cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot Users Allege False Arrest 





Medical Pot Users Allege False Arrest 
Posted by CN Staff on July 25, 2002 at 20:08:55 PT
By Chris Loos, Tribune-Herald
Source: Hawaii-Tribune Herald
A lawsuit was filed Wednesday against a Big Island police officer who arrested three Kona residents who were licensed to grow medical marijuana.The false arrest lawsuit on behalf of Kealoha M.J. Wells, Rhonda M. Robison and John E. Robison II names Kona vice Officer Mark Farias, and other "John Doe" and "Jane Doe" defendants.
The suit, filed by Honolulu attorney Jack Schweigert, alleges that Farias and others "invaded" the plantiffs right to privacy by arresting them on July 8 for growing marijuana on their property and confiscating their property, causing them emotional distress. "Defendants' conduct towards plaintiffs was reckless, oppressive, insulting and indifferent to their rights and medical needs and done without probable cause so as to justify an award of punitive damages," the lawsuit alleges.All three had state permits to use marijuana as medicine. Police later returned 1.5 ounces of processed marijuana but not the 20 marijuana plants they seized. Police said 11 of the plants were mature - two more than allowed for three people under the medical marijuana law.Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida said he hasn't seen the lawsuit but will evaluate it when he does and advise the mayor and County Council. Meanwhile, a Puna resident who is registered to use medical marijuana said he also plans to sue because police cut down three of his plants July 18 in the Leilani Estates subdivision. "I feel severely traumatized," said Guy Shepard, who uses marijuana to treat chronic pain. Shepard was part of a group of Puna and Kona residents who delivered a petition to Mayor Harry Kim's office Wednesday objecting to the Police Department's marijuana eradication missions. Newshawk: Rev. Dennis Shields - http://hialoha.com/konagold/church/Source: Hawaii-Tribune Herald (HI)Author: Chris Loos, Tribune-HeraldPublished: July 25, 2002Copyright: 2002 Hawaii Tribune HeraldWebsite: http://www.hilohawaiitribune.com/Contact: editor hawaiitribune-herald.comRelated Articles:Lawsuits Filed in Two Big Island Cases http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13515.shtml Kona Police Return Confiscated Pakalolo http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13449.shtml
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