Pubdate: Mon, 04 Jul 2011
Source: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus (MI)
Copyright: 2011 Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Kk1qVKJf
Website: http://www.livingstondaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4265
Author: Thomas DeLaTorre

JURY CAN SEND MESSAGE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW

Being on a jury can be one of the greatest experiences of citizenship.
It is a duty that you should not take lightly or try to dismiss. As a
juror, you have the power to send a message regarding unjust laws. The
name for this is jury nullification.

A jury can nullify the prosecution of any case just by voting not
guilty even if the evidence is overwhelming. Why should a jury do
this? To send a message that we will no longer tolerate abuse by rogue
prosecutors.

A case could be made that the time has come for a jury to use the
powers given to it and nullify any prosecution of any medical
marijuana caregiver or dispensary operator if that person's only crime
is providing medicine to a card-carrying patient. It has become clear
that our lawmakers will not tackle this and clarify the laws,
provisions and parameters.

Jury nullification would send a strong message to any prosecutor that
the citizens who voted in this referendum understood the vague
language and accepted that this initiative should be interpreted in
the widest possible application. After nullification of several cases,
prosecutors would not bring these cases any longer as precedent would
be set and effectively change the law.

This all starts with 12 people and their ability to wield enormous
power and integrity. Begin the end to the war on patients now.

Thomas DeLaTorre

Pinckney
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.