ASA in the News

Family guilty of growing pot; acquitted of other charges

Paul Marini | March 03, 2015

Trevor Hughes, USA Today Federal jurors on Tuesday convicted a family of growing marijuana on their property, but acquitted them of the more serious charges they faced in what legalization advocates called an important win for medical cannabis users.

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Lawyers Make Closing Arguments, Verdict Expected Soon in Eastern Washington Medical Marijuana Case

Paul Marini | March 03, 2015

Heidi Groover, The Stranger After nearly four days of questioning witnesses and showing dozens of photos and videos, lawyers in the case of the so-called "Kettle Falls Five" made their closing arguments Monday afternoon. The government will get one more...

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Federal jury acquits family on 4 of 5 pot charges in Washington state

Paul Marini | March 03, 2015

Ryan Parker, Los Angeles Times A marijuana-growing family in Washington state was acquitted Tuesday on most of the federal charges against them, but convicted of one count that reportedly could put them behind bars for five years.

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The three defendants in the Kettle Falls case could face mandatory sentences of ten years in prison, if convicted

Paul Marini | March 03, 2015

Steve Jackson, Northwest Public Radio The case of a northeast Washington family accused of growing and selling marijuana has gone to the jury in a federal trial in Spokane.

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Washington Medical Marijuana Trial Ends With Acquittal On All But 1 Charge

Paul Marini | March 03, 2015

Matt Ferner, Huffington Post A family of medical marijuana patients who say they grew cannabis for personal use were acquitted on four of five federal drug charges Tuesday by a jury in Washington state.

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Medical marijuana trial pits state vs. federal laws

Paul Marini | March 01, 2015

Trevor Hughes, USA Today Federal prosecutors are trying to persuade a jury that a cancer-stricken man and his family were illegally growing and distributing marijuana in the forest outside their northeastern Washington home despite claims by the "Kettle Falls Five"...

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Trial Begins in Federal Court for Marijuana Grow Operation in Eastern Washington

Paul Marini | February 26, 2015

Steve Jackson, Northwest Public Radio The trial began Wednesday in federal court in Spokane for a group of people accused of growing marijuana near Kettle Falls in northeast Washington. The case is seen as a test of federal drug laws,...

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Federal Trial Begins Against Family That Grew Medical Marijuana

Paul Marini | February 25, 2015

Matt Ferner, Huffington Post A high-profile federal trial began Wednesday for three family members and a close family friend who have been charged with illegally possessing and distributing medical marijuana, among other offenses. If convicted, the defendants face minimum mandatory...

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Medical Marijuana Patients In California Are Being Denied Organ Transplants, But That Could Soon Change

Paul Marini | February 24, 2015

Carly Schwartz, Huffington Post Justin Turley has suffered from cirrhosis, a degenerative liver disorder that keeps him in near-constant pain, for 13 years. Shortly after his diagnosis, frustrated by the side effects of pharmaceutical medications he said turned him into...

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A spurned donor, a frayed party, and a surprisingly divisive issue

Paul Marini | February 24, 2015

Marc Caputo, Politico The low-budget ad, with only three hits on cable for $305, was a typical hit piece for Americans for Safe Access, an under-funded special interest group looking to push its agenda on the cheap. “Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman...

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