cannabisnews.com: Officials Drop Charge in First Marijuana Case Officials Drop Charge in First Marijuana Case Posted by FoM on May 19, 2001 at 07:06:34 PT By David Connerty-Marin, Press Herald Writer Source: Portland Press Herald Prosecutors dropped their case Friday against the first person in Cumberland County accused of possessing medical marijuana without a doctor's permission. When he was charged last December, Charles Wynott said he needed the marijuana for medicinal purposes. Wynott, who has AIDS, produced a note from his doctor in Florida saying just that.But Maine's new medical marijuana law says such a letter must be from a doctor licensed in Maine. The state gave Wynott time to find a Maine doctor willing to write him a note, and postponed prosecution a second time when Wynott had difficulty finding someone. This week his own family practitioner, Dr. Owen Pickus, signed a letter on his behalf, and the District Attorney's Office agreed to drop the charge on Friday.Pickus is an osteopathic doctor who specializes in cancer and AIDS treatment.Marijuana, advocates say, helps reduce nausea that is often associated with drugs prescribed for AIDS, cancer and other diseases. By taking marijuana, patients can take their medication and still have an appetite.Wynott obtained the doctor's note on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that distributing marijuana, even for medical purposes, is against federal law. But the ruling does not affect state laws, and the federal government rarely prosecutes individuals for marijuana use.Maine law allows patients with a doctor's permission to possess small amounts of marijuana, and to grow up to six marijuana plants for their own use.But doctors have been hesitant to write notes for patients because marijuana is not an FDA-controlled drug and its distribution is illegal under federal law."No doctors in the state of Maine wanted to touch the issue," said Wynott, who helped draft the legislation that Maine voters passed in 1999. "I'm sure every doctor in the state of Maine is guarded." To remedy that, Maine legislators have been considering a trial distribution system in one county.Advocates for medical marijuana say patients should be able to buy the drug through pharmacies or cooperatives."The access thing is the main thing," said Wynott. "Now that I'm legal to get it, to have it, the fact of the matter is I can't get it."Complete Title: Officials Drop Charge in First Medical Marijuana CaseSource: Portland Press Herald (ME)Author: David Connerty-Marin, Portland Press Herald WriterPublished: Saturday, May 19, 2001Copyright: 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.Contact: letters pressherald.comWebsite: http://www.portland.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Mainers For Medical Rightshttp://www.mainers.org/Maine Awaits Drug Ruling http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9002.shtmlMedical Marijuana Law Leaves Patients Vulnerable http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8640.shtmlAIDS Patient Faces Trial in Rare Marijuana Casehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8530.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by tim bauer on July 22, 2001 at 18:23:55 PT: what about me? personally when it comes to my health i don't really want a doctors opinion. so i have to prescribe my own medicine for what ails me. so what about me? just shit out of luck? don't get to smoke the herb till i get pemission? ya right!!!tim [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by lookinside on May 19, 2001 at 17:13:34 PT: getting it... access is the big problem, isn't it? i hope some of the bighearted growers in maine look this gentleman up...if big brother hadn't stopped my cultivation, i'd be tryingto contact him from sunny california..fyi folks...FEDEX delivers overnight... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: