LIBERTARIANS LOBBY FOR ST CHARLES COUNTY MAN ACCUSED OF GROWING

The central committee of the St. Charles County Libertarian Party
last month urged county Prosecutor Jack Banas to drop criminal
charges against Kenneth Wells, accused of growing marijuana in his
home.

Wells, 54, of unincorporated St. Charles County, stated in the June 7
Pokin Around column that he grew the plants in his basement for
medical reasons that include epilepsy and other neurologic problems
stemming from a 1983 stroke.

But Missouri does not have a medical marijuana law that allows
growing and using marijuana when prescribed by a medical doctor.
Thirteen states have such a law.

Wells' trial is scheduled for Sept. 1. He faces five to 15 years in
prison.

"First and foremost, what people do in their own home is their own
business," said Allen J. Underdown, chairman of the Libertarian
central committee for the county.

"We are allowed to have alcohol and we are allowed to have cigarettes
and both are detrimental from medical and personal perspectives,"
Underdown said.

The Libertarian Party supports the legalization of marijuana not only
for medical use but for recreational use, as well.

The party does not typically attract many voters. In the November
election for Missouri governor, Libertarian candidate Andrew W.
Finkenstadt, of unincorporated St. Charles County, gathered 1,887
votes, or 1 percent of the St. Charles County vote.

Banas said the group should focus on changing state law instead of
trying to convince his office to not prosecute those who break the
existing law.

Wells' marijuana - 27 plants and 1.4 pounds - was discovered by
firefighters when his house on Pond Hollow Drive caught fire Jan. 16,
2008.

Banas has said there is no evidence Wells was selling or distributing
marijuana. Banas said he does not consider the amount large enough to
make prosecutors suspect Wells was supplying others.