Letter from Bryan Epis in Prison
Bryan wrote this for the NORML conerence but it not get to us until it was too late. I told him I would pass it along to everyone. -Steph Sherer
Statement from Bryan Epis for the NORML conference.
This is a message from Bryan Epis. I'd like to thank everyone here today, but unfortunately I'm in federal prison for the federal crime of "conspiracy to follow California's medical marijuana law", and "conspiracy to open a medical cannabis dispensary in the ciry of San Jose after the San Jose Planning Department gave me a set of rules to open a dispensary, and after consulting with the San Jose Police."
I wrote a 17-page proposal for the city of San Jose. At trial, the prosecution was allowed to enter into evidence 2 pages of this proposal to show that I planned to eventually grow over 1000 plants according to San Jose guidelines. I wasn't allowed to enter into evidence the other 15 pages that show that I was following state and local laws. The prosecutor was allowed to slander me by saying I was only profit-motivated, when the other 15 pages showed that my true motive was to open a non-profit dispensary to help sick and dying citizens obtain medicine in a safe environment at an affordable cost. I also helped open a dispensary in Chico, and allowed 4 other patients, two of whom have since died from cancer, to grow at my house. As a result, I was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. It was a quintesential kangaroo court, just like Ed Rosenthal's trial.
After I was arrested, I avoided the limelight. That was a mistake, as becuase of that, many of you don't know mw, although you've probably heard of my case.
When I'm liberated, I'd like to meet everyone here today, and someday this will be a reality. In fact, it can be a reality very soon with your help.
A new bill was recently introduced in the US House of Representatives by Sam Farr. My 9-year-old daughter, Ashley Epis, who was recently featured on billboards throughout California urging Compassion, Not Federal Prison for people following state medical marijuana laws, was there in Washington DC to help Sam Farr introduce this bill, along with Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access, Valerie Corral of the Wo/Men's Compassionate Cooperative of Santa Cruz, and Marney Craig, one of the jurors in Ed Rosenthal's tiral. My case, Ed's case, and the raid on Mike and Valerie Corral's cooperative inspired Mr. Farr to introduce this bill. If this bill is passed and signed into law, Ed Rosenthal and I will get a new trial, and this time we can't lose, because all the evidence will be presented before the jurors. Of course this will also help the scores of other medical marijuana victims of DEA terrorists get a fair trial as well. State medical marijuana laws will be respected by the federal government.
I urge everyone here to please do everything in your power to get as many people as possible in the next year to write Congress. Although I believe that either my appeal, Ed's appeal, or the OCBC appeal will eventually prevail in the Supreme Court, we can't stand by and do nothing and hope this is the case. I've left fliers outside this conference that I hope you can all distribute at a minimum to all your friends and relatives and plead to them to follow through and write their Congressional representatives. Please help me, Ed Rosenthal, Lynn and Judy Osburn, Robert Schmidt, and others by spending as much time as possible to get others to write their House or Senate Representatives. You have the power to make this bill become law. You could distribute these flyers to owners of small businesses you know, and ask them to pass them out to customers, pass them out at malls and grocery stores. You can ask organizations such as the ACLU and Nurses Associations to ask their members to write Congress. You can think of other great ideas to spread the message. 87% of Americans disagree with what the federal government is doing, so 87% of people you speak to will be receptive to you. With your help I'll be able to attend the next NORML conference. I hope to see you all next year.
Thank you, from Bryan Epis
Info about the bill: safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=394
Write your congress person: safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=356
Bryan Epis was sentenced to a 10 year mandatory minimum sentence in federal prison for growing medical cannabis for a dispensary in California. The Epis case is the subject of this CSDP public service ad. Also, read these letters from Bryan to the American public and learn of his experiences so far.
How FIJA Saved My Life!
Fully Informed Jury Association
Erowid Freedom Vault : Jury Nullification
Trial by jury Cato Institute
The History of Jury Nullification! --International Society for Individual Liberty
Bryan wrote this for the NORML conerence but it not get to us until it was too late. I told him I would pass it along to everyone. -Steph Sherer
Statement from Bryan Epis for the NORML conference.
This is a message from Bryan Epis. I'd like to thank everyone here today, but unfortunately I'm in federal prison for the federal crime of "conspiracy to follow California's medical marijuana law", and "conspiracy to open a medical cannabis dispensary in the ciry of San Jose after the San Jose Planning Department gave me a set of rules to open a dispensary, and after consulting with the San Jose Police."
I wrote a 17-page proposal for the city of San Jose. At trial, the prosecution was allowed to enter into evidence 2 pages of this proposal to show that I planned to eventually grow over 1000 plants according to San Jose guidelines. I wasn't allowed to enter into evidence the other 15 pages that show that I was following state and local laws. The prosecutor was allowed to slander me by saying I was only profit-motivated, when the other 15 pages showed that my true motive was to open a non-profit dispensary to help sick and dying citizens obtain medicine in a safe environment at an affordable cost. I also helped open a dispensary in Chico, and allowed 4 other patients, two of whom have since died from cancer, to grow at my house. As a result, I was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. It was a quintesential kangaroo court, just like Ed Rosenthal's trial.
After I was arrested, I avoided the limelight. That was a mistake, as becuase of that, many of you don't know mw, although you've probably heard of my case.
When I'm liberated, I'd like to meet everyone here today, and someday this will be a reality. In fact, it can be a reality very soon with your help.
A new bill was recently introduced in the US House of Representatives by Sam Farr. My 9-year-old daughter, Ashley Epis, who was recently featured on billboards throughout California urging Compassion, Not Federal Prison for people following state medical marijuana laws, was there in Washington DC to help Sam Farr introduce this bill, along with Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access, Valerie Corral of the Wo/Men's Compassionate Cooperative of Santa Cruz, and Marney Craig, one of the jurors in Ed Rosenthal's tiral. My case, Ed's case, and the raid on Mike and Valerie Corral's cooperative inspired Mr. Farr to introduce this bill. If this bill is passed and signed into law, Ed Rosenthal and I will get a new trial, and this time we can't lose, because all the evidence will be presented before the jurors. Of course this will also help the scores of other medical marijuana victims of DEA terrorists get a fair trial as well. State medical marijuana laws will be respected by the federal government.
I urge everyone here to please do everything in your power to get as many people as possible in the next year to write Congress. Although I believe that either my appeal, Ed's appeal, or the OCBC appeal will eventually prevail in the Supreme Court, we can't stand by and do nothing and hope this is the case. I've left fliers outside this conference that I hope you can all distribute at a minimum to all your friends and relatives and plead to them to follow through and write their Congressional representatives. Please help me, Ed Rosenthal, Lynn and Judy Osburn, Robert Schmidt, and others by spending as much time as possible to get others to write their House or Senate Representatives. You have the power to make this bill become law. You could distribute these flyers to owners of small businesses you know, and ask them to pass them out to customers, pass them out at malls and grocery stores. You can ask organizations such as the ACLU and Nurses Associations to ask their members to write Congress. You can think of other great ideas to spread the message. 87% of Americans disagree with what the federal government is doing, so 87% of people you speak to will be receptive to you. With your help I'll be able to attend the next NORML conference. I hope to see you all next year.
Thank you, from Bryan Epis
Info about the bill: safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=394
Write your congress person: safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=356
Bryan Epis was sentenced to a 10 year mandatory minimum sentence in federal prison for growing medical cannabis for a dispensary in California. The Epis case is the subject of this CSDP public service ad. Also, read these letters from Bryan to the American public and learn of his experiences so far.
How FIJA Saved My Life!
Fully Informed Jury Association
Erowid Freedom Vault : Jury Nullification
Trial by jury Cato Institute
The History of Jury Nullification! --International Society for Individual Liberty
