Ohio Patients are OUTRAGED (Columbus, OH)  On Friday, March 24, 2006, Randy Brush of Wellsville, Ohio, was sentenced to prison time for felony marijuana possession and cultivation. Columbiana County Judge C. Ashley Pike, a Republican, sentenced Brush to the following:

1 year - 5th degree felony marijuana possession
3 years - 3rd degree felony marijuana cultivation
$5,000 fine
3 years court supervised probation after serving the sentence

This case clearly refutes the claim that patients who use cannabis medicinally are rarely arrested and prosecuted with regard to their medicine. Brush uses marijuana medically to treat a variety of conditions including disorders of the back (discogenic and degenerative), Osteoarthritis, and Spinal Stenosis that have rendered him eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits.

Summary details about the Randy Brush case:

What: Jury trial on felony (medical) marijuana charges

Who: Randall T. (Randy) Brush of Wellsville, Ohio

When: Secret Grand Jury Indictment: April 28, 2005

Trial: Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Sentencing: Friday, March 24, 2006

Where: Court of Common Pleas for Columbiana County, 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432

Case #: 2005 CR 00110

Charges: (Two total) Illegal cultivation of marijuana (third degree felony) and possession of drugs (fifth degree felony)

Judge: Judge C. Ashley Pike, Republican Columbiana

County Jail: 8473 County Home Rd, Lisbon, OH 44432-9418 - 330-424-4065 Columbiana County Sheriff: David L. Smith

"This is an outrage!" declared, OPN President, John Precup, upon learning this news. "The last thing a sick individual needs is jail time, much less for using medicine that works for him." Part of the Ohio Patient Network's mission is to bring these sad cases to light and press for change. "And to think, that under SB 74, this would never have happened," added Precup.

Senator Robert Hagan (D-Youngstown) introduced Senate Bill 74, Ohio's Medical Marijuana act, into the Ohio Senate in January 2005. Under SB 74, Brush would have been able to identify himself to police as a medical marijuana patient. The police could also have checked with the Ohio Department of Health for records concerning his state-issued card before ever approaching him. SB 74 was forwarded to the Ohio Senate Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by Senator Jim Jordan (R-Urbana). Hearings on SB 74, as required by law, have yet to be held.

Fellow patients who are interested in helping Brush are asked to call the Columbiana County Jail and request that Brush be given the many other medications he currently takes for his conditions on time and in accordance with their labeled instructions. Patients are also asked to please work with the Ohio Patient Network to both support patients like Brush and change these unjust and cruel laws.

The Ohio Patient Network (OPN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition of patients, caregivers, medical professionals, concerned citizens, and organizations who support the compassionate use of cannabis for various medicinal purposes. In January 2005, OPN formed the Ohio Patient Action Network (OPAN) to lobby for SB 74.

Information about OPN can be found at http://www.ohiopatient.net. The link "Patient Profiles" contains information about Randy Brush including photographs of his beautiful carpentry work.