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Lakeport, CA -- A Vietnam War veteran who said he suffered from a host of medical problems has been found innocent of growing marijuana for sale. A jury on Thursday acquitted Charles Lepp, 46, who was accused of growing 131 marijuana plants in his yard. Lepp testified that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic back pain, skin cancer, degenerative arthritis and manic depression. He said a doctor had authorized him to use marijuana to ease his pain. Prosecutors contended the marijuana that could be harvested from the 3-foot to 4-foot high plants far outstripped his needs. Lepp told investigators that he planned to give anything he didn't need to a friend. Deputy District Attorney Fred Raper also argued that Lepp did not have a doctor's authorization. Lepp's was the first medical marijuana case taken to trial in either Lake or Mendocino County since the 1996 approval of Proposition 215, which sought to legalize cultivation and use of marijuana to treat medical ailments. Copyright 1998 Contra Costa (California) Newspapers Inc. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 and The Berne Convention on Literary and Artistic Works, Article 10, news clippings are made available without profit for research and educational purposes. |
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