MARIJUANA GROWER: 'I WANTED TO HELP'

Columbus Man Claims He Grew Marijuana For Medicinal Purposes

HENDERSONVILLE - A man accused of running Henderson County's largest
and most sophisticated marijuana growing operation says he did it
out of compassion.

Tod Aiken, of Columbus, said Wednesday the marijuana that led to his
arrest was being sold for medicinal purposes.

"There's a lot of people out there that need medical marijuana,"
Aiken said. "I'm a man of compassion. I wanted to help these people."

Aiken said he began growing marijuana in 2000 to help counteract the
effects of hepatitis C treatments.

Henderson County Sheriff Rick Davis said Tuesday that deputies on
Dec. 10 found 220 marijuana plants and equipment worth up to $20,000
inside a mobile home Aiken owned in the Jeter Mountain community.

Aiken and his wife, Sharon, were arrested Dec. 11 at their Columbus home.

Growing marijuana is still against the law, whatever Aiken's
reasons, Davis said.

"The ultimate answer here is to look to the law and the law clearly
says that to manufacture it is a violation," Davis said. "The
charges are very appropriate."

Aiken, 50, is charged with maintaining a drug house
and manufacturing marijuana. His wife is charged with two counts of
trafficking in marijuana and one count of conspiracy to sell and
deliver the drug.

Aiken is scheduled to be in court Jan. 4. He said the medical
marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access has come to his
defense and is providing him support.

Aiken said he wants to be a medical marijuana advocate.