A jury found patient Joe Kidwell guilty of cultivating 14 marijuana plants to treat arthritis and chronic pain. Kidwell possessed recommendations to use the drug from several area physicians, two of whom testified at his trial. Kidwell's attorneys are appealing his conviction, stating that the jury misunderstood the state's medical marijuana law, and that the judge's terms of probation violate the First Amendment.

"This was an illegal conviction," charged Ron Richards, one of Kidwell's attorneys. "A medical patient with a written doctor's recommendation is exempt from the ... laws that he was charged under. He has four written doctor recommendations and two [doctors] who testified on his behalf."

NORML Foundation's Dean agreed. "The jury decided to ignore the law and unlawfully substitute its judgment for that of the expert medical doctors who testified at trial," he said. "The judge's actions allowing Mr. Kidwell to be convicted of using marijuana while simultaneously giving him permission to use marijuana are irreconcilable."

Judge Albert Matthews also ordered Kidwell to cease all operations at the First Hemp Bank Distribution Network, a Venice "buyers' club" that distributes medical marijuana to patients who possess a doctor's recommendation.

For more information, please contact Tom Dean, Esq. of The NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751.