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Jun. 28, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Medical marijuana advocate gets prison term

REVIEW-JOURNAL

Medical marijuana advocate Pierre Werner is sentenced Wednesday in District Court.
Photo by Gary Thompson.

A medical marijuana advocate received a prison sentence Wednesday that adds at least seven months to the time he must spend behind bars.

Pierre Werner, 35, received probation last year after pleading guilty to felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, but District Judge Valerie Adair revoked his probation in April after police found 96 marijuana plants in his southwest Las Vegas home. Adair then imposed a 12- to 34-month sentence.

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    • Werner has said he grew the marijuana to sell to patients with medical marijuana licenses, in part to protest a state law which he said is too restrictive for disabled patients who have trouble safely obtaining the drug legally.

    State law allows licensed marijuana patients to grow the plant or choose one person to cultivate it for them, but that caretaker cannot provide the drug for any other patients.

    The search of Werner's home led to a new charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, in addition to the probation revocation. Werner pleaded guilty to the new charge earlier this month. District Judge David Barker imposed a concurrent sentence of 19 to 48 months on Wednesday.

    Defense attorney Ryan Mortier said he hopes Werner's sentencing will not deter anyone from joining the medical marijuana program.

    "It's a good program," Mortier said. "It's a new program, so it's got a few bugs that need to be worked out."

    He said Werner has faced no allegations that he distributed to anyone other than medical marijuana patients.



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    Roger M wrote on August 19, 2007 08:49 AM:
    Why is it that the government cannot add medical marijuana to the list of presciption drugs? Such as opiates; like moriphine and oxicodone which is a bigger problem in this counry with the high rate of addictions and pharmacy robberies of it.
    marijuana has been wrongly classified by our governments. Think how much money this country could save with a proper classification and distribution of medical marijuana. This money could go to any number of better causes.


    NOW wrote on June 28, 2007 12:28 PM: he's going to jail and erin kenny goes free....where's the Justice...


    Roger wrote on June 28, 2007 10:02 AM: Yet another reason while Las Vegas is a failing city of losers. Wonder how many rapists, murderers and child molestors will be alowed to walk with a slap on the wrist so they can make room for a guy who grows plants for people with medical problems? Stupid war on drugs...