New Book Exposes The First Federal Trial of a Medical Marijuana Doctor

[Ganjarden]

COOL MADNESS, The Trial of Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer is the riveting true story of a medical marijuana doctor undergoing a federal trial for the first time in history.

The main character of COOL MADNESS is Dr. Marion "Mollie" Fry, a cancer survivor who learned about the benefits of medical marijuana while enduring chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. After recovering, Dr. Fry set up a practice in the small northern California town of Cool and began recommending medical marijuana to her patients in accordance with state law. However, California's medical marijuana laws are not recognized by the federal government, and this legal conflict put Dr. Fry's activities under the scrutiny of various authorities. As a physician, her rights were ultimately upheld — her recommendations were protected by a ruling that cites free speech provisions from the 1st Amendment. But as a patient, Dr. Fry was much more vulnerable. Law enforcement surveillance on her home led to a raid that netted a meager 34-plant garden in September 2001. The yield was supposed to supply a year's worth of medical marijuana for Dr. Fry and her husband Dale Schafer, who suffers from hemophilia and back injuries. Instead, the couple got jailed and hit with federal charges for the cultivation of over a hundred plants.

The strategy used to increase the plant count is the critical lesson in COOL MADNESS . As the book demonstrates, this development set a key precedent that puts many medical marijuana patients unwittingly in jeopardy and illustrates the dangers inherent in a federalist system. "The government had a novel way of prosecuting Dr. Fry and Dale Schafer, one that relied on the defendants' sense of security under state law," argues author Vanessa Nelson. "COOL MADNESS is crucial reading for anyone navigating the conflict between state and federal laws."

COOL MADNESS also features a captivating performance by criminal defense genius Tony Serra, who represented Dale Schafer. With a résumé that includes clients such as Huey Newton, "Brownie" Mary Rathburn and the Symbionese Liberation Army, Serra brings an unparalleled level of drama and legal expertise to the courtroom. The exciting twists and turns are captured in perfect form throughout COOL MADNESS , with engaging storytelling that leaves the reader breathlessly entertained as well as informed.

COOL MADNESS is dedicated to Dr. Fry and Dale Schafer's children, who attended the trial daily in an inspiring show of support for their parents.

A third of all profits go to support Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer's Legal Defense Fund Order online at MMA Publishing - Medical Cannabis Books

About the Author
Vanessa Nelson is a freelance writer who specializes in covering medical marijuana court cases in California. Since 2005, her work has appeared in a variety of online and print publications, including O'Shaughnessy's, West Coast Leaf, Oaksterdam News and West Coast Cannabis. In October 2007, her series of books about medical marijuana trials debuted with U.S. vs. Ed Rosenthal 2.0, The Re-Trial of the Ganja Guru. COOL MADNESS is the second title in this series. Vanessa is currently completing another book, detailing the first federal trial of medical marijuana dispensary operators.


News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Indybay
Contact: Indybay
Copyright: 2008 San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center.
Website: New Book Exposes The First Federal Trial of a Medical Marijuana Doctor

 

[Keith Lake]

Does anyone now about the tactic they are using to increase plant count?

 

[wordsworm]

"Does anyone now about the tactic they are using to increase plant count?"

Just a few uneducated guesses: seeds. 50 plants + 50 seeds = 100 plants.
or
Each potential clone on a plant is considered one plant.

 

[hood1]

I live for the day when a case like this proves our federal government is depriving us of our right and liberties. Anyone that is a student of the War on US (drugs) knows it was illegal from the time of its inception. Every human that has been enslaved by this war should be compensated and have there rights returned. This could be the case to bring all of the years of injustice and incarceration of the poor to an end. Now we have a doctor a well educated professional that likes to get high or get relief from their problems. This state with a vote by the people has reinstated their rights. But the FEDs just will not let it go they can see the truth starting to leak out they fear losing control. They are putting more effort and lies into continuing this war on the American people. I think we just proved that the right wing conservatives do not rule this country thank God. We are back on the path of being a great country for all and by all the way it should be the way our founders meant it to be. Let us all work harder in 2009, send money to your favorite support site, talk to people, vote, educate others to the facts help let the slaves in prison go.


Give me liberty or give me death!

 

[wordsworm]

NAMBLA would probably agree that their 'rights' are also being infringed upon. One cannot simply say that we should be free to do whatever we please. Rights are always transient. One century we have some rights, the next they're gone and we have different ones.

You know, today I read a terrible story about how the US and S. Korea participated in killing communists who were sympathetic to N. Korea, or who succumbed to communist pressure. I'm not just talking about soldiers, but children as well. Go back 100 years and blacks were worse off than they are now. 150 years ago a white master could kill his negro and Indians were actively being pursued for extermination.

The US is not alone in its horrid practices - all nations powerful and small seem to delight in terrorism against its people and/or people abroad. Right now, as bad as things are under Bush II, they're in no way unique to American or world history. It's just business as usual.

The war on drugs, and the people suffering today because of it are not unique in history. History has never paused on governments and people making others who are in the minority suffer for breaking what the majority deems proper. Witch burnings are another good example.

I'm not saying we should give up the fight. My point is this: at no point in history has everything been peachy for everyone. It's absolutely ridiculous to look to our past to show how it was a better time, or that we had more rights. That's simply never been the case. Even in the great days of the Greeks, the rights were only extended to Athenian citizens. Life is tough, it always has been for minorities. We do need to keep fighting. But we should do so with clear eyes and without historical bias, and most of all, without emotion.