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Charles C. Lynch is the former owner of Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers, a medical marijuana dispensary, in Morro Bay, California.
The dispensary opened on April 1, 2006 with the blessing of the city and was welcomed by the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce. In July 2006 the dispensary was granted a Conditional Use Permit from the City of Morro Bay to include a Medical Marijuana Nursery at the dispensary.
The Dispensary operated for almost one year without any major problems or complaints to the owner. On March 29, 2007 the Local Sheriff and DEA agents raided the Dispensary and Home of Charles Lynch. Lynch was not arrested at the time and reopened the dispensary on April 7 2007 with the blessing of the City of Morro Bay. A week after reopening the dispensary the DEA called the Landlord and threatened him with Forfeiture of his property unless he evicted the Dispensary from the building. On May 16, 2007 the Dispensary closed permanently.
On July 17, 2007 Lynch was arrested at his home and charged with Federal Marijuana Distribution. Lynch pleaded not guilty and went on trial July 22, 2008 in Los Angeles. Lynch was not allowed to discuss state law or mention 'medical marijuana' during the trial. Also large amounts of evidence including Lynch's compliance with State and Local laws could not be considered as factual by the jury. Before opening the dispensary Lynch called the DEA and asked about thier policy regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. The DEA told Lynch it was up to the Cities and Counties to decide how to handle the matter. This was Lynch's only defense in Federal Court and is called entrapment by estopell when a government agent says something is ok when in fact it might not be. Click here for more information.
On August 5, 2008 Lynch was convicted in Federal Court for operating the Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers. On January 6, 2009 Lynch appeared before Judge Wu to request a new trial on the grounds that he was not allowed to get his defense before the jury and other new evidence. The request was denied.Charles has been out on a $400,000 bail posted by his loving and trusting family and was under house arrest for over nine months.
During March 2009 United States Policy regarding Medical Marijuana changed in favor of states as long as the dispensary complied with state law. Lynch's dispensary complied with all state and local laws during the time it was open. Click here to read the San Francisco Chronicles report of the new policy. On Friday March 13, 2009 John Stossel and ABC News 2020 aired the story of Lynch on National Television. On Sunday March 15 Al Roker did a documentary entitled Marijuana Inc. Al Roker reporting and focused in on the case of Charles C. Lynch. On Friday March 27, 2009 Lynch appeared on Larry King Live with his Federal Public Defenders.
Sentencing which was scheduled for March 23, 2009 was postponed because the judge requested information from the Government regarding the New Policy regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. Despite the recent policy changes Charles C. Lynch was to be sentenced on April 23, 2009 at the Federal Court House in Los Angeles, but Judge Wu continued the sentencing until June 11, 2009 to give defense lawyers more time to provide legal briefings to get around the Mandatory Minimums. Judge Wu indicated that if he could get around the mandatory minimums he would but still cannot find legal standing. He also indicated early after the conviction that the mandatory minimums in this case don't seem fair. He also indicated that if he does not find legal grounds for bypassing the mandatory minimums 'his hands are tied'.
Judge Wu has indicated that he has enough letters of support in the Lynch case. Lynch is now asking supporters to contact the White House and The Department of Justice to intervene in the case. Click here for info on how to contact these agencies.
On June 11, 2009 Charles C. Lynch was sentenced to one year and one day in Federal Prison. Judge Wu applied the 'safety valve' rule and also gave Lynch bail pending appeal. Lynch is currently at his home in California. Lynch's attorneys filed a notice of appeal on June 15, 2009. The case now moves to the ninth district court of appeals.
USA vs Charles Lynch drags on as Lynch's November 19, 2015 deadline for Final Brief to 9th Circuit looms. Lynch's Section 538 Spending Appropriations Argument was left unanswered in an Emergency Appeal to the 9th Circuit. In October 2015 Lynch was assigned a new Public Defender. Feds continue to demand a five year sentence on the bogus conspiracy charge of Lynch sending his employee to sell on the streets. Abe Baxter, Lynch's so called coconspirator and former employee died of cancer in September 2015. E*TRADE is closing Lynch's IRA because of this marijuana case. Lynch now wages his War against The War on Drugs from a cold trailer at an undisclosed location somewhere in New Mexico.
January 22, 2014 Lynch drives to Los Angeles for McIntosh hearing to determine if he was following state law when operating his dispensary in 2006-2007. Federal Prosecutor David Kowal asks for more time but Judge says no and hearing continues. Lynch takes the stand and defends the money that he earned was reasonable compensation and the expenses he incurred were reasonable. Federal Prosecutor is very nervous and his supervisor Director of the Criminal Division Los Angeles Mack Jenkins is in the gallery. Also Lynch's original Public Defender Reuven Cohen is in the house advising Lynch and assisting Free Federal Public Defender Rebecca Abel. Los Angeles Times Reporter Brittny Mejia is also in the gallery and decides to do story on USA vs Lynch. January 29th Lynch offered plea deal to end case before LA Times story hits the stand. Deal has Lynch pleading guilty to misdemeanor possession and felony record wiped clean and case dismissed; Lynch realizes he can probably have misdemeanor charge dismissed by Biden mass pardon policy. Lynch while in New Mexico accepts deal signs and emails agreements and agrees to travel to Los Angeles for February 8th hearing for dismissal.
January 31, 2024 USA vs Charles Lynch story Published on Front Page of Los Angeles Times click here to read the story. Also an entire page at A8 devoted to the Lynch story.
February 8, 2024 Department of Justice Scrambles to dismiss embarrassing case. Deal reached on January 29th, 2024 which had Lynch pleading guilty to misdemeanor possession and have case dismissed nullified at the last minute as Feds say Lynch cannot plead guilty to something that is pardonable. February 8th Lynch appears in Los Angeles Federal court. Los Angeles Times Reporters and Photographers are at the hearing. Outside court room doors Lynch offered mew plea deal to $2500 fine, 60 days diversion, plead guilty and have record wiped clean of all felonies and no misdemeanors either. Lynch counters and offers 72 days diversion so case will symbolically end on 4-20-2024. More important case at time prevents Lynch from seeing the Judge who accepts and signs the order behind closed doors. Lynch begins countdown to freedom!
Wednesday February 8, 2024 final USA vs Charles Lynch story Published by Brittny Mejia in Los Angeles Times click here to read the story.
Tuesday April 23, 2024 USA vs Lynch is officially dismissed and Charles Lynch's felony convictions expunged click here to read the story.
Lynch files for Guinness World Record for the Longest Medical Marijuana Prosecution in World History which on April 20, 2024 will be 6121 days. Lynch will be 22,620 days old on 4-20-2024 so that is 27.06% of my life and over 56 million taxpayer dollars the Department of Justice will have spent trying to lock me up.
January 16, 2025 Free Federal Public Defenders file motions for return of Lynch's property and monies siezed. Government responds saying they will return 20 year old computers, patient files and busiess records. Judge Wu then issued an order for government to return Lynch's property except the money. The Judge ordered a hearing to determine weather the money would be returned. On March 10, 2025 Lynch drives to LA from New Mexico for possibly the final hearing to see if his siezed money will be returned. While waiting for the hearing to begin Judge Wu issues oppinion that money must be returned giving each side a chance to argue their position in court that day. Free Federal Public Defenders put the government to shame and judge makes a ruling the money must be returned. At the end of the hearing Judge Wu says this must be the longest case ever. Lynch speaks into the microphone saying yes your Honor I have filed for a Guiness World Record. Lynch shakes hands with the Government at the end of the hearing and then drives to DEA office to pick up computers, business records and patient files then heads back to New Mexico. The government had 14 days to appeal the decision but filed no motions. Thus the government must return all of Lynch's seized money also. March 25, 2025 Free federal Public Defenders ask Government for return of Lynch's money. Lynch who has lived in disenfranchised poverty for 18 years is elated at the outcome and is waiting for the return of his monies.
