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Medical Marijuana User, 66, Accused Of Dealing
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| Medical Marijuana User, 66, Accused Of Dealing
- Click HERE to go to the original thread with graphics
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| DJEvelEd |
Quote: MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER, 66, ACCUSED OF DEALING
Meet Christine Rose Baggett, a 66-year-old great-grandmother who was
formally charged Monday as a drug dealer in a county with a backlog of
narcotics cases.
Baggett, a widow with no criminal record, suffers from two kinds of
arthritis, two herniated discs in her back and a broken ankle that hasn't
healed properly, she and her attorney said.
Her sight is failing and she has a laundry list of other ailments for which
she walks with a cane and uses marijuana for relief.
"I just feel terrible when I take prescription medications," Baggett said.
"I don't think I'm out to hurt anybody or have a big grow operation. I'm
just out to ease my pain. That's what the whole deal is."
Baggett has since obtained valid documentation for the use of medical
marijuana, but the Spokane County prosecutor's office continues to pursue a
felony charge against Baggett for the ounce she bought last August from
another man.
"We haven't had the opportunity to speak with the prosecutor's office," said
Baggett's attorney, Frank Cikutovich. "Based on her age and condition,
there could be an equitable resolution short of trial. That's what we are
hoping for."
At the hearing Monday before Superior Court Judge Michael Price, Deputy
Spokane County Prosecutor Dianne Doughertysaid the problem in the case was
that Baggett "delivered marijuana to the person who was with her in the car.
And that is clearly reflected in the probable cause affidavit."
What the court record shows is that Baggett admitted purchasing an ounce of
marijuana from a man on Aug. 23 for $180. But she gave some of it back to
him "as payment for delivering the marijuana to her."
As they sat in a van parked in the driveway at 907 W. Maxwell Ave., Spokane
police detectives Harlan Harden and Greg Lebsock approached. Court records
indicate the detectives were at that address for a follow-up on an unrelated
case, but the records don't indicate anything more about the other
investigation.
The man who sold the marijuana to Baggett "appeared to be hiding something
between his legs. Detective Lebsock was concerned for his safety, so he
asked ( the suspect ) to show his hands" and the man was placed under arrest
for possession of marijuana, court records state.
Lebsock then asked Baggett if she had any containers in the van. "Baggett
replied, 'Yeah, I have a bag full of marijuana in there,' " according to
court records.
Cikutovich questions why his client was charged with the felony.
"The allegation is that she bought an ounce and she let ( her dealer ) keep
a little for his troubles. In the discretion of the cops and the
prosecutor, she was the drug dealer," he said.
Since Baggett is charged with delivery, she would not qualify for Drug
Court, which is designed to help addicts clear their records.
Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Jack Driscoll said the prosecutor's office
has made strides in tackling a backlog of property cases, but it continues
to lag behind in drug cases.
"It is because both the number of cases versus the number of staff we have
to handle them," Driscoll said.
Asked if the Baggett case was an appropriate charging decision given the
backlog, Driscoll said. "I would rather you ask the person who signed it
up."
Deputy Prosecutor John Grasso approved the charge against Baggett, Driscoll
said. Efforts to reach Grasso late Monday were unsuccessful.
At the hearing Monday, Dougherty asked Price to force Baggett to undergo
drug testing before her trial, which is scheduled for Aug. 20.
"The state believes monitoring is appropriate," Dougherty said. "The state
believes that using marijuana is illegal."
Cikutovich told Price that his client does not intend to stop smoking
marijuana. "I just don't want it to be a shock to the court in a week when
we are back in here."
"It won't be a shock," Price replied. "I can guarantee you that."
Afterward, Cikutovich told Baggett what to expect.
"If you were my grandma," he told Baggett, "I would say use whatever
medication you need and I will fight for you until my dying day."
She thanked him.
"I feel a little violated," she said about her felony charge. "I don't know
what to say about it. I just hope it turns out good."
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It's a sad day when great-grandmothers are arrested for felony drug dealing
over an ounce of pot. What's wrong with this picture and how much is this
costing tax payers? At the discretion of law enforcement Ms. Baggett is the
delivery person, what, once removed? Skip the DARE classes Spokane County
Prosecutors and turn great-grandma loose. Tax and regulate this thing
America. Great-grandmothers everywhere will appreciate it. |
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| Ass Boil |
She is clearly a menace to society.
I know I feel much safer knowing she might be punished for trying to relieve her pain....
:rolleyes: |
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| DUDE-HERE |
| an ounce for 180...it prob sucks anyway ...any good weed should cost about 350-450 per |
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| johnsonrod |
Its going to be cases like this that will help to legalize pot in the long run.
I bet the judge goes easy on her though. At least I hope. |
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| Ass Boil |
Finally something we can all agree on....
someone sticky this thread ASAP. |
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| harley-davidson |
| Quote: an ounce for 180...it prob sucks anyway ...any good weed should cost about 350-450 per |
I still can't believe the prices of weed today, back in the day we were getting dynamite one hit shit for 50 and oz, shit I remember the half ass Mexican shit for 25 and oz, had to smoke a bowl or two to get a good one ......glad I quit years ago at those prices, what Howard talks about getting all whacked out and paranoid on the shit , exactly why I gave it up, I actually started getting sick on it. |
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| fatboy |
| Thank God there's no real crime in that area... the cops have time and resources to busting medical dope smokers... WTF happened to this country?! |
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| pluckinstrings |
Quote: Originally posted by DUDE-HERE
an ounce for 180...it prob sucks anyway ...any good weed should cost about 350-450 per |
:lol:
Yer gettin screwed man. KICK ASS SHIT UP HERE FOR $250-$300 per oz. |
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| pluckinstrings |
| Although I truly wish they'd legalize pot, I just don't see it any time soon. It seems that there is way too much money to be made keeping it illegal. |
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| mingmen |
Quote: Originally posted by johnsonrod
Its going to be cases like this that will help to legalize pot in the long run.
I bet the judge goes easy on her though. At least I hope. |
not in Bush's America |
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