Pubdate: Mon, 15 Aug 2005
Source: Peninsula Daily News (WA)
Contact:  http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/
Address: 305 West First St. (P.O. Box 1330), Port Angeles, WA 98362
Fax: (360) 417-3521
Copyright: 2005 Horvitz Newspapers, Inc.
Author: Alan Choate
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

SEQIUM MAN IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA LIMBO WANTS HIS CASE SETTLED

SEQUIM -- The last few months have not been kind to Brian Rickard, and the 
time he spent in the hospital for multiple surgeries in June and July may 
be the least of his worries.

His ordeal started in late April when police raided his home north of 
Sequim and confiscated 62 marijuana plants, two pounds of marijuana and 
most of his growing equipment.

It was a blow to him and a few others who rely on marijuana as medicine for 
various serious medical conditions.

Rickard and another man interviewed at the time of the raid claimed 
protection under the state's Medical Use of Marijuana Act.

No one was arrested or detained.

Since then the case has languished at the Clallam County prosecutor's 
office, which will decide whether to file charges.

"We are behind in reviewing matters," said county Prosecutor Deborah Kelly.

"We try to handle them roughly in the order that they come in. We take 
crimes against persons first, sex offenders not registering, that kind of 
thing, before a drug grow."

Rickard, meanwhile, wants something done quickly with his case.

"They called me a drug dealer and just trashed my name," he said.

"They're holding me in limbo. I'm not a healthy man."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom