US - Police Arrest Elderly MMJ Cancer Victim

[Pinch]

Nashville, TN - Metro Police raided the home of a 60 year old East Nashville man Thursday confiscating personal property. The man, who is related to an East Nashville activist through a previous marriage, was busted for the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Seven Metro Police cars converged on his house after having arrested the victim over the weekend. Police greatly exaggerated the amount of marijuana in his possession and are now planning to tax him $46,000 before finding him guilty. The former wife of the man arrested said her former husband was a man of modest means who has been recently recovering from cancer and cannot afford a lawyer and will not be able to get to work since his car has been seized.

There have been many efforts in the Tennessee State Legislature in recent years to legalize the medical use of marijuana. Senator Steve Cohen supported such efforts last year after watching several friends suffer from the effects of cancer. Efforts at legalization of medical marijuana were stalled however by Republicans at the State Legislature who maintain a majority in the Senate and a firm hold on several committees.

As recently as February, Senate Bill 1944, the "Tennessee Medical Marijuana Act" (along with its companion bill, House Bill 968), had been introduced in the Tennessee Legislature. This is the first time in recent memory that state elected officials had the opportunity to debate this vital issue.

According to NORML, the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, the use of marijuana as medicine is a public health issue; it should not be part of the war on drugs. Modern science suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, particularly of neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage); nausea; spasticity; glaucoma; and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia. Emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective.

In addition to the trauma of dealing with cancer, being arrested, and having property confiscated, the victim was taxed $46,000 prior to being established as innocent or guilty, a clear violation of civil rights and due process. According to Egalia, of the Tennessee Guerilla Women, "Tennessee's drug tax, or Tax on Unauthorized Substances is no tax at all, rather it is punishment before you go to trial. If you are found guilty, you get yet more punishment. If you are found innocent, well, too bad, cause the Bill of Rights is null and void in Tennessee."
See also:
http://www.state.tn.us/sos/acts/103/pub/pc0803.pdf>
http://www.state.tn.us/revenue/2004legsum




Source: Tennessee Independant Media Center
Copyright: 2005 Tennessee Independant Media Center
Conract: Anna Thompson, annathompson32@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/5333/index.php