Charges Reduced for Hortipharm Defendants

Injustice has been served.

Well, Santa Barbara will sleep easier tonight. How many of our tax dollars went to pay for this charade?

It's a serious question by the way.

Charges for possession of "concentrated cannabis" are interesting, since AG Bill Lockyer's Oct. 21, 2003 decision, # 03-411, states that the definition of marijuana that the Compassionate Use Act applies to includes "the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin." Kinda hard to figure how concentrated cannabis can be illegal based on this legal decision made by the highest authority on the law in the state of California, but as long as the cops get to keep the money they've extorted, we're all good in SB.
I wonder whether Santa Barbara would have a high school that met minimum state standards (DP is the only one in the county that did last year) if we spent money on our future and gave our kids the chance to succeed instead of trying to destroy people who could definitely make a whole lot more money if they chose to be illegal drug dealers instead of trying to comply with our insane law enforcement, DA, and city ordinances, permits, storefront rentals, insurance, security, etc, etc. If you want bail less than $1 million, you better kill people, rather than trying to provide a legal medicine that the US government holds numerous patents on for medical use (Patent # 6630507, held by Department of Health and Human Services is one of many, check the US gov patent website) and still insists on labeling as a Schedule 1 drug with no medical uses (this is the federal government, ignore the oxymoron, it's probably illegal to question it).
Anyway, if the SB DA decides to destroy someone financially for political reasons, the charges don't matter, the number of $$ needed for defense of malicious litigation filed by a DA abusing their office is the bottom line, and the DA's pockets are essentially bottomless relative to individuals who aren't supported by our tax dollars.

Incredible Wast of Money

Almost as bad as the Coke Bottle Glasses dude who pissed away god only knows how many millions chasing Michael Jackson down the road......

Judge Hill should be removed from the bench....he is a disgrace to American Justice.

What a waste of money. These were peaceful people who were just trying to earn a living. The police essentially stole their property via corrupt asset forfeiture laws. Josh and Dayli were made political examples of by the Judge for conservatives in the area who wanted blood. The day when drugs are legalized will be a day in the right direction of this state and country. Less money will be wasted, the drug cartels will be shut down (less violence as a result), and people will have the freedom to own their bodies and not be persecuted for victimless crimes.

Victimless crime! What a horrible waste of taxpayer dollars.

wow, just shows they are only after the Money and Weed.. What a Scam.. As everyone else here has said think of the Tax dollars wasted.. and then look at how much money and weed they are stealing from them.. Stop prosecuting folks for any Weed crimes.. its not worth it.. Go after Bicyclist that don't obey traffic laws instead. At least that way we would have safer streets..

The War on People continues.

I think this is the first article with comments I've ever seen where EVERYONE was in agreement.

Thank you, Santa Barbara. Our legal system may need a lot of work, but the beauty of this land and the people who inhabit it will overcome the darkness that's crept in. I don't know how to thank all of the people who have supported us through this ordeal--folks like you who have commented on this article, those who sent emails of support, brought us meals, helped with our legal expenses, supported Pizza Guru, took care of our kids during court appearances, prayed for us--everyone who came forth to let us know we are loved and valued made this experience bearable. Thank you, Santa Barbara. Your streets may be safe from me for 0-240 days, but you will always be Home.

Peace,
Joshua Braun

Just an interesting side-note: Josh Braun introduced my son to marijuana when they were both about 12 or 13 years old. At a church camp where my son was a guest of the orthodox church-member Braun. They (my son and Maryjane and Josh) became close friends for several years.

That's interesting, ChrisG, seeing as how I never smoked until I was 16, and even then was just a couple times until I was 18. I don't deny what you say--I've introduced thousands of people to cannabis--but your dates are certainly wrong. Perhaps all these years later it's time to let Scotty take responsibility for his own choices? Nice attempt to malign me and my church, though.

So what now? His wife's mini van on the block next to Erik's 4 door Porsche? It's really is just a business & the one with the most money wins..

I still maintain you can lead a hortipharm but you can't make her smoke the buds.

so, stealing the electricity was stupid, but if Tesla had his way, we wouldn't be paying for it. Still, nobody is going after JP Morgan for his role in making us all pay for electricity or the recent financial crime this country faced. Just us.

No one associated directly associated with Hortipharm had anything whatsoever to do with the stolen electricity, nor did Hortipharm (or I) benefit from it.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Didn't the electiricty that was stolen go to a house that weed grew at that you sold in your shop?

Now a days, if you are a dispensary owner you cannot even park in a red zone without getting thrown in jail, but a group of gang members can beat a man to death in the streets. Now a days you can't find an alternative to narcotic medication that the government says is okay, but has killed so many, because they will send you to jail, but tweakers run wild robbing and stealing anything that isn't bolted or welded down. The police unions are so concerned with their precious budgets that it behooves them to continue their "war on drugs" no matter how many are murdered by drug gangs or lives are destroyed by our silly drug laws that have done nothing but encourage more people to engage in the illicit drug trade.

Az2sb you are so far from reality it isn't funny. Keep smoking it tho it might make sense!

Here's an interesting survey we all can conduct: Ask the owners of medical marijuana dispensaries if they feel marijuana should be re-legalized.

I have a feeling you will find they will be opposed to this idea.

It turn out only two employess got charged. Why only two and why such stiff sentences?
The man who lied in court, Rico aka Raul, who was busted with major drugs, and kidnapping got his drug money back by saying it belongs to his kids, and he was the original purchaser of drugs, got his money back and a minor charge. So if your selling drugs put it in your kids name.
Read Josh artical thanking for the support of money and food. Im sure the others who were arrested were thankful when Josh helped them and shared what was given to help support the Hortipharm, since his wife's company is doing so well and not laundering money like they were charged and kept opened.
We see how well you are doing, how well are the others?
I agree, this was a waist of taxpayers money and we are sorry that the City had no case and was going to send you to the feds. I tried follow as much as I could, but after several judges and DA were replaced i just stopped. Why did it tak so long and go thru so many people?

Good Luck and may God go with you. Thank goodness there is an election coming up so lets replace some of the loosers!

@ Bill - It should be legalized immediately and everyone dispensary operator I know agrees, except one that we all bag on.

@Upset - I can't speak for the others, but I think it is fair to say that they spent significant sums of money out of their own pocket to defend themselves for something that, even if I had done everything I was accused of, I don't think they had any criminal liability for doing. They also lost a fulfilling job with good pay and benefits at a time when jobs are hard to come by. Still, I think everyone is happy it is (almost) over, even though it is bittersweet. We'll move forward together--maybe I'll open another Pizza Guru and we'll just staff it with people from old Hortipharm =)

InTheKnow, if I am smoking something, then your drinking it bro, because you seem to be sucking up anything the gov't serves you.

For the record, people say "legalize it and tax it", I say "re-legalize and keep the government out of it".