Pubdate: Thu, 20 Jan 2011
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Column: The 420
Copyright: 2011 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Nick Miller
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

I POT THE SHERIFF

Former Officer Turned Patient Wants You to Be a Safe and Smart Stoner

Nate Bradley was a deputy sheriff in Yuba City-until he was downsized 
in 2008. At the time, he weighed 460 pounds, was on six prescription 
drugs and abused alcohol. Today, Bradley, married with kids, is "The 
215 Cop": He's lost nearly 100 pounds, quit the booze and 
pharmaceuticals, and is a medical-cannabis patient who consults other 
patients and dispensary owners on how to be safe and smart stoners.

You were a cop?

I saw The Andy Griffith Show a lot. That was my idea of law 
enforcement. My dad was a pastor for 20 years. I sat in the front row 
of the church. ... I went into [law enforcement] with the idea that I 
was going to help people. I always thought it was this noble job.

Did you bust people for pot?

The first time I really came across it was the first time we arrested 
somebody for having it. ... This guy, I'll never forget. He was on 
probation for something ... and he says right off the bat, "I've got 
weed in my back pocket; I'm so sorry." ... His eyes start to water 
up, and he goes, "Could you at least let my wife bring my son inside 
the house before he sees me get handcuffs put on." ... And it kind of 
rocked my world a little bit.

Why did you start using medical cannabis?

By the time I was laid off, I was taking six prescriptions a day. It 
wasn't healthy for me, I didn't like it. ... I had a battle of 
conscience for, like, six months when I began using [pot], it was 
that culturally ingrained against me.

So now you're a patient, and also consult clubs and other patients on 
how to stay safe? What can patients do to be safer?

Store it away from children. Pretend that it's not there. That's the 
biggest flaw I see, that people get so comfortable around cannabis. 
. The raid that just happened in San Luis Obispo County, two of the 
kids [who were 9 and 11] had cannabis in their system. And it 
happened because they had [snuck] some edibles Mom had made.

And the clubs?

Dispensaries can save the patients a lot of headaches if you seal the 
bag before they leave. It's hard to prove a transportation-for-sales 
case when you see all the stuff that's in a bag that you just bought 
on a receipt that's stapled to it sealed. No sergeant's going to sign 
off on that arrest.

[sidebar]

Each week, SN&R's The 420 will highlight Sacramento's 
medical-cannabis community-in exactly 420 words!

Want SN&R to review your club's medical cannabis? Send suggestions to  Reviewers write under pseudonyms to protect 
anonymity as patients.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom