Marijuana charges dropped against candidate for Lake County supervisor

Marijuana charges have been dismissed against a man running for the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

District Attorney Don Anderson said he dismissed the charges against Phil Murphy on Friday because it would be difficult to get a conviction at trial.

Murphy was arrested in November after Lake County deputies said they found 21 pounds of dried marijuana on his Finley Road property. He and his girlfriend were charged with marijuana cultivation and possession for sale.

Murphy contended they were legally growing medical marijuana for six people. He said he will be petitioning the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for the return of the marijuana and firearms they seized during the raid on his property. He said he also plans to sue the department for damages.