In March of this year, U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. announced a change in the federal medicinal marijuana procedure. He said that the Justice Department did not plan on prosecuting legal marijuana dispensaries. In light of these changes, Lynch’s attorney, Reuven Cohen, said his client’s sentencing would likely be the last prosecution case against a dispensary owner. His sentencing day came earlier this year. On June 11, U.S. District Judge George Wu sentenced Lynch to a year and one day in federal prison for operating a medical marijuana dispensary. Lynch said the prison term was a small victory because he could have been given five years or more. After his sentencing, Lynch was greeted outside the court by crowd of well-wishers who erupted into applause, hailing the one-year prison sentence as a victory. “I like to compare my case to the Vietnam War.” Lynch told Kush LA. “Essentially there are no winners. The federal government, although they have convicted me, did not make the example out of me like they were trying to do.” Lynch said he not only abided by those city and state rules, but he also received a blessing to operate from city officials. He also registered with the local Chamber of Commerce. During the trial, the City Attorney Rob Schultz testified on behalf of Lynch, saying he complied with the Morro Bay regulations while in business for a year. While Lynch’s case was being played out in court, there was a shift in federal policy. In March of this year, U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. announced a change in the federal medicinal marijuana procedure. He said that the Justice Department did not plan on prosecuting legal marijuana dispensaries. In light of these changes, Lynch’s attorney, Reuven Cohen, said his client’s sentencing would likely be the last prosecution case against a dispensary owner. “I think we’re going to come back here in about a year, maybe about a year and change, and have another trial,” said Reuven Cohen to reporters outside of the courthouse on June 11. “I think the matter might be moot at that time. Because I really think you’re now looking at, if not the last, certainly the penultimate, maybe next to last, third to last medical marijuana dispensary prosecution in the United States.” Continued on page 28
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