Who? <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BkMRjBauvPI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BkMRjBauvPI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> This Monday, March 23 we will learn what the federal government will do with Charlie Lynch. Will he get the mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison? Will he spend the rest of his life behind bars? But what about Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement that dispensaries will now have to violate both federal and state law before the feds will target them? Great news, but it could be too late for Lynch, which kicks the outrage meter up a few more clicks. To review: Lynch operated his dispensary in accordance with state and local law (remember, even his mayor attended his ribbon-cutting ceremony). San Louis Obispo County Sheriff Pat Hedges staked out Lynch's dispensary for nearly the entire first year of operation. He was just itching to find some state-level violation to pin on Lynch, but he couldn't--which is why he invited the feds to raid Lynch's home and dispensary. And now what do we hear from Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for Thomas P. O'Brien, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles? "In every single case we have prosecuted, the defendants violated state as well as federal law," Mrozek said. How interesting, because during the entire trial Lynch's attorneys did everything they could to appeal to state law, but each time they got their hands slapped because, as they were reminded again and again, state law is irrelevant in federal court. Sentencing is set for 10:30 am at the Federal Courthouse, 312 Spring Street, LA, CA (Judge Wu's courtroom). All are encouraged to attend.
