Medical cannabis patients Steve and Michele Kubby were arrested early on January 19 at their home near Lake Tahoe, California. Mr. Kubby, who suffers from a rare form of cancer, credits the very fact that he is alive to medical cannabis. He was growing the medicine in his home for his own use. Because he is being denied access to his medicine, he fears he will suffer a stroke tonight while in custody.

Steve and Michele were marched through the snow and thrown in freezing cold cells, where their jailers have refused their requests blankets and medical care. As of this writing, Steve has already experienced three hypertensive episodes in jail, and his blood pressure is dangerously high.

Though they were arrested near Lake Tahoe, they were transferred to Placer County Jail in Auburn. Bail has been set at $100,000 even though the Kubbys own their home, have a small child, and present absolutely no flight risk. Steve was the Libertarian Party’s candidate for governor in the November, 1998 election.

Before they were taken into custody, Steve and Michele presented the officers with their patient credentials and notes from their physicians. Nevertheless, a deputy district attorney on the scene personally ordered the Kubbys arrested. Police and sheriff’s deputies also seized the Kubbys’ computers, which are their source of income.

The Kubbys are exactly the kind of people for whom Proposition 215 was enacted. Nevertheless, Steve overheard his arresting officers say, "That 215 doesn’t apply here. Maybe it’ll work in San Francisco, but not out here."

(Marijuananews note: I have learned that Kubby has been charged with cultivation, "conspiracy" and distribution. He will be arraigned Thursday at 2:30 PM. He will seek release on his own recognizance. He poses zero flight risk. They allege over 300 plants. Will they federalize the case?)

For Immediate Release: January 20, 1998

From Jeff Jones, Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Cooperative (510) 832-5346

On Tuesday Steve Kubby and his family were visited by three South Lake Tahoe Drug Task Force and detained while Steve’s medical cannabis garden was evaluated by Local, State and Federal Agents. Steve expressed his right under the Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5 to use and cultivate medical cannabis pursuant to his having his Doctors recommendation at his home.

I was contacted by Steve and made a call to Harlan Goodson from Attorney General Bill Lockyer office to let them know about the unjust actions that were taking place. Soon after my contact with Steve both him and his wife Michelle were taken into custody and sent to Tahoe county jail, they have been since transferred to Auburn County jail. There they were giving poor treatment and kept in a cold jail cell with no blankets. Their Bail is being set at 100K and they are getting support from ACME Bailbonds in Southern CA.

The whole day Steve was denied the medicine that he is legally able to use and is at high risk from his condition of having a stroke while in jail. He was also denied to visit his doctor or use other medicines to treat his condition.

"How long are we going to continue to allow our government to jail patients over the will of the voters. When will this war against patients stop.

Stand up and lets protect the patients, Reschedule Medical Cannabis Now!"

Please pass this message on to others who will support Steve and his Family, this message below is from Sky, Steve son.

Please get this information out now. . .’

From Sky Kubby --

I received a phone call from my Dad, Steve Kubby, earlier tonight. His house was raided, he and Michele were arrested for growing medical marijuana, treated like animals, made to stand with just a shirt on in the middle of a snowstorm, had his medicine taken away and is greatly concerned for his health.

My dad has had 3 hypertension episodes with his high bloodpressure and was not allowed to see a doctor. His blood pressure now has dropped to 150 / 110.

I spoke with him again @ 10:00PM, and Michele finally had gotten her blanket they asked for hours ago. They were thrown into a cold cell an again he stressed they are being treated like animals. He said, "I may have a stroke if I don’t get my medicine tonight."

He wants Mark Murphy to send this info to the Kubby announce list. Also, it appears ACME bail bonds in Culver City will be posting his bail for him because they support Medical Marijuana. Bail is set @ 100K. This is devastating for the family and really unfortunate. My sister, Brooke is happy and safe at a friend’s house in Tahoe- a couple that has taken care of Brooke before.

Steve was too sick to complete answering the intake questions, so they dragged him out to a concrete cell with nothing in it. He feels he is being punished for being too sick to answer questions.

Thank you for your prompt actions, ~Sky Kubby

Jeff W. Jones
Officer of the City of Oakland for the Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Cooperative
P.O. Box 70401, Oakland, CA 94612-0401 Web: http://www.rxcbc.org