3 WHO GAVE MARIJUANA TO SICK RECEIVE PROBATION

(AP) LOS ANGELES - Three men who pleaded guilty to distributing marijuana
to seriously ill patients received probation instead of a prison term after
a judge expressed admiration for their work and called the prosecution
"badly misguided."

Scott Imler, Jeff Yablan and Jeffrey Farrington each received one year of
probation and up to 250 hours of community service on Monday. They had
faced up to 30 months in prison.

Judge Howard Matz of U.S. District Court said he was navigating "somewhat
uncharted shoals," but pointed out that the three men did not distribute
the marijuana for money or political leverage. prison.