Benton Mackenzie, 49, whose story hit national headlines after he was convicted for growing medical marijuana died from the disease, Huffington Post reports. Mackenzie who was tried in July and sentenced to probabtion in September after his conviction for growing medical marijuana to make an oil which he was using in treating his tumors has had a failing and rapidly deteriorating health since the trial.
Mackenzie and his wife were both convicted by an Iowa District court for manufacturing marijuana and conspiracy. Their son, Cody was also convicted of drug possession. However, the family was surprisingly not given a jail term, but sentenced to probation.
Mackenzie was reported to have suffered from an uncommon yet aggressive form of cancer called Angiosarcoma and to obtain treatment after his conviction, he had to be traveling to Oregon where medical marijuana is legal. Although,Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, 23 states in the US have legalized its use for medical purposes while 10 others have also legalized the medical use of CBD oil.
Mackenzie’s wife of 22 years reportedly told Quad-City Times that “I’ve got a big empty pit in the middle of my chest right now.” Mackenzie’s mother also told the same news media that he was “at peace” with cancer and his conviction at the time he died.
