Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jan 2013
Source: Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ)
Copyright: 2013 Arizona Daily Star
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n429/a12.html

ARIZ. RULING ORDERS RETURN OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

An Arizona appellate court has ruled that the Yuma County sheriff must
return marijuana that was seized from a woman with a California
medical marijuana authorization honored by Arizona.

The Court of Appeals' ruling Thursday says medical marijuana seized
from Valerie Okun must be returned to her because Arizona's medical
marijuana law allows people with medical marijuana authorizations from
other states to legally possess marijuana in Arizona.

The marijuana was found Okun's vehicle at a Border Patrol checkpoint
near Yuma. State drug charges against her were dismissed after she
showed she had authorization under California's medical marijuana program.

The Arizona court declined to consider prosecutors' argument that
federal drug law invalidates Arizona's medical marijuana law.

The Court of Appeals' ruling upholds one by a Yuma County Superior
Court judge. 
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