Medical marijuana advocate gets prison term
A medical marijuana advocate received a prison sentence Wednesday that adds at least seven months to the time he must spend behind bars.
Pierre Werner, 35, received probation last year after pleading guilty to felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, but District Judge Valerie Adair revoked his probation in April after police found 96 marijuana plants in his southwest Las Vegas home. Adair then imposed a 12- to 34-month sentence.
Werner has said he grew the marijuana to sell to patients with medical marijuana licenses, in part to protest a state law which he said is too restrictive for disabled patients who have trouble safely obtaining the drug legally.
State law allows licensed marijuana patients to grow the plant or choose one person to cultivate it for them, but that caretaker cannot provide the drug for any other patients.
The search of Werner’s home led to a new charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, in addition to the probation revocation. Werner pleaded guilty to the new charge earlier this month. District Judge David Barker imposed a concurrent sentence of 19 to 48 months on Wednesday.
Defense attorney Ryan Mortier said he hopes Werner’s sentencing will not deter anyone from joining the medical marijuana program.
“It’s a good program,” Mortier said. “It’s a new program, so it’s got a few bugs that need to be worked out.”
He said Werner has faced no allegations that he distributed to anyone other than medical marijuana patients.
