SKOWHEGAN: Marijuana advocate acquitted
SKOWHEGAN — Longtime marijuana advocate Donald Christen was acquitted Thursday in Superior Court on cultivation and furnishing charges, convincing a jury that his pot is for medical purposes.

Citing the state’s medical marijuana law passed nearly a decade ago, Justice William Anderson told jurors that Christen, organizer of the annual Hempstock festivals and founder of Maine Vocals, met the criteria for medical marijuana under the statute, [his lawyer, Walter] McKee said.

McKee said the case could set a precedent in Maine, where medical marijuana legislation was brought by citizen initiative in 1999.

“I think it’s precedent setting in that it’s the first case that I’m aware of that went to trial in which the affirmative defense was raised,” he said. “It’s the first I’ve heard of and I’ve certainly been around the mill.”

Christen, 55, of Madison, faced a possible five years in prison had he been convicted on the felony charge of aggravated furnishing. He was charged additionally with aggravated cultivation, both stemming from his arrest in October 2007.

The charges were aggravated because of Christen’s previous marijuana charges.

Under Maine law, someone can legally cultivate, distribute or possess marijuana for medical use if specified medical conditions exist, a point with which District Attorney Evert Fowle takes issue.

“This whole medical marijuana law; we need to go back to the drawing board. We need to first have a discussion as to whether there is any medical viability of marijuana.”

He said the medical viability of marijuana has not been proven. Most medical professionals, Fowle said, say there is very little medical viability for marijuana compared to other available treatments.

No, Mr. Fowle, we do not need to go back to the drawing board.  The medical viability of marijuana has been proven anecdotally by hundreds of thousands of patients in thirteen states over twelve years now.  Numerous health organizations approve of marijuana’s medical use and dozens of studies back them up.

The ones who need to go back to the drawing board are the police officers and district attorneys who can’t seem to understand that when the people of a state make a law, it’s their job to enforce it, not question it.