Scott Negron Legal Defense Fund Launched On GoFundMe

    MARIETTA, GA, March 10, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Scott Negron Legal Defense Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/Save-a-Gorilla) has been launched on GoFundMe to help raise funds for highly decorated former fire fighter, Thomas Scott Negron (Scott)who faces felony prosecution for "Trafficking", a charge that carries a 5 to 15 year prison sentence if he is convicted. This stems from medical cannabis (that is used to treat Negron's chronic and debilitating pain) being seized at his residence in 2015. Negron has faced a legal ordeal now stretching two years, as Cobb County, Georgia pursues a relentless felony prosecution against him despite his medical condition and facts that do not support the case.

Scott Negron is a former highly decorated fire fighter from California who has led an eclectic life. He is a musician, activist, and most importantly a father. Negron has been recognized over the past thirty years for numerous acts of heroism both professionally and also as a civilian. He has intervened and saved victims of accidents, fires, and various violent crimes. He has been awarded for these acts of civic heroism by the California legislature and various organizations across the nation.

The case of Scott Negron is on the frontline in the battle for legalizing medical cannabis in Georgia. Georgia is one of the most repressive states in the nation when it comes to the medical cannabis. Because Georgia's medical marijuana law only provides protection from prosecution if a qualified patient possesses a legal amount of oil, there is no provision in Georgia law that suggests how a patient might actually obtain medical marijuana. In summary: Georgia's medical marijuana law does not legalize the production or sale of marijuana, it simply decriminalizes its possession by certain qualified individuals. And that is where Scott is caught in the legal crosshairs.

In 2015, a Cobb County police officer claimed he could smell cannabis odors coming from Scott's house, while he (the officer) was on the other side of the street. After Scott and his caregiver, David Mazurek refused the officer entry without a warrant, the officer went back and obtained a warrant. Scott and David were arrested because of the cannabis inside for Scott's medical treatment. But the kicker was what they were charged with - "Trafficking", a felony that carries a 5 to 15 year prison sentence if they were convicted. This happened, despite the fact that there was no evidence at all to support the charge - there were no scales, no packing equipment, no bulk, no guns, and no money. At the same time that this was happening, several robberies in the area were not being responded to by the police.

David Mazurek, Scott's caregiver has never smoked cannabis nor been in trouble with the law. Prior to being Scott's caregiver, David had been caregiver for Scott's grandparents. Ultimately, prosecutors abandoned the charges against David but not against Scott.

Scott's struggle has been going on for two years as prosecutors relentlessly pursue this case. As of now, they will not consider dropping the charges despite the fact that what Scott was charged with may ultimately be declared legal in Georgia nor the fact that the medical cannabis was desperately needed for Scott's medical condition. They have seemed to care less that Scott is in severe pain and suffering without medical cannabis and has been for over twenty years.

The GoFundMe Account is a means to help Negron pay for the legal defense to fight these arbitrary and baseless charges.

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