against Mr. and Mrs. Little. Denied the medicine that provides them relief, the Littles must now fight a criminal prosecution for exercising their rights under California State law.
Despite their poor health, the Littles’ were still handcuffed and subjected to police interrogation techniques. After several hours, the agents dug up and destroyed all of their medicine plants. On November 27, 2012, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis filed felony criminal charges against Mr. and Mrs. Little. Denied the medicine that provides them relief, the Littles must now fight a criminal prosecution for exercising their rights under California State law.
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