Despite Court Order, Police Keep Patient's Meds.

[greenbuddha]

US CO: Despite Court Order, Police Hold On To Pot

 

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URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n559/a05.html

Newshawk: http://www.facebook.com/EFSDP

Votes: 0

Webpage: http://www.gazette.com/news/police-146787-held-pot.html

Pubdate: Fri, 02 Nov 2012

Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO)

Copyright: 2012 The Gazette

Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/

Website: http://www.gazette.com/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165

Author: Matt Steiner

 

 

DESPITE COURT ORDER, POLICE HOLD ON TO POT

 

Authorities held on to a Colorado Springs leukemia patient's stash of medical marijuana Friday, even after a court ordered its return.

 

Bob Crouse, who was acquitted on felony drug charges in late June, and his attorney Clifton Black went to the Police Operation Center on Friday and were greeted by news of a possible appeal by the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

 

"They said they were sorry we were told one thing yesterday and another thing today," Crouse said after a police officer explained the situation to him behind closed doors. "They said they were just following instructions."

 

According to the court order signed Tuesday, the 6 pounds of refined marijuana and more than 50 plants seized from Crouse's home in May 2011 must be returned to Crouse "within 10 days from the date of this order."

 

Crouse was arrested after police said he was using the plants to make pot-infused barbecue sauce. The man said that the large amount of pot was needed in order to extract crucial parts of the marijuana to fight off his disease. His case has become a rallying point for the pro-marijuana community who say that his case shows how authorities treat users of legalized medical marijuana.

 

Lee Richards, a spokeswoman from District Attorney Dan May's office, addressed the failure to return Crouse's pot.

 

"The Colorado Springs Police Department asked the DA's office to send it to our appellate attorney for review to see if it's something that should be appealed," Richards said.

 

Crouse's attorney argued that holding the evidence is unconstitutional.

 

Black cited Colorado Constitution Amendment 20, which states that marijuana seized by law enforcement officals "shall be returned immediately" upon acquittal.

 

"It just drives me crazy to see us waste taxpayer's money attacking a cancer patient," Black said.

 

About a dozen supporters of Crouse and the medical marijuana industry gathered outside the police department building Friday. Among those present was Howard Wooldridge, a former police detective in Michigan turned activist for marijuana rights.

 

"Today I came to essentially apologize for law enforcement for the way they've treated the leukemia patient Bob Crouse," Wooldridge said, sitting atop his brown and white horse and wearing a T-shirt that read "Cops say legalize pot, ask me why."

 

Jason Warf of the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council joined Crouse supporters on Friday.

 

Warf and Crouse both expressed concerns that even if the DA's appeal fails, they do not believe Crouse's pot will be in usable condition after months in an evidence locker.

 

"After a few months of laying around, it's useless," Warf said.

MAP posted-by: Matt

[bobandtorey]

US CO: Despite Court Order, Police Hold On To Pot

 

• Get Active
  
• Subscribe
  
• Support Us
  

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n559/a05.html

Newshawk: http://www.facebook.com/EFSDP

Votes: 0

Webpage: http://www.gazette.com/news/police-146787-held-pot.html

Pubdate: Fri, 02 Nov 2012

Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO)

Copyright: 2012 The Gazette

Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/

Website: http://www.gazette.com/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165

Author: Matt Steiner

 

 

DESPITE COURT ORDER, POLICE HOLD ON TO POT

 

Authorities held on to a Colorado Springs leukemia patient's stash of medical marijuana Friday, even after a court ordered its return.

 

Bob Crouse, who was acquitted on felony drug charges in late June, and his attorney Clifton Black went to the Police Operation Center on Friday and were greeted by news of a possible appeal by the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

 

"They said they were sorry we were told one thing yesterday and another thing today," Crouse said after a police officer explained the situation to him behind closed doors. "They said they were just following instructions."

 

According to the court order signed Tuesday, the 6 pounds of refined marijuana and more than 50 plants seized from Crouse's home in May 2011 must be returned to Crouse "within 10 days from the date of this order."

 

Crouse was arrested after police said he was using the plants to make pot-infused barbecue sauce. The man said that the large amount of pot was needed in order to extract crucial parts of the marijuana to fight off his disease. His case has become a rallying point for the pro-marijuana community who say that his case shows how authorities treat users of legalized medical marijuana.

 

Lee Richards, a spokeswoman from District Attorney Dan May's office, addressed the failure to return Crouse's pot.

 

"The Colorado Springs Police Department asked the DA's office to send it to our appellate attorney for review to see if it's something that should be appealed," Richards said.

 

Crouse's attorney argued that holding the evidence is unconstitutional.

 

Black cited Colorado Constitution Amendment 20, which states that marijuana seized by law enforcement officals "shall be returned immediately" upon acquittal.

 

"It just drives me crazy to see us waste taxpayer's money attacking a cancer patient," Black said.

 

About a dozen supporters of Crouse and the medical marijuana industry gathered outside the police department building Friday. Among those present was Howard Wooldridge, a former police detective in Michigan turned activist for marijuana rights.

 

"Today I came to essentially apologize for law enforcement for the way they've treated the leukemia patient Bob Crouse," Wooldridge said, sitting atop his brown and white horse and wearing a T-shirt that read "Cops say legalize pot, ask me why."

 

Jason Warf of the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council joined Crouse supporters on Friday.

 

Warf and Crouse both expressed concerns that even if the DA's appeal fails, they do not believe Crouse's pot will be in usable condition after months in an evidence locker.

 

"After a few months of laying around, it's useless," Warf said.

MAP posted-by: Matt

 

Well am glad he won his case and hope he gets his Meds back but I would not count on them

We have not got ares back as of yet even after we got are case dismissed

As of this day they don't even have the plants

[Herb Cannabis]

You and so many others including myself, have been fkd by these so called law enforcement people. Why in the hll are they this way? What is so hard to understand that they swore an oath to up hold our laws and they turn around and crap all over us. Why do they get to pick and choose the laws they have sworn to uphold? What the hll is the matter with people?