Steve McWilliams, co-partner of Shelter from the Storm medical marijuana collective, arrested by the DEA on October 11, 2002 for cultivating a small sideyard garden for a half dozen patients. McWilliams pled guilty to cultivation of 25 plants, with right to appeal, and was sentenced to 6 months in prison on April 28, 2003.

McWilliams was released on bail pending appeal but denied access to marijuana. Suffering intense pain and depression, McWilliams committed suicide on July 11, 2005.

Information provided by www.calnorml.org.