Jeffrey Keith Joseph is facing 24 drug-related felony counts in connection with Organica, his medical marijuana collective, on the border of Culver City and Los Angeles. He pleaded not guilty in February to charges that included money laundering, possession of marijuana for sale and the illegal sale of it.
After two raids by Los Angles police and federal authorities, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant ordered it closed in April.
Stephen Fich, Joseph's attorney, said it's essential for the defense to be prepared for the preliminary hearing.
"Our position is, if you put a medical marijuana defense on a prelim, it should shift the burden to the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it wasn't medically related," he said.
If the prosecution cannot show strong suspicion, or evidence to Joseph's charges before the judge, the trial could be dismissed.
Read more Patch coverage on the case here.
Source: Culver City Patch
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