The Federal Government Wants Those Eastern Washington Medical Marijuana Growers in Jail Right Now

In a federal courtroom last week, onlookers were silent as a court clerk read a verdict that almost entirely exonerated an Eastern Washington family—the "Kettle Falls Five"—that was facing 10 years in prison for growing marijuana they said was simply for personal, medical use. But the crowd of friends and activists couldn't stay quiet any longer when a federal prosecutor asked the court to detain one of the defendants until her sentencing, scheduled for three months later. A few people gasped. One whispered, "Are you kidding me?"

A jury had just found the three defendants—whom I wrote this feature about—guilty of growing fewer than 100 marijuana plants, but not guilty on the more serious and dangerous charges that carried mandatory minimum prison sentences, including distribution and owning a gun "in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime." Yet the government still wanted to lock them up right away.

The judge wasn't having it. He told the feds to submit the request in writing and he'd deal with it later. Now, the prosecution has done that and is asking the court to lock up all three of the defendants—including Rhonda Harvey, who is caring for her 71-year-old husband as he battles late-stage pancreatic cancer—because they're a flight risk. Prosecutors also claim Harvey wrongly e-mailed a government witness (Jason Zucker, a family friend who had been a defendant until he cut a deal with the government) before the trial began. Harvey and her lawyers say she only e-mailed Zucker's wife—not a violation of the rules—saying she was disappointed he'd taken a plea and would be testifying against the family.

Read the rest at: http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/03/11/21865342/the-federal-government-wants-those-eastern-washington-medical-marijuana-growers-in-jail-right-now