Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jan 2003
Source: New Times (CA)
Copyright: 2003 New Times
Contact:  http://www.newtimesslo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1277

COPS RELUCTANTLY SHARE CANNABIS WITH NO RUNNER

After months of delay, Donovan No Runner finally scored his weed from the 
San Luis Obispo Police Department and fired up a joint in front of 
headquarters.

The medical marijuana, for which the 23-year-old Grover Beach resident 
possesses a valid physician's prescription, was taken by SLO cops in 
August. Three months later, when the matter came to court, Judge Barry 
LaBarbera dismissed possession charges and ordered police to return the 
reefer. Police Chief Jim Gar4diner declined, citing conflicts between state 
and federal law, and eventually retired, leaving the matter unsettled.

Last week, the San Luis Obispo City Council met in secret to decide if 
members wanted to pursue an appeal to LaBarbera's oft-repeated order. They 
did not, and ordered the city's new police chief, Deborah Linden, to return 
the 8.4 grams of high-test pot to No Runner. She did, even though she 
agrees, she said, with Gardiner's position on ignoring LaBarbera's court 
order. Capt. Bart Topham handed over the stash in a back room at the police 
department, away from the gaggle of reporters and photographers who tried 
to witness the exchange.

"I am of like mind," Linden told New Times, referring to the matter of 
returning marijuana to prescription holders.
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