Helena Independent Record, 03 Jan 2013 – Paul Schmidt, owner of the former medical marijuana dispensary Sleeping Giant Caregivers in Helena, has been sentenced to one year in prison for growing marijuana and money laundering and ordered to forfeit $750,000 in alleged profits. In letters to Senior U.S. District Court Judge Charles Lovell, friends wrote that Schmidt, 57, only became a caregiver after seeing how medical marijuana helped his adult son deal with debilitating, chronic pain and deserved little, if any, prison time.

Helena Independent Record, 19 Dec 2012 – In Exchange For Him Waiving Right To Appeal In a highly unusual move, federal prosecutors have agreed to drop six of eight marijuana convictions for Christopher Williams in exchange for his agreeing to waive his right to appeal.

The Billings Gazette, 28 Oct 2012 – HELENA – As Chris Williams waited for a 12-member jury to decide his fate last month on eight marijuana-related charges, he was surprisingly calm for a man who knew he could be jailed for 85 years. He mentioned that he had taken a nap and was reading a book, "Ethics for a New Millennium" by the Dalai Lama. "I was almost finished with it, but continued to reread some of the most enlightening chapters," Williams wrote in a letter from his cell at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby. "The study of philosophy and religion has always interested me, even though I am not the most educated in either subject."

Helena Independent Record, 28 Oct 2012 – FROM MARINE TO DEADHEAD Chris Williams Is a Complex Man Former Medical Marijuana Provider Painted As ‘Compassionate,’ ‘Intimidating’

Helena Independent Record, 13 Oct 2012 – The attorney for Christopher Williams filed a motion Friday seeking an acquittal or at least a new trial for his client, saying U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen erred when giving the jury instructions in the only medical marijuana case in Montana to go to trial. The 12-member jury convicted Williams in Helena on Sept. 27 on eight counts, including conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana; manufacture of marijuana; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and four counts of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. Since the firearm offenses carry a mandatory minimum of five years to life imprisonment, plus mandatory minimums of 25 years for second and subsequent convictions, Williams could be facing a minimum of 80 years in prison.

Helena Independent Record, 28 Sep 2012 – Chris Williams, who wanted to challenge the federal government over its handling of medical marijuana prosecutions in Montana, was led to jail in handcuffs Thursday after 12 jurors convicted him of eight drug- and firearms-related charges. Williams sat quietly and unemotionally, with his hands folded on the table in front of him, as the three men and nine women, their voices shaking at times, told the court that their verdict was unanimous.

Helena Independent Record, 27 Sep 2012 – Federal defense attorney Michael Donahoe requested a mistrial Thursday in the medical marijuana case of Chris Williams after prosecutor Joe Thaggard compared Williams and his partners to dogs. In his closing statement, Thaggard told the jury that Williams was involved in criminal conduct and when he did that, he would get involved with bad people.

Helena Independent Record, 08 Oct 2010 – Medical marijuana growers from throughout Montana will gather in Helena Sunday and Monday for their first organized symposium since their association formed about a year ago. The free event is not just for members of the Montana Medical Growers Association, but also for physicians, lawmakers and members of the general public who are curious about the issues surrounding medical marijuana, notes Jim Gingery, the group’s executive director. The symposium will include panel discussions on the science surrounding cannabis, legal considerations, alternative ways to medicate with marijuana, how to operate a small business, and how to communicate with the public, the press and law enforcement.