cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot User Says He's Unfairly Singled Out





Medical Pot User Says He's Unfairly Singled Out
Posted by CN Staff on February 27, 2003 at 07:15:28 PT
By Brad Smith
Source: Ventura County Star 
Voters' passage in 1996 of Proposition 215, California's medical marijuana law, has left local agencies around the state, including some in Ventura County, dealing with the vagaries of a measure that never spelled out how much of it an individual may have. The Legislature and the state Department of Justice have not addressed the question either, so standards vary widely, from as many as 99 plants in some counties to less than a half-dozen in others. 
The case of a 33-year-old local man who was arrested in October has prompted at least one local official to ask law enforcement agencies to consider changing the limit. Sheriff's deputies found 29 plants and about one pound of marijuana in Mike Loftus' home. Ventura County's guideline, worked out by the District Attorney's Office and local law enforcement agencies, is six mature plants or one pound of processed marijuana. Loftus is charged with one count of possession of marijuana for sale, a felony, and two misdemeanor counts of child endangerment. He is free on his own recognizance pending a hearing March 5 in Ventura County Superior Court. Loftus, a family man who lives in Newbury Park with his wife, Sandy, and children, Cheyenne, 7, Broc, 5, and Amber, 1, pleaded his case before the Board of Supervisors at its meeting Tuesday. He uses marijuana to deal with an inner-ear disease. He spoke during the period the board sets aside for public comments. The board listened to his statement without comment. "There have been patients cultivating in Ventura County for seven years," Loftus said later Tuesday. "I feel like I'm being unfairly singled out and harassed by the local authorities." Board Chairman John Flynn has asked that agencies reconsider the local limit and come to the board by April 1 with a report detailing the reasoning behind it. "Some people are trying to legalize marijuana, but that's not my point," Flynn said Wednesday. "If it truly helps people, they should be allowed to medicate themselves with it, but it should be under workable standards that everyone understands." Flynn has complained about the local standard before, but his concerns were raised most recently because of Loftus' case. "There's confusion about the law, and the district attorney, sheriff and the board need to sit down together and find some realistic standard," Flynn said. "After that, a meeting should be called of all those people who use it for medicinal purposes and the rules and regulations need to be explained." Sheriff Bob Brooks said he and District Attorney Greg Totten, as elected constitutional officers, have the final say. Brooks said the current allowed amount is appropriate for medical marijuana users. "We found our limits to be pretty much in the mainstream of the jurisdictions that have established guidelines," Brooks said. "I can't say what's going to be satisfactory to the supervisors, but from a law enforcement perspective we think it is adequate."Complete Title: Medical Pot User Says He's Being Unfairly Singled OutSource: Ventura County Star (CA)Author: Brad SmithPublished: February 27, 2003Copyright: 2003 The E.W. Scripps Co.Contact: letters insidevc.comWebsite: http://www.staronline.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmCase Highlights Debate Over State Medical Pot Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15560.shtmlJudge Orders Return of Pot Plants To Medical User http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11571.shtml
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