Originally published Monday, July 21, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Editorial
Return the pot
The Seattle Police Department was right to return a laptop and patient records seized during a raid on a University District medical-marijuana...
The Seattle Police Department was right to return a laptop and patient records seized during a raid on a University District medical-marijuana cooperative.
Unless police and King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg have evidence of criminal wrongdoing, they should also return 12 ounces of marijuana and several bongs.
Marijuana is a mind-altering substance and recreational use ought to be prohibited. But voters have said, and the law agrees, that this reasoning doesn't extend to using the drug for medical purposes. Cleared of criminal charges, Martin Martinez, who heads the Life Vine cooperative in the University District, has a right to reclaim his property.
Martinez suffered severe neurological damage in a motorcycle accident more than two decades ago. He is authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes; Satterberg agrees. State medical-marijuana law allows legal users to keep a 60-day supply. Satterberg acknowledges the amount of pot taken from Martinez was within the limit.
Follow the logic. Give Martinez all of his property back. Only then can Martinez recover from something that shouldn't have happened.
Police came to his office on Northeast 50th Street after neighbors complained of the odor of cannabis in the building. After obtaining a search warrant, police carted off the pot and files, which included detailed medical histories and medical-marijuana prescriptions. Police also broke through part of a wall in search of illegal marijuana plants. They didn't find any.
Investigating suspicious drug use is appropriate. Along with 10 other states, Washington allows marijuana for medical use. This dividing line between illegal and legal use is clear enough for police to recognize before they knock down walls and cart off personal medical files.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
NEW - 12:45 AM
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: The peril of lower standards in the 'new journalism'
George Will / Syndicated columnist: Huckabee's detour from reason in Obama theory
Lance Dickie / Seattle Times editorial columnist: Empower health care reform close to home
Rewind | Seattle Times Editorial Board interviews school officials
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: When punishment is a crime

general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Electronics
just listed
Adorable Bull Terrier puppies for good home...
AKC Great Dane Puppies Ready
AKC PAL/ILP Registered Labs
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- Washington men walloped by Oregon, 82-57
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
507 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
406 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
382 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
367 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
115 - Rough road again
108 - A few late-night notes
96 - USA Today further spells out how Mariners, handful of clubs next in line for huge cash windfall
76 - Marijuana legalization initiative set to go on Nov. ballot
74
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
