ED LINDERMAN SEES BOTH SIDES OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY

Montague, Calif. -- While he is thankful for the good he has
experienced because of Proposition 215, Edward Linderman said he has
recently seen the bad side of medical marijuana.

Known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, Proposition 215's purpose
is "to ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain
and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is
deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has
determined that the person's health would benefit from the use of
marijuana," according to the California Department of Health website.
Linderman received his medical marijuana prescription after suffering
a horseback riding accident a few years ago "that nearly killed me,"
he said.

He said he views medical marijuana as "a worthwhile alternative" that
relaxes him and soothes his pain, where a prescription like Vicodin
upsets his stomach.

But recent events have pained him more than any physical pain in his
body, Linderman said.

He recently decided to work with another local man who holds a
prescription and grow in his garden.

"This was my very first time to grow my own," Linderman said. "I think
it's a good thing to grow your own. The co-ops are so expensive, and
this isn't something that MediCal or other insurances cover."

According to www.safeaccessnow.net, Siskiyou County has adopted the
statewide guideline - established under Senate Bill 420 - of
prescription holders possessing six mature plants or 12 immature
plants and up to 8 ounces of processed cannabis flowers.

Four people were growing marijuana in the man's garden. But at harvest
time, Linderman said he ended up with only a pound of marijuana for
medicinal purposes for the year. Typically, he said, medical marijuana
users are allowed 3-4 pounds a year.

Linderman said he cooks with the marijuana - ingesting rather than
inhaling because of bad lungs.

He was involved in the growth process from the beginning - often
taking care of everyone's plants, Linderman said. But while he and one
other grower in the garden ended up with less than their prescription
allows, the other man ended up with significantly more - around 120
pounds, Linderman said.

"He was strictly in it for profit," he said. "There is nothing medical
about what he is doing."

Linderman was filing civil and criminal cases in Siskiyou County
Superior Court on Monday for theft of his prescription, vandalism to a
car and stealing some painting equipment.

The car was damaged and equipment stolen after the man blamed
Linderman for money lost when he sold marijuana to someone down south
and when Linderman started getting the Siskiyou County Sheriff's
Office and Siskiyou County-wide Interagency Narcotic Task Force
involved in the situation.

While the man has a prescription, Linderman said he has seen him grow
more than he should and sell it illegally to individuals.

"It just shows the greed and deception behind some medical marijuana
growers. ... He's giving a bad name, a bad reputation, to the people
who legitimately need medical marijuana," Linderman said. "A lot of
people really need it, but he's not one of them."

Linderman said his situation shows the need for the government and/or
medical professionals to better regulate medical marijuana.

"It's so easy for almost anyone to walk in and get a script," he said,
explaining that he only had to write a brief description about his
medical problem and go through a short exam to obtain his
prescription.

Linderman suggested that the process should change, requiring more
screening of individuals, background checks and in-depth medical
checks to see if individuals have a legitimate need for the
alternative medicine.

While he doesn't hold out much hope that things will change, Linderman
said he hopes his quest for justice will "open the door to a process
that will re-evaluate patients who have these scripts.

"There has always been greed behind the marijuana industry," he said.
"At least this might make government officials take note of the
individuals growing for the wrong reasons."

For more information about medical marijuana regulations, visit
www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/mmp .