Washington Man Acquitted In Medical Marijuana Case

[Jim Finnel]

Kitsap County Superior Court jurors have acquitted an Olalla, Wash., medical marijuana user of growing pot illegally and attempting to sell it.

Medical marijuana advocates hailed Tuesday's verdict in the case of 55-year-old Bruce Olson, who suffers from arthritis and other ailments after decades as a stone mason.

Olson says he lost his home and now lives in a travel trailer due to costs involved in fighting the two felony charges filed in May 2007.

Detectives raided Olson's home after an informant told them he had seen the man selling pot. Detectives said they found 48 plants and contended that violated the stateÂ’s original medical marijuana law that said patients could have as much as a "60-day supply."

Since the charges were filed, the state Department of Health has adopted a rule defining that supply as a maximum 15 plants and 24 ounces of pot.

Defense lawyer Thomas Balerud told jurors that none of Olson's 48 plants contained any marijuana that was ripe or usable for medicinal purposes and thus the 48 shouldn't count against the limit.


News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: seattlepi.com
Copyright: 2009 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Contact: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff Directory
Website: Wash. man acquitted in med. marijuana case

 

[Weed420]

This was great exercise in the court sytem. It worked for a change. This where some people really made a difference sitting on the jury. Its why we all need to sit on juries when we can.
The prosecutor and the sheriff haven't changed there philosphy though. They still say there going to prosecute these kind of people. The battle is long from over here in Kitsap County and neighbouring Mason County.

 

[Jim Finnel]

This was great exercise in the court sytem. It worked for a change. This where some people really made a difference sitting on the jury. Its why we all need to sit on juries when we can.
The prosecutor and the sheriff haven't changed there philosphy though. They still say there going to prosecute these kind of people. The battle is long from over here in Kitsap County and neighbouring Mason County.

Jury Nullification