[420 Girl]

The central committee of the St. Charles County Libertarian Party last month urged county Prosecutor Jack Banas to drop criminal charges against Kenneth Wells, accused of growing marijuana in his home.

Wells, 54, of unincorporated St. Charles County, stated in the June 7 Pokin Around column that he grew the plants in his basement for medical reasons that include epilepsy and other neurologic problems stemming from a 1983 stroke.

But Missouri does not have a medical marijuana law that allows growing and using marijuana when prescribed by a medical doctor. Thirteen states have such a law.

Wells' trial is scheduled for Sept. 1. He faces five to 15 years in prison.

"First and foremost, what people do in their own home is their own business," said Allen J. Underdown, chairman of the Libertarian central committee for the county.

"We are allowed to have alcohol and we are allowed to have cigarettes and both are detrimental from medical and personal perspectives," Underdown said.

The Libertarian Party supports the legalization of marijuana not only for medical use but for recreational use, as well.

The party does not typically attract many voters. In the November election for Missouri governor, Libertarian candidate Andrew W. Finkenstadt, of unincorporated St. Charles County, gathered 1,887 votes, or 1 percent of the St. Charles County vote.

Banas said the group should focus on changing state law instead of trying to convince his office to not prosecute those who break the existing law.

Wells' marijuana - 27 plants and 1.4 pounds - was discovered by firefighters when his house on Pond Hollow Drive caught fire Jan. 16, 2008.

Banas has said there is no evidence Wells was selling or distributing marijuana. Banas said he does not consider the amount large enough to make prosecutors suspect Wells was supplying others.

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