The Compassionate Coalition

Keyes Pleads Guilty in Washington Case

April 10th, 2006
by Vanessa Nelson

Sacramento activist and medical marijuana patient Peter G Keyes pled guilty to a charge of "attempted possession" at today's hearing in Burien, Washington. In exchange for the plea, Keyes will get the charge wiped off his record following payment of court fees and completion of a six-month period without criminal activity.

Today's hearing marked Keyes's first appearance in court following an incident in August 2005 in which the Port of Seattle Police seized 10.3 grams of medical marijuana from the activist. Returning from Seattle's world-renowned "Hempfest," Keyes was stopped and searched by Transportation Security Administration agents at Washington's Sea-Tac Airport. When two water pipes and a small jar of medicinal cannabis were found in Keyes's bag, the security officers called in the Port of Seattle Police as well as a representative of Southwest Airlines. Agitated that the police officers refused to acknowledge his status as a medical marijuana patient and denied him a receipt for the confiscated property, Keyes was quickly banned from flying by the airline representative.

It is precisely such assertive behavior that has made this case a highly-debated one in Keyes's hometown. Sacramento medical marijuana activists are deeply divided over the issue of support for Keyes. His critics have said that his judgment and public relations skills are questionable, generating so much controversy that Keyes recently resigned from his position as National Vice President of the Compassionate Coalition. For every critic of Keyes, however, there appears to be a supporter who is just as vocal about defending him. Many activists in Sacramento feel that Keyes is a strong and effective advocate whose case represents the need to establish reciprocity agreements between states that permit the medicinal use of cannabis. "Those of us who are aware of the larger implications of Peter's case will continue to support him in his struggle for justice and freedom from oppression," says Compassionate Coalition Chairman Nathan Sands. "This case affects all medical marijuana patients, and we will support Peter so that we don't have to go through the same harassment in the future."

Keyes's status as a legitimate medical marijuana patient did indeed have sway with the prosecutor in his case. Not a Washington resident, Keyes was unable to mount a medical defense under state law. Sharon Blackford, Keyes's attorney, was nonetheless able to use her client's valid California doctor's recommendation as a negotiation tool when making a deal with the prosecuting attorney.

As for the final word on the ordeal, Keyes feels that he was unfairly targeted and speaks out against those he holds responsible. "My persecutors were wrong from the beginning," says Keyes, "and I got a lot of flak from my contemporaries for standing up and saying so, but the outcome proves that they were wrong and they knew they would never win."

Now relieved of the burden of fighting an out-of-state court battle, Keyes can move on to more important matters. He is free once again to focus his energy on his activist efforts, especially his upcoming rally at the California capitol building on April 23rd, which features high-profile speakers, live music, and educational booths. For more information, visit www.CompassionateCoalition.org