MAN GETS PRISON IN POT TRIAL

Tustin Resident Who Said He Had Back Pain Gets 18 Months And A $500 Fine
For Manufacturing

A Tustin man who said he was growing more than 100 marijuana plants to ease
back pain has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Michael William Teague, 33, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge
David O. Carter for manufacturing marijuana. Carter also ordered Teague to
pay a $500 fine and serve four years of supervised release after his prison
term. The judge refused defense attorney J. David Nick's request that
Teague remain free on bail and he was taken into custody.

Acting on a tip, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Department
searched Teague's Tustin home in April 2002 and found 102 to 108 mature
marijuana plants in his garage. The deputies also found a semi-automatic
handgun in the pocket of Teague's jacket in a hallway closet. The gun was
not registered to Teague, and its presence played a role in determining
Teague's sentence, Assistant U.S. Atty. Andrew Stolper said.

Teague, who owns a pool-cleaning company, said he grew the marijuana for
his own use, to assuage back pain from a high school wrestling injury. He
said he was allergic to other pain relievers, such as aspirin, and had a
recommendation from a doctor for medical marijuana.

Stolper said the doctor has since had his license suspended for writing
medical marijuana recommendations without performing examinations.

Teague admitted to sharing marijuana with friends and accepting "donations"
for it, Stolper said.

The prosecutor said Teague was growing the plants for sale, acting as a
"small-time dealer" and that the gun was for protection from customers.

Teague's attorney could not be reached for comment.

Throughout Teague's hearings, more than 20 representatives from Americans
for Safe Access, a national medical marijuana lobbying group based in
Berkeley, showed up for support.