cannabisnews.com: Police Bring Pot Luck To Marijuana Plant Grower Police Bring Pot Luck To Marijuana Plant Grower Posted by FoM on October 25, 2000 at 06:21:41 PT By Timothy Hughes, Times Staff Writer Source: Los Angeles Times For Sheriff's Capt. Frank O'Hanlon, it was proof that the times they are a-changin'. Four days after deputies arrested Moorpark resident Jenny Lipson on suspicion of growing a marijuana plant, O'Hanlon returned the plant and related paraphernalia. Lipson said the marijuana was grown mainly to treat constant migraine headaches and nausea. Lipson greeted O'Hanlon with a tearful smile and a hug. "In 20 years of law enforcement, I never thought I would be returning marijuana, but times are changing," O'Hanlon said as he left Lipson's home Tuesday. O'Hanlon had the approval and support from the top of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department when he stood in Lipson's open door, his right hand extended for a shake and his left hand clutching pipes, matches and stash boxes. O'Hanlon said "an ambiguity that is not understood at this time" led the department to return Lipson's plant and related paraphernalia, a move that ended her four-day trip through the legal system. During that time, she was taken to jail, strip-searched by female deputies and released Sunday after paying $1,000 bail. Sheriff Bob Brooks and O'Hanlon said they decided to return the plants and paraphernalia because of ambiguities created by the passage of Proposition 215 by California voters in 1996. That law made it legal for Californians who are ill to use small amounts of marijuana if they have doctor's permission, which she did not have. They also considered Lipson's time in jail before dropping the charges, Brooks said. Arresting Lipson, Brooks said, was "technically appropriate" but not good judgment. Deputies should have just written her a citation and "put it through the system." Growing marijuana is a felony in California, but possession of less than an ounce is a citable offense, much like a misdemeanor traffic ticket. Authorities arrested Lipson, 40, on Friday night and booked her on suspicion of growing pot, after receiving an anonymous phone tip. They asked if they could search her home, and when she agreed, they found a scrawny and brittle 18-inch plant in a backyard garden area. After she left her 8-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter in the care of neighbors, Lipson was taken to the Moorpark sheriff's station. She ended up at the jail in the sheriff's station in Thousand Oaks, where her bail was set at $10,000. "I never have been through a more humiliating experience in my life," Lipson said. "They came and entered through my garage, with my children playing, and it caught me off guard." Lipson said she started growing pot a few months ago, at a friend's suggestion. The migraines she had suffered since childhood had gotten worse, and she tried pills normally prescribed for depression and epileptic seizures. Nothing worked. Neither did an electric neuromuscular stimulator or hormone medication prescribed by her doctor. Only the marijuana temporarily deadened the migraines, she said. "A to Z, from acupuncture to Zoloft, nothing helped," Lipson said. "[Marijuana] helps me cope. It takes the edge off." O'Hanlon told Lipson on Tuesday that detectives would not be turning over the case to prosecutors. "This puts an end to this case," he said, as Lipman showed him a large plastic bag filled with medication she has tried in her search for pain relief. "Technically, it is illegal to grow marijuana, but we don't want to put you in a situation where you have to go before a judge," he said. Lipson thanked O'Hanlon and said the plant growing among the other weeds and flowers in her backyard was for medicinal use--most of the time. "I do smoke recreationally, on occasion," she said. "Are you sure you want to be telling me this?" O'Hanlon asked. "I just believe in being honest," Lipson said. Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author: Timothy HughesPublished: October 25, 2000Copyright: 2000 Los Angeles TimesAddress: Times Mirror SquareLos Angeles, CA 90053Fax: (213) 237-4712Contact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by AOCP on October 25, 2000 at 15:02:31 PT: What the cops would say if *i* wuz in charge >"This puts an end to this case," he said, as Lipman showed him a large plastic bag filled with medication she has tried in her search for pain relief. A shread of compassion shines through. Whatever happened to the Golden Rule for the rest of em?>"Technically, it is illegal to grow marijuana, but we don't want to put you in a situation where you have to go before a judge," he said. I gotta better one: "Man, i'd hate to be in your situation, but i realize that you ARE honest and i know life is a beautiful thing to be a part of, pain-free. So if this stuff helps you enjoy life and have fun, then you help yourself. Oh, and just a friendly reminder ... you don't have to smoke it ... that's the beauty! Here's some literature on some great vaporizers and recipes for even *cooking* with it! Don't be a stranger now! Cheers!" What's so hard about that? ;)>"I do smoke recreationally, on occasion," she said. >"Are you sure you want to be telling me this?" O'Hanlon asked. >"I just believe in being honest," Lipson said. I don't know that this was absolutely necessary, but she definitely has some huevos. Personally, i quit when i'm ahead, but the fact that he just took it mildly is way cool to me. Give it up for the lady! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by observer on October 25, 2000 at 08:22:44 PT Denounced to the Thought Police The thing that really bothers me is why the search on an anonymous tip? What ever happened to probable cause? Can I make a call to the Copers and RAT on anyone and be anonymous? To me thats almost Nazi tactics.It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children. And with good reason, for hardly a week passed in which The Times did not carry a paragraph describing how some eavesdropping little sneak -- 'child hero' was the phrase generally used -- had overheard some compromising remark and denounced its parents to the Thought Police. . .. . .'Who denounced you?' said Winston. 'It was my little daughter,' said Parsons with a sort of doleful pride. 'She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don't bear her any grudge for it. In fact I'm proud of her. It shows I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway.'1984, George OrwellHopefully, as the truth overcomes lies, we'll see more Sheriff's Captains return to protecting and serving the people, rather than protecting and serving the vested interests of prohibition. George Orwell [Eric Blair]: "1984" [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Thomas on October 25, 2000 at 07:04:56 PT Error in their ways? The thing that really bothers me is why the search on an anonymous tip? What ever happened to probable cause? Can I make a call to the Copers and RAT on anyone and be anonymous? To me thats almost Nazi tactics. Its great that ther was no real jail time, did the police see the errors of their ways? 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