Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jun 2008
Source: Hendersonville Times-News (NC)
Copyright: 2008 Hendersonville Newspaper Corporation
Contact:  http://www.blueridgenow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/793
Author: John Harbin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MARLOWE GETS DRUG EQUIPMENT BACK

Polk County Sheriff's officers returned marijuana growing equipment 
Friday afternoon to a local man whose drug charges were dropped 
earlier in the week.

Charges against medicinal marijuana advocate Steve Marlowe were 
thrown out Monday after a judge ruled that deputies showed a 
"reckless disregard for the law" in using a discredited informant's 
statement to obtain a search warrant.

The charges against Marlowe of Mill Spring were dismissed by the 
District Attorney's Office late Monday afternoon, according to 
Marlowe's attorney, Ben Scales.

Marlowe called the Polk County Sheriff's Office on Friday to request 
that his property be returned to him, but was instructed to talk with 
the District Attorney's Office.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office was instructed to return any of 
Marlowe's property that was not considered paraphernalia or marijuana 
itself, Lt, Brent Jackson said. Marlowe pulled his tie-dye colored 
truck up to the Polk County Sheriff's office late Friday afternoon.

"They gave it all back except the pot," Marlowe said.  "I think this 
is a good thing because this is about medical marijuana. I mean if it 
weren't about that, I wouldn't fool with it."

Marlowe said this is the third time he has had his equipment returned 
by the Sheriff's Office after they raided his home. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake