Supporters of Charles Lynch, the Arroyo Grande man convicted in August of selling marijuana from his medical marijuana dispensary, recently gathered in front of the federal courthouse where he was tried to support Lynch and call for a retrial.

Lynch is facing 20 or more years in federal prison for operating Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers, the Morro Bay Dispensary which was raided and effectively shut down in March 2007. Under California law, caregivers can provide marijuana to patients with a doctor’s recommendation. The sale of marijuana remains illegal, even for medical purposes, under federal law.

According to a posting on the website of a Lynch support group, Friends of Charles C. Lynch, a request for retrial will be heard Nov. 4. His sentencing is still scheduled for Nov. 24. Lynch is currently out on bail, awaiting sentencing.