cannabisnews.com: Man Busted for Possession Says MMJ Law Limiting





Man Busted for Possession Says MMJ Law Limiting
Posted by FoM on August 22, 2000 at 10:49:40 PT
By Associated Press
Source: Boston Globe
The limits in Maine's medical marijuana fail to take into account lower-income people who must grow the plant outside their homes during summer to stock up for winter, according to a Vassalboro man who was arrested for having more marijuana than the law allows. Carroll Cummings, 53, said bail conditions from his recent arrest for having too much marijuana means he no longer can use the drug to treat his condition. 
Cummings was arrested because he had more than the six plants and 1¼ ounces of processed marijuana the law allows patients to possess. He had 37 plants and one pound of processed marijuana at his Nelson Road trailer, said Kennebec County Sgt. Randall Liberty. He is charged with unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and marijuana cultivation. The problem is the law, said Cummings, who disputes the number of plants police said they seized but admits to having more than the law allows. It isn't practical for low-income Mainers who must grow their plants outside during the short growing season, he said. He said he buys by the pound rather than the ounce because it is cheaper to buy in bulk, just as it is at the grocery store. ''I didn't write the medical marijuana law, but if I had, I'd write that you can have enough to get through until you can replenish your supply,'' he said. ''I can't grow pot in the winter.'' He also denied that he was selling marijuana and insisted scales found by police were so he could make sure he got what he paid for. ''When you buy shoes, you try them on to make sure they are the size advertised, don't you?'' he asked. Police also said that Cummings did not have the required note from his doctor saying he could benefit medically from use of the drug. Cummings said he has a letter but could not find it. The law approved in November limits medical marijuana use to those who have nausea, vomiting or wasting syndrome from AIDS; who are undergoing chemotherapy; who have glaucoma; or who have chronic seizures or muscle spasms. Patients must be under a physician's care and must discuss the use of medical marijuana with the physician. Cumming's doctor, Dr. John Woytowicz, said Cummings is a good example of someone who meets the criteria of Maine's medical marijuana law. ''He has worked very closely with the medical field to try other alternatives. He has a very unusual problem,'' Woytowicz said. ''Staying within the law is tricky,'' the doctor added. ''I think his intentions were good.'' Cummings suffers from muscle-hardening torticollis that he says has ruined three discs in his neck. He also suffers from a condition that is deteriorating the bones in his back and hips, he said. Since he can no longer use medical marijuana to treat his pain, he has had to turn to morphine, he said. ''I have bona fide proof I'm a medical marijuana patient,'' Cummings said. ''If I can't do this without being harassed by the vegetable police, then nobody's safe.'' Vassalboro, Maine (AP)Published: August 22, 2000© Copyright 2000 Boston Globe Electronic Publishing, Inc. Related Articles & Web Site:Mainers For Medical Rightshttp://www.mainers.org/Editorial: Maine's Medicinal Marijuana Loophole http://cannabisnews.com/news/5/thread5150.shtmlBill Would Let State Supply Medical Marijuana Userhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5059.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - Maine:http://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=MaineCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on August 22, 2000 at 22:11:02 PT
not with me 
you wont get any problem from me. I am from Colorado and I hope to meet you somewhere in Rocky Ole Mtns if you should decide to move to Colorado.:)Presently, I am looking to see what will happen this coming Nov. elections. Alaska is viving to legalize the herb. One town in Mich. put the ballot trying to pass personal use up to couple ounces and few plants. Another town in Calif. up in Humbolt area putting up a ballot telling the law to leave people alone who grows up to 25 plants. And in Colorado, we will pass this law for people who need them.See link http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/rivers0817.htmI do agree that Colorado ballot is not perfect but it will signal the world something. Colorado was the first to pass the prohibition laws on cannabis. Hopefully, it will show the world it is time to stop this insanity.I want you to be safe my friend.Peace be with you.\/"War is Hell""Love is Peace"
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Comment #1 posted by nl5x on August 22, 2000 at 18:58:09 PT
a.m.r. plan flawed
this is what the grassroots activist said would happen with the soros/a.m.r plan.i will be moving to colorado soon and will be put in the same position as Carroll Cummings.well at least it's a start, i guess?
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