War on Drugs

AZ Woman Sues Over Medical Marijuana Raid

Authorities interpret the law as restrictively as they can

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A woman is suing the state, claiming police violated Arizona's medical-marijuana laws when they seized a marijuana-infused oil during a raid of her home last spring.

Charise Voss Arfa, a medical-marijuana patient, claims police wrongfully considered the oil labeled "Soccer Moms Tincture" a narcotic instead of marijuana. A tincture is typically an alcoholic extract of plant or animal material or solution.

W. Michael Walz, the attorney representing Voss Arfa, said some law-enforcement officials consider mixing marijuana with any substance -- such as oil, brownie mix or dressing -- altering the marijuana into "cannabis."