cannabisnews.com: Pot Returned ~ All 4 Pounds Of It

cannabisnews.com: Pot Returned ~ All 4 Pounds Of It
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Pot Returned ~ All 4 Pounds Of It
Posted by CN Staff on February 11, 2010 at 07:34:55 PT
By Kurt Madar, The Triplicate
Source: Daily Triplicate
California -- Daniel Sosa didn’t know what to expect when he flew into Crescent City on Friday to pick up 4 pounds of marijuana.Sosa had a 2 p.m. appointment with the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office to get back marijuana that was confiscated in February 2009 during a routine traffic stop. His appointment, and the subsequent handoff, was a first for both Sosa and the Sheriff’s Office.
“This is the first time we’ve released that quantity of marijuana,” said sheriff’s Commander Tim Athey. “It’s not something we like to do.”According to Sosa, who operates two medical marijuana dispensaries in Las Angeles, it took a call from his lawyer to the Sheriff’s Office before the marijuana was released.“I went into the office and tried the phone but got voice-mail,” Sosa said. “My lawyer said that I had a 2 p.m. appointment, it only took an extra 15 minutes or so before the evidence officer came out.”Sosa said that the evidence officer, Deputy John Olson, directed him to wait in his car down the block from the Sheriff’s Office.“It seemed weird,” Sosa said. “I was worried that they were going to arrest me again.”As Sosa waited across the street from the Sheriff’s Office parking lot, Olson wheeled out a shopping cart with a cardboard box containing the 4 pounds of pot.“It was surreal,” Sosa said. “There we are on the street, and we are going over an evidence sheet and pulling out bags of medicine. I mean we were just on the street.” According to Athey, the only odd part of the exchange was the fact that so much marijuana was being returned.“We always release anything with any kind of weight out there,” Athey said. “It’s right outside the evidence locker door, it’s secure and we don’t want people getting injured carrying stuff up the stairs. In some cases if the object to be returned is heavy enough we actually have people back up to the door.”Sosa was arrested in February 2009 after being pulled over for a broken headlight.Law enforcement officers smelled marijuana when they approached the car and a subsequent search produced approximately $7,000 in cash? and more than 4 pounds of processed marijuana.“This has been dragging on for a long time,” Sosa said. “The DA (District Attorney’s Office) kept trying to make a deal, but I refused anything that didn’t include a dismissal and getting the medicine returned.”According to Sosa, the DA’s Office offered to plead down to a misdemeanor, then to an infraction, before the matter was finally settled in a deal where Sosa forfeited $4,500 of the approximately $7000 he was carrying, but received all of the marijuana back.“I believe that this upholds the credibility of cannabis dispensing collectives in Del Norte County,” Sosa said. “It’s a great example of California law being upheld like it should.”Neither Athey nor District Attorney Mike Riese expressed happiness at releasing such a large amount of marijuana.“We were required to release the money and the marijuana because of a plea bargain reached by the DA and Sosa’s lawyer,” Athey said. “While we had to do it, it still doesn’t seem right and it would be nice to get some of these laws finally figured out.”Riese agrees that the California medical marijuana laws are a source of confusion for law enforcement.“Ultimately Sosa had all the right financial documents and could show that he was within Proposition 215 (the medical marijuana legislation),” Riese said. “This issue really needs to be clarified in the courts, because so far we have gotten some decent guidance on how to proceed and some terrible guidance.”“We’ve had cases at the state level that clarify the issue and then cases that have made it even more difficult to decide what is legal and what isn’t,” Riese said. Source: Daily Triplicate, The (Crescent City, CA)Author: Kurt Madar, The Triplicate Published: February 10, 2010Copyright: 2010 Western Communications, Inc.Contact: tripnews triplicate.comWebsite: http://www.triplicate.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/nELXlTb4CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #16 posted by Brandon Perera on February 12, 2010 at 17:45:46 PT:
Thank you very much Rev!!
I really appreciate the information? i live in Iowa. How would I spread the word of this fast? though
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #15 posted by runruff on February 12, 2010 at 04:38:34 PT
"Rememberable"
I sometimes must invent words to express more accurately. OK, about that, I am just fooling around!The thing is, prohibition effectively wipes out half of our contract with the Federal Government. Half of our rights and guaranteed freedoms are moot under prohibition! Corporate control moved in to fill the gaps. What wars and imperialism could not do, scaring granny into voting to protect her from the boogeyman, was all it took! So what I am getting at is that when cops said pot prohibition was job security, that means in real terms that subverting the national political integrity is job security?
Needed to be said!
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #14 posted by runruff on February 12, 2010 at 04:07:31 PT
Most rememberable cop claim!
"If you don't like the law change it"! I was told that one about three times myself back in eighties/nineties. I heard the pure disappointment in the voices of my friends as cops repeated the same phrase to them with their sarcastic, self satisfied smirks. All cops used to call cannabis eradication "job security". If prohibition is "job security" what is freedom from prohibition to them?Lately, here in Oregon, since we have changed the asset forfeiture laws and since the implementation of MMj laws, now with legalization referendums on the horizon, I haven't heard even one smart ass GED educated LEO, butcher the language with his inane predictions. Now, an AA educated cop is a formidable adversary! They have been known to string several intelligible words together in a single sentence to produce an unbelievable lie. Some have that talent?So in conclusion, to all cops who will offer advise to the oppressed, I am like Lucy at the Sidewalk psychiatry Booth open for more suggestions. Your last one has worked very well so far. By the way, can you all spell backfire!
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #13 posted by Paint with light on February 11, 2010 at 22:58:38 PT
story brought back memories
A few years ago I headed home from a girlfriend's house and got pulled over for a non-functioning headlight.It was wintertime and it was cloudy inside my van(nudge, nudge, know what I mean?).The cop asked me if I knew I had a headlight out.I said no.He said he thought he detected the smell of marijuana.I said that is because I just smoked my last joint awhile back(like 1 minute).I am sure everyone can point out my mistakes up till now.Number one.....make sure you don't have any malfunctioning lights.Number two.......if you are imbibing.....keep the windows down, the spray handy, and mints. Don't consume a large amount.The best advise is not to consume at all while driving.

Not because of how it will affect your driving, but because of the smell.Number three........never admit to anything.Admitting to use made my next move....refusing a search, a moot point.Nothing was found during the search(luckily, plus the dog was busy at some other "crime" scene).I ended up being the guest of the local concrete canyon overnight.At the preliminary hearing, my case was going to be continued until I asked my lawyer to see if they would plead down to reckless driving(the lawyer was going to sit there and let it be continued[more money for them]).That was a good wake up call though. I am way more careful now.That was my third experience with the justice system and each time it was about one thing.........Money.In ~1976 a friend in Nashville got off with 200 pounds for personal use.And a 10,000 fee.So remember.......be careful out there.Legal like paint, or alcohol.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #12 posted by EAH on February 11, 2010 at 21:50:15 PT:
ezrydn
To be fair, medical cannabis laws are so BADLY written that no one can truly claim to understand them. The reason for that is the fact that writing them was SO contentious. This is a perfect example of, once you decide to do something, do it right. Tooth and nail knock down fights aren't how you create new policy that will function well.The drafters of CA's Prop 215 thought vagueness would work in their favor. They thought for sure that vagueness would PREVENT vigorous prosecution.
It turned out that by not specifically striking down all the relevant existing
state law, cops, prosecutors and judges argued that if it wasn't made legal in absolutely clear specific language then it remained illegal. Thousands have been successfully prosecuted on that basis.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #11 posted by FoM on February 11, 2010 at 19:28:41 PT
ezrydn
My opinion is they would not need as many police and they feel insecure about their job so they keep fighting marijuana reform. They are suppose to enforce laws but that seems to have changed. I don't listen to police's opinions on laws whether it's good or bad. It's just not right.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #10 posted by ezrydn on February 11, 2010 at 19:18:48 PT:
Cops and Laws
Have you ever noticed that, for some reason, cops can understand all the laws except the ones dealing with MMJ? I understand that they don't "WANT" to understand them. Yet it shows that they're unsutable for the job they've been given.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #9 posted by RevRayGreen on February 11, 2010 at 16:01:45 PT
Comment #4 posted by runruff
thanks...good stuff.......here is my promo for IOWA 2010......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wobHdSVE3b0NEW 2010 PROMO VIDEO !!IOWA Medical Marijuana Patients Judgement Day 2/17/10 NORML/IA new chapter NORML/515 Membership Meeting 2/13/10
GLOBAL MARIJUANA MARCH over 200+ cities worldwide MAY 1 2010 IOWA STATE CAPITOL 12 NOON NORML is starting a new chapter called NORML 515. NORML will be holding a business meeting of current Iowa NORML members from 2-4 at the Des Moines Social Club. NORML 515 will also be having a membership drive from 4-7 pm with speakers and video presentation. Introductory yearly memberships will be offered for $4.20. Come and support marijuana law reform.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 11, 2010 at 15:25:14 PT
HempWorld
I am sorry that Clinton is having more heart trouble. If he does cocaine at his age and with his heart condition he would be a fool. Stress is a big cause of heart disease.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #7 posted by HempWorld on February 11, 2010 at 14:56:53 PT
Why does Bill Clinton have heart problems?
Past and present cocaine use!
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #6 posted by runruff on February 11, 2010 at 14:25:43 PT
Ya know?
Too many in places of authority have what I call the "Shepherds Complex". These are those here who think god made them shepherds of the sheeple who's job it is to herd and shear the flocks.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #5 posted by EAH on February 11, 2010 at 14:01:20 PT:
notice
Ever since my experience with the justice system, I present people who ask about it with this:Remembering that it is the herb that is dangerous and illegal, who do you think is in more trouble?
A. the guy caught with 100 lbs and $1000?
or
B. The guy caught with 1lb and $100,000?I'm sure readers here know the answer. B of course. They want B's money and they will work very hard to get it and keep it. A's 100 lbs are worthless to them and they simply won't put the same effort into that case. You would think based on the reasons given for cannabis prohibition that the 100 lb guy would be in way more legal trouble. Not really.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #4 posted by runruff on February 11, 2010 at 13:35:06 PT
Everyone here has a song written about them.....
This song is me!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUszp9QFmq4&feature=related
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #3 posted by runruff on February 11, 2010 at 12:55:49 PT
Del Norte County
Notorious!Some years ago I sold wood to the DA this guy replaced.He said he left Del Norte County politics because of prohibition, it was like Lil' Chicago around here!Of course they have no justification to take money. This is exactly the kind of extortion crap that has gone on around here for last 30 years. This story, because of it's uniqueness, caught attention of the MSM. It is funny though that these highwaymen are so greedy they expose themselves for 4,500 bucks! Road stop highway robbery by the Del Norte Courts and police for as long as I have been here.They hauled me in one night in Crescent City for failure to lower my headlights. That was on Friday. Everyday they asked me if I was making bail, I said, no it is cold out and I was enjoying their free meals and magazines. They said I would have to see the magistrate on Monday Morning. Monday morning the magistrate asked me if I made bail? I said, no! He asked me if I knew anyone who would pay my bail? I said, no! He said we may need to hold you over for a week for a hearing? I said, you are going to feed me aren't you? He said, what do you mean? I said, the magazines are old but the food is pretty good!He conferred with others on the bench and then he asked me if I ever heard on OR? I said, Yes but you will never see me again! The magistrate said to the bailiff, show Mr. Sisson out!This is a true story to the letter. It just goes to illustrate how money focused they are over there!
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Comment #2 posted by dongenero on February 11, 2010 at 09:53:50 PT
kept half the cash?
On what legal basis do they keep half the money in his possession? They returned 4 lbs of medical cannabis but kept half the $7000 in his possession? Oh right, they're just trying to uphold the "laws".Sounds like the DA can be bribed, oops, I mean "is principled".
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Comment #1 posted by James Crosby on February 11, 2010 at 08:56:21 PT:
Hmm
This is a good step, but it would have been more just to return the cash as well... Let's stop this.. Support the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act of 2010, and end this madness...http://www.cannabistaxact.org/
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