Activists show support for convicted pot grower
July 16th, 2003
About 20 medical marijuana activists attended a federal court hearing in Santa Ana on Monday in the case of an Anaheim Hills man convicted of growing more than 100 marijuana plants.
Michael Teague, 33, was found guilty in a bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge David Carter in February. He faces five years in prison for an April 2002 incident when authorities found the plants and a firearm in his then-home in Tustin.
U.S. attorneys allege Teague grew the plants both to sell marijuana and for his own personal use. At his sentencing Monday, Teague said he cultivated the plants for medical purposes, saying he has chronic back pain.
Steph Sherer, executive director of the nonprofit organization Americans for Safe Access, said the activists came to support Teague.
"The federal government is asking him to live in pain rather than grow a weed so he can live a comfortable life," Sherer said. "They are going after patients."
Teague's sentencing hearing will continue next Monday.