This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on September 9, 2013.
The medical marijuana community is a “buzz” surrounding the Department of Justice’s directives ordering federal prosecutors and judges, “to stay away from medical marijuana”. How will judges and prosecutors react? Will POW’s from the medical-marijuana drug war be released, will prosecutions really stop?
What the first step should be, the simplest step, is something easily accomplished and much more simple than the next step, the process of releasing prisoners. State and federal judges, as part of bond or probation conditions should never limit or stop a legal medical marijuana patient from using medical marijuana recommended by a doctor. Too often patients are tangled in the criminal justice system and too often judges are denying their legal access to medication. This is because of a ‘break no rules (state or federal) clause’ for those in the “system”.
US Attorney General Eric Holder (the top cop), through his words, reminded prosecutors and judges that they are not medical professionals and they have no duty to follow dated federal policy. And there is no money to continue down this path.
In Oakland county Michigan, Judge Leo Bowman has denied use of marijuana to a severe and chronic seizure patient, Steve Green (34) as a condition of his bond. “My seizures continued to become more frequent, and more intense, cannabis was a second chance. It gave back my life, freeing me from the shackles of this affliction” said Green.
Given this new DOJ directive, judges, specifically Leo Bowman, should respect the rule of law and show compassion for their fellow man.
In Michigan, the debate is not over control of marijuana, but rather when or if at all a highly educated and licensed physician may prescribe medical marijuana to legitimately sick or injured patients.