Trial Starts Wednesday, Feb. 25 in Widely Watched Federal Medical Marijuana Case of the So-Called ‘Kettle Falls Five’

Government continues prosecution despite Congressional ban on interfering with implementation of state law

Spokane, WA –(ENEWSPF)—February 24, 2015. Trial starts Wednesday in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case from eastern Washington State known as the Kettle Falls Five. The Obama Administration is aggressively pursuing marijuana trafficking charges against a family of patients who claim to have been growing for themselves in full compliance with Washington State's medical marijuana law. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is also choosing to try them in defiance of a recent Congressional ban on DOJ interference in the implementation of state law.

Last week, the federal government agreed to dismiss charges against Larry Harvey, 71, who has been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, but fought against the dismissal of charges against the remaining four defendants. Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice denied a motion to dismiss the charges against the Kettle Falls Five based on DOJ funding restrictions established last year by Congress, however the defendants have vowed to appeal.

"The Obama Administration has so far ignored a Congressional order to stop prosecuting patients in medical marijuana states," said Kris Hermes, spokesperson with Americans for Safe Access. "With no place to turn from a vengeful federal government, the remaining Kettle Falls Five patients will be forced to rely on jurors to do the right thing and acquit." Because marijuana is illegal under federal law, the prosecution can and always does omit all evidence from trial related to medical necessity and compliance with state law.

The prosecution will likely object to any mention of the phrase "medical marijuana" being used in the courtroom for the entire trial.
The Kettle Falls Five is made up of mostly family members, including Harvey's wife Rhonda Firestack-Harvey, 56, her son Rolland Gregg, 33, daughter-in-law Michelle Gregg, 36, and friend of the family Jason Zucker, 39.

Larry and Rhonda are retired and have a home in rural Washington State near the town of Kettle Falls. In August 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raided the property and seized 44 premature marijuana plants, charging the five with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, manufacture and distribution of marijuana, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

In a cynical prosecutorial move, the DOJ is claiming that the Kettle Falls Five grew marijuana in previous years in order to charge them with cultivating more than 100 plants, which carries a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence. The government is also seeking gun charges that carry another 5-year mandatory minimum despite the fact that the guns found on Harvey's property are used for hunting and protection from wild animals. As a result, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Even though Larry Harvey's charges were dismissed, he will still be seriously impacted by the trial. Specifically, Rhonda Firestack-Harvey, if convicted, will no longer be able to care for her ailing husband whose cancer has spread to his liver. The cultivation for which Harvey's family is being tried was on his property and tended to by the couple. "If Rhonda goes to prison, I don't know who will take care of me," said Larry Harvey in a recent prepared statement. "I thought the law passed by Congress and signed by President Obama was supposed to stop the DOJ from prosecuting my family, but so far, there's been little relief."

Further information:
Congressional measure restricting DOJ enforcement in medical marijuana states
With over 50,000 active members in all 50 states, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy and services for patients and the caregivers.