Montana Marijuana Caregivers Shown Compassion By Federal Judge

When federal agents started raiding Montana marijuana collectives and hydroponic grow stores that supplied many marijuana growers around Montana this past year… the long lasting mental effects – as well as legal ramification – for individuals in the marijuana business appeared dire.

On the surface of the charges they faced compulsory minimum prison sentences for cannabis seeds production with a minimum of 5 years of imprisonment on some charges… and with a maximum penalty of 4 DECADES!… 40 YEARS, as well as fines varying all the way up to $5 million.

Strange thing is – thus far the sentences passed down to date have been substantially shorter than was originally threatened by the Fed’s, varying anywhere from 6  to 18 months.

As well as in one situation where lawyers negotiated sentencing recommendations of 24-30 months for three males then a federal judge in Helena cut in half the minimum time required, sentencing them rather to one year. Senior Judge Charles Lovell belittled the recommendations as “excessive,” making particular mention of the fact that the 3 males, who operated marijuana seed dispensaries and marijuana grow shops in Helena and Great Falls, thought that they were compliant  and legal under Montana state law.

John Masterson of Montana NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws).states the despite the fact of the “light sentences” their terms and fines “will still be pretty burdensome” .

He went on to mention that  any prison time to be served by people that thought that they were only following state medical marijuana laws and insead now face huge forfeitures of cash and property is outragous.