|
 
Welcome to the Shroomery Message Board! Please  login or  register to post messages and view our members-only content. You'll gain access to additional forums, encrypted messages, file attachments, board customizations, and much more!
|
 b0red5tiff
i deliver the news
Registered: 09/16/06
Posts: 7,930
Loc: \m/
Last seen: 6 seconds
|
 Marijuana advocate wins $800 award
#8396274 - 05/13/08 11:15 AM (4 months, 28 days ago) |
|
|
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/261990.html
Nearly two years ago, medical marijuana advocate Sam Matthews set out to prove he was on the right side of the law in his battle with the city over his seized marijuana buds.
He was vindicated Monday and awarded $800.
Merced County Superior Court Judge Ron Hansen ruled that Matthews deserved $300 as compensation for the 26.5 grams of marijuana confiscated by Merced police and an additional $500 for the pain and suffering for the time he went without his medicine. Matthews had first sought $7,500.
"It's not about the money," the 26-year-old explained. "It's the self- satisfaction that I stood up for what I believe. It's the law in California, and it's my right."
Merced city spokesman Mike Conway said the judge ruled that the city followed the law, but awarded Matthew's the money in the interest of justice.
Between Matthews filing his October 2006 claim against the city and the hearing, a three-justice panel from the state's 4th District Court of Appeals ruled that police must return seized medical marijuana.
"We respect his (Hansen's) decision," Conway said. "We plan on following the law. We will also follow any judge's order."
The decision marks the end of Matthews' long, strange trip through the court system, which he often characterized as a David-versus-Goliath clash.
The case transformed the Merced College student studying heating and air conditioning into a pseudo-legal scholar who tossed out Latin legal phrases like "res judicata" and "ex parte" when discussing his battle.
Matthews apologized for his cocky and combative nature that marked the first year of his battle and said he believes people hold the wrong image of him.
"I'm not some burned-out stupid pothead like people think I am," said Matthews, adding that he doesn't smoke in front of his 9-month-old daughter. "I was really angry. It hurt my feelings -- the way (the city) treated me."
Matthews sued the city asking that it return two fistfuls of medical marijuana seized in October 2006 after officers found him smoking in his parents' garage to alleviate the pain from scoliosis and a left leg that's shorter than his right one.
At the time, he carried an Alameda County medical marijuana card.
It was before Merced County had begun issuing them.
The case fell into the sticky contradictions between state and federal drug laws, with the city arguing at the time that it couldn't return the weed and compensating Matthews would be tantamount to buying the drug with taxpayer money.
Californians had approved Proposition 215, legalizing the use of marijuana for medical ailments, in 1996.
Federal law keeps it illegal even if it's for medicinal purposes.
Matthews filed a claim against Merced in August 2007 demanding his pot be returned and asking for $7,500 in pain and suffering.
A small claims judge awarded him $1,700, a decision the city appealed, which resulted in the most recent ruling.
In a separate, but related, case, Superior Court Judge Carol Ash dismissed criminal charges against Matthews in May 2007 and also told police to return his pot.
Three weeks later, the city asked for a reconsideration, and Ash reversed her decision. The police destroyed the marijuana immediately.
Matthews testified in court about his ordeal. His attorney, George Alonso, used local medical marijuana advocate Grant Wilson as an expert witness about the 1996 proposition.
The city won't be able to pay Matthews until the case file is updated to include the ruling.
As for what Matthews plans to do with his victory check? Maybe take his wife and daughter to Disneyland this summer.
There's always the Alice in Wonderland ride that features, among other thrills, the caterpillar.
He -- at least in Lewis Carroll's original -- smoked a hookah.
--------------------
 
This is not a dream, not a dream...
We are using your brain's electrical system as a receiver...
We are unable to transmit through your conscious neural interference...
You are receiving this broadcast as a dream...
We are transmitting from the year 1-9-9-9...
|
 Geomancer
Seeker of Wisdom
Registered: 05/09/08
Posts: 282
Loc: the shadows of your mind
|
Re: Marijuana advocate wins $800 award [Re: b0red5tiff]
#8397158 - 05/13/08 03:00 PM (4 months, 28 days ago) |
|
|
"The police destroyed the marijuana immediately."
destroyed = smoked
|
 perosiste
Overcomplicates shit for fun
Registered: 03/26/08
Posts: 947
Last seen: 21 hours, 34 minutes
|
Re: Marijuana advocate wins $800 award [Re: Geomancer]
#8397176 - 05/13/08 03:03 PM (4 months, 28 days ago) |
|
|
nope Im pretty sure they vaped it
--------------------
Risk Management will be the downfall of western civilization.
My avatar really says "Holy Fuck I love being white"
|
Coaster
ChemicalResearcher
Registered: 05/22/06
Posts: 12,538
Loc: La La Land
Last seen: 1 minute, 56 seconds
|
Re: Marijuana advocate wins $800 award [Re: perosiste]
#8397933 - 05/13/08 06:43 PM (4 months, 28 days ago) |
|
|
they prolly jus resold it
--------------------
| |
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
