Ways you can help Charles C Lynch:

I wanted to thank you for showing interest in Charles Lynch's federal cannabis case. I'm doing everything to get the word out about this travesty and to get people involved.

Charles Lynch was convicted of 5 cannabis-only offenses in Federal court 2 weeks ago and faces upto 100 years in federal prison for operating a medical marijuana dispensary even though his dispensary followed all his business license requirements, city regulations, county restrictions and state laws. This grave injustice happened because cannabis is a schedule one drug under federal law. The jury was forbidden to hear any evidence about medical marijuana or state law and was instructed to come to a verdict solely on Federal law.

I first heard about Charles Lynch on Drew Carey's ReasonTV piece*. It's a sad video, so be warned. About a month ago, I was at a "Know Your Rights" training put on by Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and was informed Charles Lynch's trial was being held in LA that following week. I decided to show up because I was told dependent appreciate all the patient support they can get in court.
*reason.tv/video/show/413.html

I had never met Charles Lynch before but because I am a medical cannabis patient myself and rely on people like Charles Lynch to get my medicine, I decided to show up in court and give all the support I could. I truly believe no one deserves to spend the rest of their life behind bars for helping patients with their medical cannabis needs.

That night, after the ASA meeting, I visited Charlie's website* and emailed** Charles Lynch to tell him I was going to attend court and I got back a very gracious note from him indicating his gratitude and interest in meeting me.
*www.friendsofccl.com/index.html
**ccl@friendsofccl.com


After that, I contacted the LA Times (articles 1*, 2**, 3***, 4****) CNN*****, NPR******, KCRW*******, Stop the Drug Wars.com********, and other local and national news organizations.

During the trial, I created a list of things people could do to help Charles Lynch like: donating to Charlie*; calling or emailing Charlie**; thanking the media outlets*** who had already covered the story; showing up to the trial, etc. The items and the list were not much but they were what I could come up with and I, myself, donated, and showed up to the federal court for all two weeks of the trial.
*www.friendsofccl.com/donate.htm
**www.friendsofccl.com/contact.htm
***www.friendsofccl.com/news.htm

I met Charles Lynch the first day of jury selection. He's a mild-mannered, soft-spoken and compassionate man. He was with his mother and sister. His sister stayed for the entire trial but his mother had to return to New Mexico because another one of her sons had to go through cancer surgery. The family has been hit hard by emotional and financial burdens most recently.

During this time I also met with the offices of all three of my Congresswomen (yes, all my congressional representatives are female). I spoke to them about the affects of Federal drug policies on individuals and communities in California and I urged them to support John Conyers Letter* to the DEA and Barney Frank's resolutions HR 5842** (medical cannabis rescheduling) and HR 5843 (personal cannabis use bill).
*www.safeaccessnow.org/downloa...tter.pdf
** www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php
***www.house.gov/frank/hr5843summary.html

I also educated them about the history and science of cannabis since a lot of what Congress knows comes from the Office for National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and by Congressional law that White House department can provide misinformation*. Title VII Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 (H11225) section 12** allows the Drug Czar to lie about the scientific facts regarding cannabis.
*blogs.salon.com/0002762/st...dByLaw.html
**www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/abo...html


I've come up with a list of how You can help Charles Lynch:


~ I am planning a protest for 10/6 which is the next day Charlie will be in the Federal Courthouse in Downtown LA. Court support will start at 8am and rally will begin at 11am. The courthouse is located at 312 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles. Protesters are encouraged to bring acoustic instruments to the rally. Americans for Safe Access (ASA)* , Marijuana project policy (MPP)**, and National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) will be helping plan and organize this event. WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND.
*www.safeaccessnow.org/
**www.mpp.org/
***norml.org/


~ Email Charles*
*www.friendsofccl.com/contact.htm



~ Donations*. Charles Lynch has been unable to find work since the DEA and Local Sheriffs department violently raided his home and business. If everyone donated a $1 that would be helpful. If people can afford more that's great. I know one senior-citizen medical-cannabis patient who donated $50 because she knew she wasn't going to be able to physical support as much as she wants to.
*www.friendsofccl.com/donate.htm


~ Offer Charles a job. He's a software engineer by trade and lives in San Luis Obispo county.



~ Write Judge Wu and plead for Charlie's freedom. Supporters who wish to write a letter of support regarding sentencing should use the Letter salutation "Dear Judge Wu" and then send the letter to: Reuven Cohen Federal Public Defender at 321 East 2nd Street Los Angeles, CA 90012-4702. A sample outline can be found on Charlie's website*. I've written 3 letters myself (I had 2 other patients sign one of those letters each). And I'm continuing to write letters.
*
www.friendsofccl.com/index.html



~contact the media to tell them about this story and let them know how you feel.




~contact your congress people. E-mail, phone, write, and visit your Senators and your House of Representatives. If you don't know who your House of Representatives Congress member is go to www.house.gov and put your zip code +4 in the upper left-hand corner. if you don't know who your Senators are go to www.senate.gov. You can even visit your congress member's offices fairly close to your own home because they have satellite offices throughout their districts. Contacting Congress is vital because laws change in Congress and the only reason why the DEA and federal prosecutors are allowed to do what they're doing is because of a federal law; that law needs to be changed.




~ Pray for Charlie's freedom and for Judge Wu to use divine justice.




~ Spread the word about Charles Lynch and the protest. Talk to family, friends, associates, co-workers, classmates, schoolmates, roommates, lovers, anyone who will listen. Ask them what they think about the situation. If they don't know that much, inform them. Forward this email to everyone on your email list. Repost this on facebook, myspace, craigslist, live journal, blogspot, and any other website or forum you frequent.




~ Thank those that have been fighting for justice in this situation.




~ Join organizations like Americans for Safe Access, Marijuana Policy Project, NORML, etc. These organizations are making changes in legislation so people like Charles Lynch do not have to suffer at the hands of the Federal government.


LINKS to above articles:
*www.latimes.com/news/local...18930.story
**www.latimes.com/news/local...92714.story
*** www.latimes.com/news/local...16054.story
****www.latimes.com/news/print...32017.story
*****www.cnn.com/video/#/vide...ana.trial.cnn
******www.npr.org/templates/pl...iaPlayer.html
*******www.kcrw.com/news/progra...te_and_feder
********stopthedrugwar.org/chronicl...ical_mari