In 2011, Edwin Schmielding was arrested for growing 8,000 marijuana plants at his farm and greenhouse in Lenawee County, Michigan. U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman felt sympathy for the 61-year-old cancer survivor and only sentenced him 2 years of supervised probation after receiving letters of appeal from family and friends who described Schmielding's countless good qualities.

"This is one that most screams out. This man deserves a break. It's a bad thing that's happened to you but you've lived a good life," U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman stated. The judge was persuaded with the letters sent from Edwin Schmielding's supporters describing the southeastern Michigan farmer and throat cancer survivor as a modest, helpful human being with enough courage during his cancer treatments.

Schmielding confessed that he and his wife, Linda, wanted to sell the pot plants for people approved with medical marijuana consumption even though knowing that the large-scale manufacture is illegal. "I take full responsibility for my actions. I've lived a hard-working life. I give you my word: I'll be a responsible citizen," Schmieding said to the judge as his relatives cried in the courtroom gallery.

"Because of this farming that will someday be legal, his family lost everything. He has suffered enough," brother-in-law Arthur Radabaugh wrote to the District Judge. Schmieding started to raise the marijuana plants in 2010 after years of growing cut flowers and other plants but attorney Sanford Schulman mentioned that most of his client's pot plants were only low quality with several of them still immature.

However, the authorities were quick to negatively react to the sentence carried out. "Probation for a southeastern Michigan farmer caught growing more than 8,000 marijuana plants is not 'logical or reasonable' and sends the wrong message to people considering similar schemes," the head of an anti-drug task force stated on Wednesday.

Detective Lt. Robert Sinclair of the state police reacted as well on the judge's decision. "It does not seem logical or reasonable to sentence a person growing this much marijuana to two years of probation, especially when it obviously was not for personal use but for monetary gain," Sinclair declared.

He further added: "We will continue to pursue all criminal activity including illegal marijuana growing operations. It's inconsequential to me. It's marijuana and it's being grown for profit. That's the way we look at it."

District Judge Friedman had a private meeting first with the attorneys before the court hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Barrington Wilkins said he recommended a prison sentence but he did not contest to the different approach from the sentencing guidelines since Edwin Schmieding has no intention of turning into a Pablo Escobar, the infamous Colombian drug lord.

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