GregS
Well-Known Member
It is no secret that we are, for the very most part, section 8.
erm, wrong section 8.
Start again.
The Affirmative Defense, found in Section 8 of the state Medical Marijuana Act, offers protection, not from arrest and due process, but from conviction, for a boatload of activities prohibited by Section 4, which requires compliance with the state registry and attendant rules. The folks at 3ma don't want us to talk about it there, and have clearly said that we can't be trusted with that information. I have yet to see a comprehensive discussion of those issues. Especially with the decision in McQueen, I think the time is right.
It is only a short, one page read, and is very simple.
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Sec. 8. (a) Except as provided in section 7(b), a patient and a patient's primary caregiver, if any, may assert the medical purpose for using marihuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marihuana, and this defense shall be presumed valid where the evidence shows that:
(1) A physician has stated that, in the physician's professional opinion, after having completed a full assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition made in the course of a bona fide physician-patient relationship, the patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from the medical use of marihuana to treat or alleviate the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition or symptoms of the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition;
(2) The patient and the patient's primary caregiver, if any, were collectively in possession of a quantity of marihuana that was not more than was reasonably necessary to ensure the uninterrupted availability of marihuana for the purpose of treating or alleviating the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition or symptoms of the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition; and
(3) The patient and the patient's primary caregiver, if any, were engaged in the acquisition, possession, cultivation, manufacture, use, delivery, transfer, or transportation of marihuana or paraphernalia relating to the use of marihuana to treat or alleviate the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition or symptoms of the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition.
(b) A person may assert the medical purpose for using marihuana in a motion to dismiss, and the charges shall be dismissed following an evidentiary hearing where the person shows the elements listed in subsection (a).
(c) If a patient or a patient's primary caregiver demonstrates the patient's medical purpose for using marihuana pursuant to this section, the patient and the patient's primary caregiver shall not be subject to the following for the patient's medical use of marihuana:
(1) disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau; or
(2) forfeiture of any interest in or right to property.
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Note that there are far fewer restrictions than come with registry. There is no requirement that parties be registered. Caregivers are not limited to five patients. Patients are not limited to one caregiver. A five pound batch of cookies is not prohibited. There are many other things the AD protects.
What is important is that courtroom rules of evidence require firm proof that the three prongs of the defense are met. For that reason, it is not for some people to try on their own, due to prosecutorial twists and turns, a judge's attitude, and the notion that the required evidence may not be met. In some instances, defendants can expect to be pushed face down in the gravel. They will be booked, arraigned, and very likely suffer civil asset forfeiture. 3ma does not permit the topic because it is regarded that we will trip over the truth and hurt ourselves.
Has this topic been discussed to the nth degree?
erm, wrong section 8.
Start again.
The Affirmative Defense, found in Section 8 of the state Medical Marijuana Act, offers protection, not from arrest and due process, but from conviction, for a boatload of activities prohibited by Section 4, which requires compliance with the state registry and attendant rules. The folks at 3ma don't want us to talk about it there, and have clearly said that we can't be trusted with that information. I have yet to see a comprehensive discussion of those issues. Especially with the decision in McQueen, I think the time is right.
It is only a short, one page read, and is very simple.
=======================================================================
8. Affirmative Defense and Dismissal for Medical Marihuana. |
(1) A physician has stated that, in the physician's professional opinion, after having completed a full assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition made in the course of a bona fide physician-patient relationship, the patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from the medical use of marihuana to treat or alleviate the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition or symptoms of the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition;
(2) The patient and the patient's primary caregiver, if any, were collectively in possession of a quantity of marihuana that was not more than was reasonably necessary to ensure the uninterrupted availability of marihuana for the purpose of treating or alleviating the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition or symptoms of the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition; and
(3) The patient and the patient's primary caregiver, if any, were engaged in the acquisition, possession, cultivation, manufacture, use, delivery, transfer, or transportation of marihuana or paraphernalia relating to the use of marihuana to treat or alleviate the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition or symptoms of the patient's serious or debilitating medical condition.
(b) A person may assert the medical purpose for using marihuana in a motion to dismiss, and the charges shall be dismissed following an evidentiary hearing where the person shows the elements listed in subsection (a).
(c) If a patient or a patient's primary caregiver demonstrates the patient's medical purpose for using marihuana pursuant to this section, the patient and the patient's primary caregiver shall not be subject to the following for the patient's medical use of marihuana:
(1) disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau; or
(2) forfeiture of any interest in or right to property.
=======================================================================
Note that there are far fewer restrictions than come with registry. There is no requirement that parties be registered. Caregivers are not limited to five patients. Patients are not limited to one caregiver. A five pound batch of cookies is not prohibited. There are many other things the AD protects.
What is important is that courtroom rules of evidence require firm proof that the three prongs of the defense are met. For that reason, it is not for some people to try on their own, due to prosecutorial twists and turns, a judge's attitude, and the notion that the required evidence may not be met. In some instances, defendants can expect to be pushed face down in the gravel. They will be booked, arraigned, and very likely suffer civil asset forfeiture. 3ma does not permit the topic because it is regarded that we will trip over the truth and hurt ourselves.
Has this topic been discussed to the nth degree?