Milwaukee Progressive Examiner discusses Nurse Patricia’s treatment in the “Live Free or Die” State
This is an amazing case, because not only was a woman named Patricia Smith imprisoned for taking marijuana for medical purposes, but the jury that convicted her knew she was taking it for medical reasons. Also, even though they were informed that they did not have to convict her under the principle of jury nullification, it still convicted her.Milwaukee Progressive Examiner
Jury nullification is the right of jurors (a right under common law that precedes even the founding of our nation) to state that a law or its' application is unjust or even unconstitutional. This case is out of New Hampshire, a hotbed for jury nullification and medical marijuana activism.
After all, the state's motto is Live Free or Die. Strangely, though New Hampshire might be the most libertarian state in the Union, it still has not passed a medical marijuana rights bill. Patricia Smith, a registered nurse, had supposedly "no expectation of privacy" in her own backyard, a court had ruled. Actually, the government does make the case that your property, even if fenced in, is not protected under the 4th Amendment's protections against unreasonable search and seizures.
See, since the 4th Amendment doesn't explicitly state that an "open field", or private property that is not your actual house, is protected from an unreasonable search, than those who advocate a strong police state to oppose our civil liberties, use that as an exception to the 4th Amendment.
Indeed, a scary thought since the 4th Amendment only states that individuals are free from unreasonable searches in their "persons, houses, papers, and effects", an overzealous police officer might search a car randomly, arguing that this too is not protected. A disturbing thought. So while a cop might be trespassing, it is somehow fine that he is trespassing because the 4th Amendment doesn't say he can't.
So, this woman suffered a questionable search by the government, in order to get seize a drug that takes away the back pain that she suffers. Who does this benefit? Who benefits by sending her to prison for a few years? Nobody. It's absurd, it's so incredible in how stupid it is in fact.
Nurse Patricia Update from FreedomIsGreen.com
One of my regrets is not following up on the Nurse Patricia story due to the State’s prosecution of me. Fortunately, there is this update from lat month:
Patricia Smith’s appeal was denied several months ago. This New Hampshire-based nurse with no criminal background is currently serving the next 2 – 4 years in the New Hampshire Department of Corrections for growing marijuana in her own home. Financially she was nailed too, paying over $35,000 in fines.
Letters to inmates help considerably with morale, self-esteem and connectivity to the “outside world.” And it only takes a few minutes.
In general, it’s best not to go on endlessly about the injustice surrounding her case (she gets it, trust me), but instead write about yourself, incidents in your life, interests, etc. Think of writing to a pen pal in a really crappy situation. Keep it informal, supportive and friendly.
Sabrina from NORML passed on this information:
Please write to hospice nurse and MMJ patient Patricia Smith who was sent the NH State Prison for growing medicine. She is serving 2-4 years. Please send her a letter of encouragement and solidarity today. Patricia Smith, Inmate #90724, NHSP/W 317 Mast Rd, Goffstown, NH 03045. If you wish to send her books or magazine subscriptions, they must be sent directly from recognized mail order companies or publishers. The receipt must be included within the packaging or it will be returned to the sender. Let’s support our struggling but brave sister.
Videos and more on Nurse Patricia Smith’s story at FreedomIsGreen.com.
Concord Monitor mentions the State vs TalleyTV
In a profile of Rep. George Lambert and his State Senate plans, the Concord Monitor’s Capitol Beat mentions his involvement with my case against the Cheshire County Courts System and their camera crackdown. Here is what Annmarie Timmins and Matthew Spolar had to report:
Lambert for Senate
It’s not just speculation: freshman Rep. George Lambert is running for Senate.
The Litchfield Republican said he decided to run for the Senate seat encompassing Litchfield and parts of Manchester after current Sen. Tom DeBlois told him he will instead run for the Executive Council seat soon vacated by retiring Ray Wieczorek.
You may remember Lambert from when we profiled his practice of wearing a new tie to the State House every day, often purchased from Goodwill to match a legislative theme.
Lambert, a 43-year-old vice president of a software company, has been a Litchfield selectman for six years and has no reservations about declaring his love of the Constitution. “I’m a constitutionalist guy who says if it isn’t in the Constitution we shouldn’t be doing it,” he said.
He’s also a justice of the peace who recently signed off on the subpoenas of four state judges on behalf of Jason Talley, a Free State activist who describes himself as “an advocate for the victims of government violence.” Talley said he was arrested for entering a courthouse with a video camera attached to his belt.
Lambert said he’s not part of the Free State Project, but “I’m associated with people who are.”“I take being in the Legislature very seriously,” he said. “I’m a fiscal conservative. I’m probably more of social liberal than (DeBlois) is in many ways.”
Letter to the Editor Supporting Nurse Patricia against the “Violation of Privacy” by Law Enforcement
The author of this letter to the editor in the Valley News makes some good points.
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