This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on April 4, 2014.
In the case of Arizona v. Okun, the Supreme Court of the United States on Monday refused to consider overturning the ruling of a lower court that federal law does not prohibit the return of medical marijuana that is improperly seized. In that case, the state of Arizona had seized the medical marijuana belonging to a patient visiting from neighboring California. An Arizona court dismissed the case against Okun, as there is a reciprocity agreement between Arizona and California that protects visiting medical marijuana patients.
However, the sheriff’s department that had arrested Ms. Okun then refused to return the medical marijuana to her, arguing that federal law did not allow it. Ms. Okun fought the sheriff all the way up to the Arizona Supreme Court, which ruled in her favor, holding that federal law did not prohibit the return of her medical marijuana. Monday’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to not grant review means the Arizona ruling stands as law.
While this case is not authoritative over Michigan, it is important because the same arguments raised by that sheriff in Arizona were recently raised by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schutte in the case of Ter Beek v. Wyoming. Just as in Arizona, the Supreme Court of Michigan ruled that federal law does not allow state and local law enforcement to ignore the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to let a similar decision stand is certainly encouraging.
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We should never return drugs to junkies, this high court is exactly that, HIGH.
Medical pot is fake and encourages kids to get high by saying it is OK.
The court must be stoned based on their other recent decisions but Gregory you cannot be serious/ What has cannabis done to you how has it impacted you? Society accepts cannabis it is our government that refuses to and boobs like you
As a medical patient who relies upon it for its tumor rnecrosis factor alpha supressong properties I am furious with your ignorance. I have crohns disease and this plant sooths most of my symptoms without the side affects that the pharma meds have. They work upon the same chemical pathways. And your body has an endocannabinoid system that is the largest signaling system in your central nervous system.
Before you make a commit such as yours you should educate yourself first.
Your an idiot. Probably some dumb f**k who is prescribed a bunch of pills and think that’s ok and good for your health because the government says so.
How do I get the cops to return it without going to the supreme court? Can this decision be pointed out to the sheriffs office that stole my medicine without giving it back to me. Just pissed and want to know how to fight without spending lots of money. Thanks Mr Snider.
Gregory, It’s a scientific fact that marijuana is a healing herb. No one said it’s OK for kids to smoke it. If a doctor prescribed it for anyone including kids, there is good reason. If your child gets cancer and you make the decision to put them through chemotherapy, you are going to see horrible effects on your child. Withering down to nothing because they can’t eat without throwing up. The doctor just might suggest marijuana in a capsule to calm the stomach and make your child hungry and take pain away. Are you going to refuse to help your child? Do your research. Read the Bible. It’s in there. And your reference to ppl who smoke it being junkies, REALLY? You are uneducated and are part of our county’s problem.
Gregory don’t say things until you know your facts. I suffer from Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, and damaged discs in my back. Marijuana helps all of that so much and at age 17 that is a lot for a teenager to deal with. So go do your research and then you’ll realize how much of a positive difference it makes in peoples lives.
Marijuana is not a drug. The government knows it cures cancer and other things,calling us Junkies shows how misinformed you really. Stop believing the reefer madness hype and so your own research. Cannabis saved my life from stage 4 breast cancer they wanted me to do 36 chemotherapys i started medical marijuana here in Mi and im in remission for almost 2 years now.
And the government holds the patent on medical cannabis cause they know what it does. Back in the good ole days farmers were required to grow hemp. Washington our great pres grew weed and hemp and got in more hot water that he taught one of his slaves to read so he would know how to carse for all the crops. Gregory. Just please educate. Yourself. Insyead of calling us junkies. Thanks
If you were sick and it helpdd you or your child you would think differently. I am 64 years old and see nothing wrong with medical marijuana. After it is one of God’s plants or seeds! Its not MAN made!!
you are not that brain washed this plant has been used for medicine for thousand’s of years before pills that kill the FDA approved pills the kill hundreds of thousands a year . know the fact please educate your self before commenting
Gregory u got to be one of the most misinformed people,in ur narrow mind way of thinking u do not see anything good about marijuana,if u suffered with pain,or any of a dozen things that MJ helps you would see it differently,but shame on u for calling people junkies u never know what people r going thru,,,just remember it just might be u next in line,,,
You can not, that’s all!