Pubdate: Thu, 10 Oct 2013
Source: Oakland Press, The (MI)
Copyright: 2013 The Oakland Press
Contact:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2114
Author: Monica Drake
Page: A-1

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENT FIGHTS FOR CUSTODY OF BABY GIRL

Auburn Hills natives Steve and Maria Green had their 7-month-old
daughter Bree taken away from them last month after a ruling by the
Ingham County Family Court.

The reasoning is their medical marijuana case has caused extensive
controversy within their community.

Steve was issued a Medical Marijuana Registry Identification card two
years ago to treat his epilepsy, and his wife Maria is his
state-designated caregiver. After police found cannabis growing in the
Green's trailer, the couple - who has since moved to Lansing - has
been going through battles in two courtrooms since January over their
right to grow marijuana.

More importantly, they're also fighting for custody of their little
girl.

Last week, felony drug manufacturing charges against the pair in
Oakland County were dropped after prosecutors proved that Steve is a
qualifying medical marijuana patient. Oakland County Prosecutor
Jessica Cooper said the office received his medical records on Oct. 3
and the case was immediately dismissed. "We saw he obviously had grand
mal seizures," said Cooper. "We're not interested in prosecuting cases
of people who have legitimate claims and legitimate cards. That's what
the act was for. ... That's what the voters want available for people
who have legitimate illnesses."

But Steve and Maria have not yet regained custody of their daughter,
who, after being placed in temporary custody of the Department of
Human Services, now lives two hours away with Maria's mother. The
couple can visit their daughter as long as Maria's mother is present.

The couple is now scheduled for a separate court date on Oct. 28 in
Ingham County, where a jury will decide if the custody case will be
dismissed once and for all.

The attorney referee for Child Protective Services told media the
child was removed from the Green's home because of the pending charges
and because their home is unsafe for a child.

Ingham County's Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Lisa McCormick
said, "It's a neglect petition. ... There is an allegation by the
Department of Human Services that there is marijuana being smoked in
front of the child."

Steve denies the allegations and said he hopes now that the charges
have been dismissed, there will no longer be reasonable cause to keep
Bree away from their home.

Steve was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2006 and suffered at least one
seizure each month. He said each seizure caused some level of brain
damage.

Since he was diagnosed, he lost his job at a car dealership, his
house, and several of his friends. Steve said he had accepted the fact
that, for the rest of his life, he would have seizures.

But then he started taking marijuana after all of his other options
had been exhausted. It was the only drug prescribed to him by his
primary care physician that stopped the seizures, he said.

"All of the other (medications) either increased my seizures or caused
other horrible side effects. ... I didn't think (marijuana) would work
either," said Steve. "I thought I was living the American dream, and
then I became a disabled person. It was like the rug was yanked out
from under me. After the medical marijuana started working, it was
like I was getting my life back."

After smoking and eating the marijuana, Steve said his seizures
significantly decreased. When his wife made concentrated oil from the
marijuana and put it into gel capsules, that's when Steve said his
seizures stopped for the next two years.

But as part of his bond conditions, changed by Judge Leo Bowman of
Oakland County Circuit Court on June 4, Steve had to stop taking the
marijuana. Since then, Steve said he experienced eight seizures.

"When I have a seizure, it's completely out of the blue. It could
happen anywhere," he said. "I've had seizures at the ATM machine where
I woke up to the machine beeping as it ate my card and my head hit the
curb on the way down. ... I had one coming down the stairs and fell
down 12 stairs. ... I had one at Kmart on Dixie Highway, and I was
going through the store and had a seizure."

With the recent dismissal of the case, he will be able to start taking
the drug again.

Although Steve said it's remarkable that the case has been dismissed
in Oakland County, he said, "we're not able to be as excited and as
happy as we would love to be about it because we still don't have our
baby at home."

For more information about the Green family, visit freebabybree.com.
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