Pubdate: Thu, 20 Dec 2007
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2007 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Andre A. Rodriguez
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MARIJUANA GROWER: 'I WANTED TO HELP'

Columbus Man Claims He Grew Marijuana For Medicinal Purposes

HENDERSONVILLE - A man accused of running  Henderson County's largest 
and most sophisticated  marijuana growing operation says he did it 
out of  compassion.

Tod Aiken, of Columbus, said Wednesday the marijuana  that led to his 
arrest was being sold for medicinal  purposes.

"There's a lot of people out there that need medical  marijuana," 
Aiken said. "I'm a man of compassion. I  wanted to help these people."

Aiken said he began growing marijuana in 2000 to help  counteract the 
effects of hepatitis C treatments.

Henderson County Sheriff Rick Davis said Tuesday that  deputies on 
Dec. 10 found 220 marijuana plants and  equipment worth up to $20,000 
inside a mobile home  Aiken owned in the Jeter Mountain community.

Aiken and his wife, Sharon, were arrested Dec. 11 at  their Columbus home.

Growing marijuana is still against the law, whatever  Aiken's 
reasons, Davis said.

"The ultimate answer here is to look to the law and the  law clearly 
says that to manufacture it is a  violation," Davis said. "The 
charges are very  appropriate."

Aiken, 50, is charged with maintaining a drug house 
and  manufacturing marijuana. His wife is charged with two  counts of 
trafficking in marijuana and one count of  conspiracy to sell and 
deliver the drug.

Aiken is scheduled to be in court Jan. 4. He said the  medical 
marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe  Access has come to his 
defense and is providing him  support.

Aiken said he wants to be a medical marijuana advocate.
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