PARALYZED MAN OK'D TO GROW POT AT HOME

STOCKTON - A man paralyzed from the neck down may continue to
cultivate and grow marijuana at his home northeast of Stockton under
a plea deal he reached Tuesday with the San Joaquin County District
Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors dropped felony drug charges against a Aaron Paradiso, a
27-year-old quadriplegic who uses marijuana to treat muscle spasms.
Paradiso was injured in a 1998 traffic accident.

Paradiso pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Richard Guiliani
to a lesser misdemeanor count of possessing an illegal weapon and
will have to spend three years on informal probation, under the plea deal.

"I think it was encouraging for medical marijuana patients in
Stockton and San Joaquin County in general," Paradiso said. "It makes
it easier for the next person, I hope."

The district attorney's office charged Paradiso three years ago with
three felony counts that included cultivating marijuana and
possession of marijuana with the intent to sell. He also faced a
felony count of possessing a firearm despite a juvenile conviction
that barred him from being around guns.

Sheriff's deputies found 52 marijuana plants and guns at his house in
August 2003 when they responded to reports from neighbors of shots
being fired. Prosecutors filed charges saying the number of plants
Paradiso cultivated was in violation of state law. Under the plea
agreement, Paradiso has to give up the guns and plants deputies confiscated.

Deputy District Attorney Phil Urie said the outcome was good for his
office and Paradiso alike. Urie said California's ambiguous medical
marijuana laws frustrate both law enforcement and those who want to
use cannabis as medicine.

Winning the case would have been tough considering Paradiso's
physical condition, Urie said.

"It has zero jury appeal," he said. "When the defendant goes into
spasms, that looks terrible."

Urie said Paradiso's misdemeanor plea was the most important part of the case.

Mill Valley attorney M. Gerald Schwartzbach said the long trial would
have drained his client both financially and physically. It may have
shortened Paradiso's life, he said.

"Regardless of the outcome, neither side would have won," Schwartzbach said.

Related charges filed against Paradiso's mother, Debra Paradiso, and
their friend Robert Turano also were dropped under the plea deal.