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Somerville - It was honest and sincere; it was the truth. On the stand in his own defense, John Wilson was allowed to tell the jury that he has Multiple Sclerosis.
“I told them I was not a drug dealer and I was using the marijuana to treat my MS.” John had been asked what he said to the State Police officers who arrived to investigate the 17 cannabis plants spotted by helicopter.
It seems Wilson has been truthful with law enforcement authorities about his intentions regarding the medical use of his marijuana from their first contact with him.
NBC 4 in NY was in the courtroom and correctly called the single-sentence event a "Stunning Reversal at Medical Marijuana Trial."
Here’s how it happened. Because of the Judge’s earlier limitation rulings, Defense Attorney James Wronko and Deputy Attorney General Russ Curley took great care in their lines of questioning when the defendant took the stand. Wilson could not offer anything regarding medical marijuana; that he has Multiple Sclerosis or that cannabis can help treat MS. John's testimony today was grueling with numerous and lengthy sidebars.
Earlier in the day Detective Sergeant William Peacock, head of the NJ State Police Marijuana Eradication Unit, testified that during their search of John’s property he could not recall asking what John intended to do with the cannabis plants. Another State Trooper on the scene testified that he did not recall any conversations either.
Yet since John has been up-front with everyone about how marijuana helps with his Multiple Sclerosis, even the cops who showed up at his doorstep in 2008, he was allowed to say it to the jury as well.
This was an important point at Wilson’s criminal trial today on first-degree felony charges of “Operating a Drug Manufacturing Facility” that could get him 20 years in prison. Although understandably nervous as he first took the stand in his own defense, John was steady and direct as he answered questions. John also faced some aggressive cross-examination by the prosecuting attorney.
Defense Attorney Wronko sampled some questioning with the jury out of the courtroom. Then, because it came to the credibility of the State Police officers’ testimony, Judge Reed allowed John to say “MS." It was the first and only time the jury has heard that fact during the trial.
Two state Senators have asked for Governor Corzine to pardon Wilson of the first-degree felony charges, which carry the harshest prison term: 15-35 years. The New Jersey Assembly could still pass a Senate-approved medical marijuana bill in the current lame-duck legislative session.
Members of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (including the author) were in the courtroom supporting John today. Jim Miller and Charles Kwiatkowski from CMMNJ braved the icy weather, holding signs for the third day in front of the courthouse.
Testimony at Wilson's trial is expected to conclude tomorrow and final summations offered. The case will then go to the jury for deliberation.
Related:
State rests case in trial of ill Franklin Township man accused of growing marijuana
Closing arguments Thursday in Franklin MS marijuana case
NJ: Support grows for John Wilson medical marijuana pardon
Update 12/15: John Wilson trial, MS patient faces marijuana charges
NJ: Corzine and Legislature face marijuana questions
Comments
It's ludicrous that any defendant would ever be barred from saying anything in their own defense. If I were on the jury and learned that the defendant had been denied the opportunity to _fully_ explain his case, that alone would probably be enough for me to have reasonable doubt and to therefore acquit the defendant.
Somebody please explain to me how a judge can order you what you can or not say in your own defense? Did I just wake up in freaking Nazi Germany or something? Please explain how that can be? I thought that going to court was your chance to explain yourself . If you cannot even do that , then whats the point of going to court at all?
Again, why was he growing 17 plants? Why not just one or two?
In response to "17"
Please try to educate yourself about medical Cannabis before making any comments.
Barbara Douglass is one of four federal medical cannabis patients that are currently in the IND program and she also suffers from MS. She receives 11 ounces of cannabis a month, every month from the federal government, so the feds themselves acknowledge that a MS patient should receive a minimum of 11 ounces a month.
The feds say a plant is equal to 1 pound and we know how the government always over estimate...medical marijuana growers say a plant is good for approximately 2 1/2 ounces. Lets split the difference and call it 9 ounces per plant, that makes 153 ounces if everything goes OK.
So the feds admit a MS patient needs a minimum of 132 uninterrupted ounces a year and he is producing approximately 153 ounces a year. So by this you can see that there is no way "1 or 2" plants is going to produce enough uninterrupted medicine for a MS patient.
WAKE UP! Have you not heard of jury nullification and the rights of a fully informed jury? Google FIJA (Fully Informed Jury Association) to find out a part of historic juris prudence modern courts do not want you to know about. THAT'S how they keep defendants in cases like this from speaking...remember Ed Rosenthal? Google that too. I predict Mr. Wilson walks only if there is a smart jury impanelled, if not, he will go down on a lesser charge with no imprisonment and it will be viewed as a "victory." THANK YOU MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVISTS IN PRINT AND AT THE SOMERSET COURT HOUSE KEEPING THIS IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
Ignorance is no excuse. Not informing yourself about legalities before doing something you know full well is illegal is not a valid legal excuse. You don't get to do something just because of your personal opinion or beliefs. Marijuana is illegal to use and grow in N.J. You don't want police kicking in your door don't do it. It is against the law, if you need marijuana as bad as he claims move to California or Colorado. He is lucky they are not seizing his property. Stoners are trying to lay the foundation that they are not guilty because laws are different in other States. It has no precedent anywhere in US law. Rapists and killers and thieves would love for those acts to be legal and usable as a defense because they are legal in another State to defend themselves while they commit crime against individuals and society. Drug users are losers. Marijuana smokers are losers. Marijuana like any drug should never be legalized for recreational use and will never be so. Losers lose again.
Johnny Law
Rape and murder will never be legal in any state. Your statements are overblown and uninformed. Ignorance should not be Johnny Law's excuse for offering such a poor argument.
The biggest loosers in the War on Drugs are cops themselves. What a waste of time spent busting non-violent members of society for doing something common in America. Think about all the violent crime cops have to let happen in their community while they are hauling a few Deadheads in for a free photo. Guess you're right Johnny...with prohibition cops just loose again. On this particular issue (let's keep on topic here) it's a real shame, because many cops themselves could get some benefits from medical marijuana.
How do you "manufacture" Marijuana? Sounds like something HORRIBLE!
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