Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jul 2008
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://www.seattletimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

RETURN THE POT

The Seattle Police Department was right to return a laptop and 
patient records seized during a raid on a University District 
medical-marijuana cooperative.

Unless police and King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg 
have evidence of criminal wrongdoing, they should also return 12 
ounces of marijuana and several bongs.

Marijuana is a mind-altering substance and recreational use ought to 
be prohibited. But voters have said, and the law agrees, that this 
reasoning doesn't extend to using the drug for medical purposes. 
Cleared of criminal charges, Martin Martinez, who heads the Life Vine 
cooperative in the University District, has a right to reclaim his property.

Martinez suffered severe neurological damage in a motorcycle accident 
more than two decades ago. He is authorized to possess marijuana for 
medical purposes; Satterberg agrees. State medical-marijuana law 
allows legal users to keep a 60-day supply. Satterberg acknowledges 
the amount of pot taken from Martinez was within the limit.

Follow the logic. Give Martinez all of his property back. Only then 
can Martinez recover from something that shouldn't have happened.

Police came to his office on Northeast 50th Street after neighbors 
complained of the odor of cannabis in the building. After obtaining a 
search warrant, police carted off the pot and files, which included 
detailed medical histories and medical-marijuana prescriptions. 
Police also broke through part of a wall in search of illegal 
marijuana plants. They didn't find any.

Investigating suspicious drug use is appropriate. Along with 10 other 
states, Washington allows marijuana for medical use. This dividing 
line between illegal and legal use is clear enough for police to 
recognize before they knock down walls and cart off personal medical files. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake