Judge Upholds Seizure of Medical Marijuana
A federal judge refused to return an ounce of cannabis to a California man Wednesday, saying the forfeiture was prompted by the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling against medical marijuana.
It is believed to be one of the first forfeitures since the high court ruled last week that patients cannot claim a medical necessity defense under pot possession laws.
Christopher Giauque had a doctor’s recommendation to smoke marijuana to relieve chronic back pain. Officers seized his marijuana but no charges were filed.
A judge ordered Sheriff Dennis Lewis to return the marijuana, but he refused. Lewis was held in contempt of court, and he sued the federal government.
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