Charges Dropped Against Pot Patient in Possession at Checkpoint

Federal prosecutors have dropped drug charges against a card-carrying medical marijuana patient detained and cited at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on the Hood Canal bridge in August.

Stephen Dixon, of Brinnon, was riding in a car en route to the Kingston ferry Aug. 22 when he was stopped at the checkpoint on Highway 104 just west of the bridge. He was cited by border patrol agents for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Western Washington.

State law allows residents to possess pot if a doctor has recommended it for certain medical conditions. Federal law – which governs the border patrol – outright bans the substance, however.

Dixon and at least four other people have had marijuana charges dismissed following checkpoint stops. That's not because of the state medical pot law, but rather because of a lack of manpower, Western Washington U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sullivan said.

"It is the position of this office that these types of small possession cases are more appropriate for state or local prosecution," U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sullivan said in a statement. "It is our longstanding policy to use limited federal resources to pursue the sophisticated criminal organizations who smuggle millions of dollars of drugs, guns and other contraband across our borders."

The border patrol's checkpoints on the Olympic Peninsula beginning in August have generated an outcry from some residents, including a Nov. 3 meeting in Chimicum that drew an estimated 400 people. Border patrol officials defended the practice at the meeting.

Border patrol spokesman Michael Bermudez said Friday his organization respected the limitations of federal prosecutors, and that in the future, they'll seek "alternative routes" of prosecution in local courts.

Paul Richmond, a Port Townsend-based attorney representing Dixon, said his client suffers from chronic pain and uses marijuana to alleviate it. Richmond said his client was "verbally abused" by border patrol agents at the checkpoint and was made to wait in "cold wet weather."

Federal law allows checkpoints within 100 miles of any international border crossing, border patrol agents have said in recent weeks. They began conducting them following a funding boost that saw the agency's Port Angeles office grow from four agents to 24.

The checkpoints are random and unannounced, and have occurred at various points on the Olympic Peninsula. If stopped, border patrol officials said it is generally a short encounter, unless they suspect those in a vehicle are illegal aliens, terrorists or criminals. Those cars are directed to a second line for further questioning, and passengers can be possibly arrested or cited.


News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Kitsap Sun
Author: Josh Farley
Contact: Kitsap Sun
Copyright: 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co.
Website: Charges Dropped Against Pot Patient in Possession at Checkpoint
 
This seems a loophole to get around the 4th ammendment.

Stopping anyone without probable cause up to 100 miles from the border under the guise of checking for illegal aliens.
 
Power corrupts, total power corrupts totally=FEDs


Give me liberty or give me death!
 
We have been dealing with suspicionless, internal checkpoints here on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State since summer.
 
This seems a loophole to get around the 4th ammendment.

Stopping anyone without probable cause up to 100 miles from the border under the guise of checking for illegal aliens.
Well this explains San Diegos bullshit stance and defiance against the state med laws. They have a federal police force doing business right "in" their city. It's right on the mex/amer border. Within walking distance. I had no idea they could extend their base of operations so far.
 
I think the bush plan hatched with the far right types (palin) was to beef up the local law and military then hire skinheads that follow any instruction then pass a law using executive orders that anyone that was not in church and giving 10% to save the children will be put in jail. He is also cloneing blackwat** to use as a backup. Thank god they did not get in the white house support Obama he has a plan to restore separation of church and state and to get there influence out of the decision making process. We do not all follow anyone with a flag lapel pen!!
 
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