cannabisnews.com: War on Drugs Hits New Low War on Drugs Hits New Low Posted by CN Staff on November 23, 2005 at 12:31:22 PT By Jordan Smith Source: Austin Chronicle USA -- The federal war on medi-pot patients hit a new low last month when Royal Canadian Mounted Police nabbed 38-year-old Steven W. Tuck from his Vancouver, B.C., hospital bed, whisked him to the border, and relinquished him to the custody of U.S. officials, who wanted him on charges related to a 2001 marijuana bust in California. Tuck, an Army vet, uses marijuana to help treat chronic pain associated with injuries he received in a parachuting accident back in the 1980s (reportedly his parachute failed to open during a jump). In 2001, after his marijuana-growing operation in California was busted, Tuck fled to Canada in an effort to avoid prosecution, reports The Washington Post. For four years, he had been navigating the Canadian system, seeking asylum, but was abruptly, and surprisingly, denied that safe harbor last month, says Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML.Police arrested Tuck on Oct. 7 after he checked himself into a Vancouver hospital seeking treatment for prostate problems. According to friend Richard Cowan, Tuck was on a gurney, fitted with a catheter, when RCMP nabbed him, cuffed him, and put him in an SUV bound for the border. "I would not believe it unless I had seen it," Cowan told the Post. Tuck was turned over to authorities and thrown in jail, where he remained for five days with the catheter in place and with only ibuprofen for his pain – pain for which he'd been prescribed morphine and Oxycontin, among other narcotic drugs, says St. Pierre. He was finally taken to court on Oct. 12. "This is totally inhumane," Tuck's lawyer Douglas Hiatt told the Post. "He's been tortured for days for no reason." U.S. Magistrate James P. Donohue re-leased Tuck, at least temporarily, so that he could be taken to a hospital. Tuck's trip to the hospital was waylaid, however, by law enforcement officials who immediately picked him up on a detainer issued by Humboldt Co., Calif., officials in connection with state drug charges related to his growing medi-pot for him-self and others. (Although Tuck is a California state-registered medi-pot patient – meaning he's authorized under state law to possess and grow marijuana for medical purposes – he was also growing for others. At the time, California law enforcers were working under a patchwork of local regulations that defined who could grow for dispensary purposes and exactly how much each person could grow. Tuck had been busted in two different California jurisdictions for growing more than the local law allowed.) After a flurry of phone calls, Tuck was taken to the hospital, and since then his attorneys have negotiated his release from jail – with the promise that he'll make his various California state court appearances. Sources tell "Weed Watch" that given Tuck's medical condition and the current state of California's medi-pot laws, his supporters are cautiously optimistic that the state charges against him will be dropped. If that happens, whether Tuck will face any prosecution will be left solely up to the feds, who want him on one count of unlawful flight to Canada to avoid the California charges. Whether the federal narcos will exercise their right to bully the sick remains to be seen. Source: Austin Chronicle (TX)Author: Jordan SmithPublished: November 25, 2005 Copyright: 2005 Austin Chronicle Corp.Contact: louis auschron.comWebsite: http://www.auschron.com/Related Articles & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Patient Arrested at Canadian Hospital Released http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21189.shtmlJudge Releases Patient Arrested in B.C. Hospitalhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21182.shtmlPot Refugee On Way To U.S. After Hopes Dashedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21172.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by FoM on November 23, 2005 at 18:19:18 PT Music Sweet Music There is nothing that is much better for me then music I enjoy. We're watching a movie with Jack Nicholson called Anger Management and it is funny but I love anything Jack Nicholson is in. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Hope on November 23, 2005 at 18:12:43 PT Global Warming Sounds like you are enjoying an evening of music.Enjoy on!"Music! Sweet Rollin Music!" [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 17:47:05 PT Tell Me Why? I Love You so... [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 17:20:29 PT Never been to Spain Kinda like the music [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 17:11:53 PT War On Drugs Hot legsIn evelastingUnderstandingjust a little bitclosergw [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 23, 2005 at 16:34:36 PT global_warming Happy Thanksgiving to you too. My husband is finally in off the road and I feel fine now. It is snowing and is really so beautiful to watch it come down and lay. My dogs were out running around playing in the snow and it was fun watching them having so much fun. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 16:28:56 PT Hot Legs Happy Holiday [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 16:23:45 PT sorry rocking ondancing in the darkdo you dance [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 16:19:04 PT rockin on On this rockamen [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 16:09:35 PT Superstitions Suppositions and Shadows,Warmth, Love, and 'Good VibrationsFill your eveningYour ThanksgivingsHave PeaceUnderstandingThe Blessed Hand of ForgivenessMay UnderstandingLight your Eternity..It is TimeTo end this war on peoplethis 'war on 'drugsMake A Most 'happy thanksgiving [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 14:36:15 PT to the rest of the prisoners This ThanksgivingRings, in 2005A hollow holidayUntil cannabisThe electEnjoy the taste of 'FreedomNot one pageNot another chapterCan unfoldUntilThis war on peopleEnds, andCaste into the bottomless pitThat is best forgottenFor this episodeShall for EternityRemain GarbageShit, that, shall be digestedIn the bowels of 'this universe..End the war on our brothers and sisters,End the war on 'us [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on November 23, 2005 at 13:58:31 PT About Steve I hope that he is with his family and is feeling ok and has hope for a better day. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on November 23, 2005 at 13:51:38 PT I'm thankful this Thanksgiving Eve That our Herbdoc can spend Thanksgiving with his family. I'm so grateful and glad of that.I hope and pray that those who hate us because of what we know and believe or consume or grow or possess will all be denied their schadenfruede on every hand. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by global_warming on November 23, 2005 at 13:24:09 PT Get Over It ! "Whether the federal narcos will exercise their right to bully the sick remains to be seen."In the time it takes to blink your eyes, the Holy Spirit, can fill and illuminate your soul.End this war on people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by runruff on November 23, 2005 at 13:15:41 PT: Miss a chance! To bullie the sick? I don't think so. It hasn't happened yet. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment