The sentencing of a man who has become a key figure in the national debate over medical marijuana was postponed yesterday, says the Los Angeles Times. A federal judge said he was inclined to impose a more lenient sentence than the five years required by federal sentencing guidelines, but questioning whether he had the authority to do so. “If I could find a way out, I would,” U.S. District Judge George Wu said. He gave lawyers until June 2 to file briefs regarding the sentence of Charles Lynch.
Lynch, 47, ran a medical marijuana dispensary in California in 2006-077. Despite having the blessing of the city of Morro Bay’s mayor, he was charged with violating federal drug laws for distributing marijuana and was convicted by a jury. Though Lynch was not charged with violating state law, prosecutors contend that he broke the law because he was not truly a “primary caregiver” entitled to dispense marijuana to patients and that he profited from the business.