cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana User Avoids Charges 





Medical Marijuana User Avoids Charges 
Posted by FoM on June 14, 2001 at 20:24:05 PT
By Gene Maddaus
Source: Los Angeles Times
The San Bernardino County district attorney's office declined to file charges against David Fawcett, a crusader for medical marijuana who says he uses the drug to treat shingles and clinical depression.   Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard Maxwell said he made the decision June 7, after reviewing a previous case in which Judge Dennis Cole ruled Fawcett was allowed to possess marijuana under the Compassionate Use Act. 
 The act allows patients to cultivate and possess marijuana for medical reasons.   Fawcett, 45, was arrested May 22 after police officers saw a newspaper story and photographs of his marijuana plants. Officers seized his plants as evidence.   He could still face prosecution under federal law. The case has been referred to the Drug Enforcement Agency, Ontario Police Det. Mike Macias said.   Police were hoping the case would give state judges a chance to clarify the law, which passed in a 1996 statewide referendum.   "The law is not well-written," Macias said. "We felt it was a good test case, and that the courts should give more definitive guidelines to law enforcement."   Macias said the definition of a valid medical condition is vague.   After his release, Fawcett planted new plants, but he began digging them up Thursday morning on the advice of an attorney. Fawcett said he hopes the federal government won't overrule Cole's decision.   "I don't see how they can go through with that," Fawcett said. "I know these guys are out to get me."   He said he got the prescription to use marijuana depression after trying Zoloft, which only made things worse.   "Marijuana works for me. I'm going to continue using it while I have it," Fawcett said. "If not, I'll go off in a hole and die somewhere." Note: County cites judge's ruling in its decision; case passed on to DEA. News from Ontario in the Times Community NewspapersSource: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author: Gene MaddausPublished: Thursday, June 14, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/Related Articles & Web Site:David Fawcett's Ordeal http://www.cannabispatients.com/California Pot Grower Won't Face Local Prosecutionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10045.shtmlMan Moving To Canada Over Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9805.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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