By Terry Best, San Diego Chapter, Americans For Safe Access
Dennis and Deborah Little are residents of rural Ramona, California. They are both in their sixties. Both suffer from debilitating and chronic illnesses one of which is terminal. Dennis Little is a qualified medical marijuana patient who grew his own medicine in their backyard. He believed his actions were lawful under the Compassionate Use Act which legalized medical marijuana in 1996. Unfortunately for the Littles, the DEA and San Diego Sheriff’s Department have refused to acknowledge the Littles’ rights under state law.
During the months of September and October of 2012, San Diego Sheriff’s Department helicopters patrolled the rural parts of San Diego County in conjunction with the DEA’s “marijuana eradication” efforts. A Sheriff’s Deputy spotted Mr. Little’s marijuana garden from the air and immediately filed for a search warrant to raid the property. No law enforcement ever contacted the Littles to ask if they were medical marijuana patients. Instead, on October 17, 2012 at approximately 5:30 a.m in the morning, a small army of DEA agents descended on the Littles’ property to execute the warrant. Despite their poor health, the Littles were handcuffed and subjected to police interrogation techniques. After several hours of investigation, the police dug up and destroyed all of their marijuana plants.
On November 27, 2012, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis filed felony criminal charges against Mr. and Mrs. Little. Denied the medicine that provides them relief, the Littles must now fight a criminal prosecution for exercising their rights under California State law.
Event: Felony Preliminary Examination
Date: March 21, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Location: Department 5, Vista Courthouse
Defense attorney Lance Rogers will be available for interviews immediately following the court proceedings.
Source: Americans for Safe Access, San Diego Chapter – Make A Donation
