One of Montana's first medical marijuana caregivers has died during a prison transfer in federal custody. He was being transferred due his worsening medical problems, and after mouths of delays was finally moved to a federal prison more properly equipped to handle his condition, but he never made it.

68-year-old Richard Flor, a Vietnam veteran, was sentenced to five years in prison earlier this year on drug related charges during some spring medical marijuana raids.

His family ran a dispensary out of their home, and Flor was a co-owner of Montana Cannabis. His wife and son were also sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in the business, but his daughter fought for a lighter sentence due her serious health problems.

Flor had been diagnosed with dementia and depression, and he had recently suffered two heart attacks aiding in a decline in his overall health. He was being held at a detention facility in Shelby since April awaiting this transfer to a federal prison better equipped to handle his condition, it was during this transport that Richard Flor passed away.

Family members are very upset about the whole situation that led up to Flor's death. His daughter Kristin told ABC 5 that the family was under the impression Flor was doing everything right and legal under state law, however the federal government felt otherwise and acted in disregard of the law.

MTCIA President Chris Lindsey was quoted by ABC 5 on Flor's case as saying, “It’s sad that Richard was in prison at all for being a caregiver, especially when such a large number of people think marijuana should be available as an option for sick patients . In affect he got a life sentence which is tragic and really kind of hard to imagine. My heart goes out to his family and I can only hope that our government will end the war on marijuana and come up with a better solution than throwing people like Richard into prison.”

As a result of the actions taken by the federal government against state laws, a family lost a father and are all imprisoned for trying to get patients their much needed medication. Their compassion were their own demise and now the feds have broken apart one more American family. This under supposed states rights in the land of the free.