T
The420Guy
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At least some Germans can legally grow and use marijuana for medical
reasons after a November 27 ruling by a Berlin District Court judge,
the Berliner Zeitung reported. In a case involving defendant Michael
Grosse, a Crohn's Disease sufferer who used the herb to alleviate
diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal spasms, Judge Michael Zimmerman
ruled that Grosse acted out of urgent need and his marijuana use was
justified.
Because prosecutors have already announced they will not appeal the
ruling, it is now the law throughout the judicial district, which
includes Germany's largest city. It is not the first German court
ruling in favor of medical marijuana. In May, a Mannheim District
Court judge acquitted a patient who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.
But prosecutors there have appealed that ruling.
Grosse had earlier been found guilty by another district court judge,
who gave him a suspended five-month prison sentence, but a higher
court overturned that ruling and ordered the district court to take
Grosse's circumstances into consideration. In the second trial, Judge
Zimmermann heard testimony from Grosse's family doctor, who said
Grosse's health had improved considerably with his marijuana
self-medication. Zimmerman also invited two experts, Dr.
Rommelspacher, professor of pharmacology at the Free University of
Berlin, and Dr. Franjo Grotenhermen, executive director of the
International Association for Cannabis as Medicine
(acmed.org - A Casino Masterclass Every Day), both of whom testified that cannabis could be
helpful with Crohn's Disease symptoms.
Grosse, who had been busted with 59 plants, didn't get away scot
free, however. That was too many plants, Zimmerman ruled, sentencing
him to a fine and probation.
reasons after a November 27 ruling by a Berlin District Court judge,
the Berliner Zeitung reported. In a case involving defendant Michael
Grosse, a Crohn's Disease sufferer who used the herb to alleviate
diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal spasms, Judge Michael Zimmerman
ruled that Grosse acted out of urgent need and his marijuana use was
justified.
Because prosecutors have already announced they will not appeal the
ruling, it is now the law throughout the judicial district, which
includes Germany's largest city. It is not the first German court
ruling in favor of medical marijuana. In May, a Mannheim District
Court judge acquitted a patient who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.
But prosecutors there have appealed that ruling.
Grosse had earlier been found guilty by another district court judge,
who gave him a suspended five-month prison sentence, but a higher
court overturned that ruling and ordered the district court to take
Grosse's circumstances into consideration. In the second trial, Judge
Zimmermann heard testimony from Grosse's family doctor, who said
Grosse's health had improved considerably with his marijuana
self-medication. Zimmerman also invited two experts, Dr.
Rommelspacher, professor of pharmacology at the Free University of
Berlin, and Dr. Franjo Grotenhermen, executive director of the
International Association for Cannabis as Medicine
(acmed.org - A Casino Masterclass Every Day), both of whom testified that cannabis could be
helpful with Crohn's Disease symptoms.
Grosse, who had been busted with 59 plants, didn't get away scot
free, however. That was too many plants, Zimmerman ruled, sentencing
him to a fine and probation.
