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MAN WHO GREW MEDICINAL MARIJUANA DIES

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- A Roanoke Rapids man who used marijuana for medicinal purposes and reported to police someone had stolen his pot plants died of cardiac arrest Monday at Halifax Regional Medical Center, a family member said.  Emmit Scott's niece, Shanie Scott, said this morning she did not believe stress from the national attention her uncle's case received complicated her uncle's poor physical condition.

Scott's case, for which he was to have a second appearance in court on Sept.  19, received national media attention as well as the attention from several groups which advocate the legalization of marijuana.

Ms.  Scott, who was busy with other family members working out details of her uncle's funeral arrangements, said her uncle's death has been painful.  "I'm not dealing with this very well," she said, trying to choke back tears.  "I was just like his daughter." The 60-year-old Scott's case gained national attention when he reported to the Halifax County Sheriff's Office someone was stealing some of his marijuana plants from his backyard garden.  Police who answered the call found 27 marijuana plants in Scott's back yard.  Scott was charged with one count of manufacturing a controlled substance and one count of maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance, both felonies.  Scott, who was on dialysis, said he has grown marijuana and several other herbs to use for personal pain relief since 1991.  He said he never sold marijuana and that he did not know it was illegal to grow it for personal use.

Scott did not take out a warrant on the man whom he believed stole the marijuana plants from his garden.

The Associated Press reported Scott's friends said he used marijuana to treat a kidney ailment, sometimes making tea from it.  "After he drank that tea, he felt a whole lot better," said Mary Ashe.  "I know it gave him energy, very much.  He did a lot of chores and stuff out in his yard." Barbara Ashe, who also identified herself as a relative, said Scott did not sell the marijuana but simply grew it for his own use.  "Since they took that stuff away from Emmit, it should show everybody that what he said was right," she said.  "When he was taking it, Emmit was doing good."

A spokesperson for the advocacy group the National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws said Scott's case is an important one for the group's cause.

"This may very well lead to the legalization in more states," the spokesperson said.

Marijuana is currently legal for medicinal use in eight states and Washington D.C.