GRANDPA WEED

This innocent looking older gent is my new hero! Personally, I don't like the way he's being treated and I'll tell you why in a minute. I have to tell you what he did first, which would explain why he's my new hero. This 87-year-old from Denver, Colorado just got busted for growing a 'forest of marijuana plants' in his backyard! That's right! I said a forest! Not a few plants here and there. I said a 'forest'! 87-year-old, Edward Bogunovich had more than 500 marijuana plants in the backyard of his Denver home, which he is claiming that he legally grew and was allowed to distribute for medical purposes. There were so many plants in the backyard that police are describing the property as a 'forest of marijuana plants.'

Bogunovich, a farmer by trade, was arrested on Friday and is now facing charges of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 pounds of marijuana, the cultivation of more than 30 plants of marijuana, and possession of more than 12 ounces of marijuana. Bogunovich is claiming that his possession and cultivation is perfectly legal since he and three other family members have state medical marijuana documents that allow them to grow and distribute the plant. Bogunovich went on to say, "I was a care taker for 24 people for the last year or two. We did nothing wrong. I wouldn't be stupid not to be legal after doing this for four years." I love this guy! How can you not? He sounds like he has all his bases covered. 

Medical marijuana use is permissible in Colorado, but there is a limit on how much a patient can use depending on their condition. Well, that's according to Article 18, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution. Wait a minute! Colorado has a Constitution different from the rest of the United States? When did that happen? I might want to move to Colorado now! Anyway, Section 14 states that a patient can have 'no more than two ounces of the usable form of marijuana' and 'no more than six marijuana plants, with three or fewer being mature, flowering plants that are producing a usable form of marijuana.' The Denver D.A. says that Bogunovich was growing way more than he was allowed for medical cultivation. He's legally allowed to possess 231 marijuana plants, but Bogunovich was 183 plants over his limit. 

Authorities also allegedly found tools and materials in Bogunovich's possession, like scales, packaging materials, and vacuum sealer, that indicate distribution and cultivation, but he did admit to distributing to those he is taking care of. Did they catch him selling to anyone other than who he said he was taking care of? If not, I don't see the harm here in him growing if he has documentation saying that he can. Not to mention, the guy is 87-years-old! Do you really need to put a guy that old in jail for possession? Can't slap him with a fine or something? Come on, people!  

 

Apparently, this isn't Bogunovich's first run-in with the law. He's been arrested for dangerous drug possession on four different instances, damage to property, and possession of marijuana. He's been released on $10,000 bail and has to appear in court on August 16. I'll say it again....The guy is 87-years-old, why would you want to put him away when he's probably going to die soon anyway. Let him keep growing and distributing his marijuana like he wants to. He's not killing anybody, and it sounds like he's only distributing to those who need it and not to those who abuse it. So, I'm not sure that I agree with such a harsh punishment on this one.