Jacob Sullum on Medical Marijuana Prosecutions in a State Where Pot Is Legal
This summer federal prosecutors in Washington plan to try Larry Harvey and four other medical marijuana users for growing their medicine, which they are allowed to do under state law. The judge overseeing the case has ruled that the defendants, who face at least 10 years in prison, may not so much as mention the reason they were growing marijuana, which is irrelevant under federal law. Meanwhile, notes Jacob Sullum, the jurors hearing the case at the federal courthouse in Spokane will be able to buy pot from openly operating businesses licensed by the state of Washington, approved by the city, and tolerated by the federal government.