Oregon medical pot case raises First Amendment concerns

The 9th Circuit federal court of appeals heard  plaintiffs argue that the sheriff retaliated against them because they petitioned Douglas County to return the legal marijuana taken among a seizure of 117 lbs of marijuana. They claimed the sheriff persuaded federal authorities to become involved,  in violation of their First Amendment right to petition the government to return property.

The plaintiffs said the sheriff harbored some animosity toward the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act which requires prosecutors to return marijuana if they decide not to prosecute. -db

From the Courthouse News Service, July 13, 2011, by Nick McCann.

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