According to the Ukiah Daily Journal, David Eyster, the new District Attorney for Mendocino County, may be dismissing a number of weed cases.
He said there are marijuana farmers who are trying to comply with the law, some who don’t know how to comply.
In cases where growers appear to be trying to comply, according to Eyster, a better practice than the one currently used is to give the growers a deadline by which to “get legal” and refer them to the Sheriff’s Office, which sells zip ties and issues permits for gardens that meet the state’s and the county’s guidelines.
….
He plans to take on the task of deciding how to charge each case that comes to his office, at least until his staff of prosecutors get used to his expectations, and law enforcement officers have a better idea how he handles crimes in court.
“You have to make sure that you’re just not filing cases that you later are going to dismiss because you got tired of them, but really because that’s what justice requires, and what public safety requires,” Eyster said.
He plans to focus on public safety, meaning crimes with victims, such as violent or serious felonies, drunk driving.
Will there be a “WatchDave” website now?
8 comments
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December 28, 2010 at 12:45 pm
tra
Sorry to make an unrelated comment, but I saw this over at TPM, and it seems to have a local angle:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/bush_audiobook_chapters_now_include_bush_it_for_windows_users.php?ref=fpblg
Unless I’m mistaken, “Bush It” is a Darryl Cherney song.
December 28, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Joe
Only if he sues a large logging company.
December 29, 2010 at 12:20 am
Rose
No. Only if he is INCOMPETENT.
December 29, 2010 at 8:28 am
pathetic actually
or only if someone doesn’t LIKE him????????????????
December 29, 2010 at 9:53 am
misc,
Rose your gal lost!! the people have spoken! get a life!! wait you have one, harassing paul! get a better life soon! for your sake.
December 29, 2010 at 3:07 pm
KRA
Nobody should be prosecuted for Marijuana crimes except those not paying their fair share of taxes and the clowns that are continuing to make Marijuana a crime .
December 30, 2010 at 9:51 am
Anonymous
What is discouraging is the message this all sends that prosecutions are so subjective that they can differ from DA to DA. I find that scary even if there’s a “good one” in office right now.
December 30, 2010 at 11:07 am
Ed Denson
Anonymous 9:51 – it’s true, prosecutions, especially for marijuana and protester cases are extremely subjective. Arrests, too. That’s why so many of these cases end up dismissed, or with the victims acquitted after a jury trial. This problem seems to be causes by an innate prejudice against the activities of the victims, often coupled with an inadequate knowledge of the law. For the police that’s caused by poor training – the California Narcotics Officers Association still claims marijuana has no medical uses – despite the US government having a patent on medical uses of marijuana. For the DAs it is, at the least, a failure to keep up with the law.