Todd Stimson is a marijuana activist who ran Blue Ridge Medical Cannabis Research Corporation. He helped people get off dangerous pills and saved people's lives. In July 2013 a SWAT team entered his home and pointed guns in his, his wife's and his daughters' faces. The Detective in charge of the chain of custody of the evidence wouldn't allow Todd's lawyers access to the evidence before the trial. When the evidence was presented at trial the bags were empty. Only sopping wet bags and mold. The Detective in charge of the chain of custody of the evidence admitted to consolidating the evidence. He claimed it was to look for tax stamps, although one of the bags he emptied was labeled "No Tax Stamps." He then rolled the paper bag tightly in plastic. He claims his reasoning for this is because the smell was so strong. The protocol for handling evidence is very clear. Plant material must be dried out and stored in a paper bag. It seems his intent was to keep the marijuana wet so as to keep it over 10 pounds and convict Todd of trafficking. The state's method throughout the whole trial was to to intimidate the jury into voting ACCORDING TO THE LAW. They went to GREAT lengths to ensure that the jury did not know that they can vote their conscience or nullify. The judge and the Prosecution made it seem like they would get in trouble if they did. The defense's attorney, Ben Scales, gave a most compelling, uplifting, moving, inspiring, passionate closing argument. The jury took 30 minutes to deliberate and voted Todd guilty on all charges. Then they took him away. Now this peaceful, gentle, kind man who spent his life serving his community, who has saved people's lives, is in a cage.
