Pubdate: Wed, 22 Sep 2010
Source: Anniston Star (AL)
Copyright: 2010 Consolidated Publishing
Contact:  http://www.annistonstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/923
Author: Chris Butts
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n668/a06.html

Jailed for Medicine

DEFENDANT IS NO CRIMINAL

Re "Anniston man finds one state's medicine is another's illicit 
drug" (News article, Aug. 18):

On Dec. 15, 2009, a crime was committed. That crime was the arrest of 
Michael Lapihuska for a gram of marijuana. Michael is a medical 
marijuana patient from California who has a legitimate recommendation 
from his physician to use marijuana. I have come to know Michael over 
the past several months, and I can tell you he is someone who is a 
joy to be around. He loves people, nature and riding his bike all 
over this great state, at times stopping and volunteering at local 
soup kitchens to help feed the less fortunate. He is, under no 
circumstances, a criminal.

While I understand possession of marijuana is still a crime in this 
state, what I can't understand is why? How can district attorneys in 
this state justify continuing to prosecute sick people for a medicine 
that has been made legal in almost 30 percent of our great country? 
How can they justify using limited law enforcement resources and our 
tax dollars to arrest and incarcerate people for a victimless crime?

I pray that when this matter goes before a jury, they will invoke 
"jury nullification" and take a stand against this unjust law. No 
matter where you stand on the issue of drugs, denying sick people a 
medicine that is recommended by their physician is just simply wrong. 
Putting sick people in prison is criminal.

Christopher Butts

Cullman
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