Marijuana activist Lanny Swerdlow acquitted in battery trial
A medical-marijuana activist accused of shoving an anti-drug activist at a meeting last year was found not guilty of battery today by a jury in West Valley Superior Court.
Paul Chabot, co-founder of the Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition, accused Palm Springs resident Lanny Swerdlow, 62, of shoving him after Chabot denied Swerdlow entry to a coalition meeting in October 2007.
Swerdlow has maintained since the incident that he did not shove Chabot. He testified during his trial this week that he side-stepped Chabot before entering the meeting.
The meeting was held at the James L. Brulte Senior Center in Rancho Cucamonga, and it was billed as a public event.
Swerdlow said he received an e-mail invitation to the event from Chabot's organization.
The jury deliberated for about three hours this morning before reaching the verdict.
Swerdlow and Chabot did not return calls seeking comment this afternoon.
Swerdlow has said since the incident occurred that he intends to file a lawsuit against Chabot if acquitted of the battery charge, a misdemeanor.
Swerdlow is a registered nurse who works at a doctor's office in Riverside that writes recommendations for medical marijuana.
He also hosts a TV show and a radio show on the subject, and is the president of the Inland Empire chapter of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project.
I understand that you are a proponent of marijuana shops in our cities. It's my understanding that you are a professional nurse. If this is true, then you are supporting a substance that is contraband under federal law. Aren't you concerned that you could lose your nursing license? Or do you have confidence that this would never happen?
I understand that most users of marijuana are proponents of the drug. As a proponent of marijuana should I assume that you are also a user? Do you find it harmless? Should our youth be using this drug as well?
The State of California has the right to assert it's jurisdiction, and the Department of Public Health recognizes medical cannabis as a treatment modality. States can and do set laws, sir. This is one of them.
Nurses and Doctors (and Dentists) are registered by the state as well - so your argument does not apply here.
Medical cannnabis is just that: a medicine. We don't suggest that kids get viagra, or vicodin, or other prescription medication - and neither do we suggest cannabis for kids. That's just crazy.
It sounds like you are against states right, and against medical cannabis without considering the facts.
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