My name is Frank Colletti, and I am a legal medical cannabis user in Tacoma,
Washington. I have never had a problem with Tacoma police due to my medicine.
I shouldn't have to explain my medical necessity for cannabis, but for posterity sake, I will.
My formal diagnosis would look something like this:
Frank Colletti
27 M
5/14/1983
Type I Diabetes Mellitus - Insulin Dependent, with Severe complications.
Including Gastro-paresis (severed slowing or paralysis of gastric nerves), which leads to chronic nausea and vomiting.
As well, as chronic intractable pain and muscle spasticity.
Several diagnoses which under the:
Amended: Final Rule (123 KB) based on Significant Analysis (370 KB)
Effective: Nov. 2, 2008
Approved Conditions: Added Crohn's disease, Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain, diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity, when those conditions are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications.
""" End quote from http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881
Last week, while I was taking my wife to work after stopping by a dispensary that I frequent, I was pulled over by Fife police for a "Defective Exhaust", (of which I didn't even know it was an infraction to have a noisy muffler) and certainly had never been pulled over before because of it.
However, once the officer approached my vehicle, he leaned into my window and took a big whiff of me, (which anyone who's ever been to subway knows, you go home reeking of the place), and of course smelled marijuana.
Once I gave him my registration he returned to his vehicle and, I assume he called backup and began running my information. Within about 2 min. or less, he had a canine unit and another backup officer on scene. The officers ask me how much "marijuana" was in the car at the time, I told the officers that I am a legal, medically authorized cannabis user, and handed them my original valid tamper–proof authorization from my healthcare professional.
They also asked if I had a "medical marijuana card", as if that would have been valid, and while I didn't realize it; it was, in fact, on my person.
Then, the officers attempted to explain their interpretation of the law. Telling me that I was required to get my cannabis and immediately take it home, because the authorization was not a "pass to keep pot on me at all times."
One officer then tried to make an analogy about a prescription for Vicodin. He said, "if I had a prescription for Vicodin I couldn't just take that anywhere I want it."
Which, I believe he was trying to make a reference about not being able to use drugs any time or place. However, as I understand the law, as long as I am not doing it in a public place or in view of minors, it should be okay in any private residence where smoking is allowed (with some exceptions). However, this was not even a matter of the situation, it was simply that it was in my possession, shouldn’t had matter, if they had verified my authorization.
Also, they made a comment that there are several fake authorizations around, and that they had no way to tell if it was real. I then informed them that my authorization was printed and signed on an original tamper-evident paper, and there was both a website and phone number they could call to verify the authenticity of my documentation.
At this time, they also informed me that my authorization was merely an affirmative defense in court, and did not prevent them from arresting me. Then, they began searching me for any possessions that may have been related to drug offenses. They found approximately one gram of cannabis, which I had just purchased about 20 minutes prior at my licensed dispensary and my pipe (medical device) which was for the use of my medical cannabis.
Once they were done searching me I had already been handcuffed and placed in the back of the police car. During the ride over the arresting officer even commented that he was only doing his job and he felt bad about all of us that are arrested for this, and really it was the people abusing the system that made everything harder on all of us.
Then I was searched again once I reached the police station, afterward I had found that they'd left something in my pocket so I had to turn that in after I'd been placed the jail. It was a simple little drum key, but I didn't want it to be thrown away, or be accused of smuggling some contraband. So, I informed the officer that they had missed it, and asked it be placed with my things.
I had to wait for an hour and a half. During my wait, I was forced to listen to the booking officers as they made jokes about my medical marijuana and about "reefer" and "doobies" and that kind of thing, along with a reference to sitting in the one officer’s car and listening to some “great tunes, while getting stoned.”
All the while I’m left in a jail cell to feel embarrassed and humiliated and bereft. I felt impinged, and upset, and distressed. Extremely persecuted, and utterly humiliated, I was finally fingerprinted and photographed in my broken and miserable state. Which, all this, coming just one day after having all my upper teeth were extracted to be replaced with dentures.
While I was still swollen, and in severe pain, these police officers sat and made jokes at my expense and about my medicine that allows me to have some semblance of a normal life. I wonder if I were getting my marijuana because of chemotherapy if I would have been treated any differently. However, because I appear to be healthy and fit, they discriminate and prejudge, and book first; ask questions later.
Washington. I have never had a problem with Tacoma police due to my medicine.
I shouldn't have to explain my medical necessity for cannabis, but for posterity sake, I will.
My formal diagnosis would look something like this:
Frank Colletti
27 M
5/14/1983
Type I Diabetes Mellitus - Insulin Dependent, with Severe complications.
Including Gastro-paresis (severed slowing or paralysis of gastric nerves), which leads to chronic nausea and vomiting.
As well, as chronic intractable pain and muscle spasticity.
Several diagnoses which under the:
"quoted from http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881
Chapter 69.51A RCW (4KB) Ballot Initiative I-692 -- Approved by 59% of voters
on Nov. 3, 1998
Effective: Nov. 3, 1998
Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess "valid documentation" from their physician affirming that he or she suffers from a debilitating condition and that the "potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks."
Approved Conditions: Cachexia; cancer; HIV or AIDS; epilepsy; glaucoma;
intractable pain (defined as pain unrelieved by standard treatment or medications); and multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Washington Board of Health.
Possession/Cultivation: Patients (or their primary caregivers) may legally possess or cultivate no more than a 60-day supply of marijuana. The law does not establish a state-run patient registry.
Amended: Senate Bill 6032 (29 KB)
Effective: 2007 (rules being defined by Legislature with a July 1, 2008 due date)
Page 2
Chapter 69.51A RCW (4KB) Ballot Initiative I-692 -- Approved by 59% of voters
on Nov. 3, 1998
Effective: Nov. 3, 1998
Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess "valid documentation" from their physician affirming that he or she suffers from a debilitating condition and that the "potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks."
Approved Conditions: Cachexia; cancer; HIV or AIDS; epilepsy; glaucoma;
intractable pain (defined as pain unrelieved by standard treatment or medications); and multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Washington Board of Health.
Possession/Cultivation: Patients (or their primary caregivers) may legally possess or cultivate no more than a 60-day supply of marijuana. The law does not establish a state-run patient registry.
Amended: Senate Bill 6032 (29 KB)
Effective: 2007 (rules being defined by Legislature with a July 1, 2008 due date)
Page 2
Amended: Final Rule (123 KB) based on Significant Analysis (370 KB)
Effective: Nov. 2, 2008
Approved Conditions: Added Crohn's disease, Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain, diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity, when those conditions are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications.
""" End quote from http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881
Last week, while I was taking my wife to work after stopping by a dispensary that I frequent, I was pulled over by Fife police for a "Defective Exhaust", (of which I didn't even know it was an infraction to have a noisy muffler) and certainly had never been pulled over before because of it.
However, once the officer approached my vehicle, he leaned into my window and took a big whiff of me, (which anyone who's ever been to subway knows, you go home reeking of the place), and of course smelled marijuana.
Once I gave him my registration he returned to his vehicle and, I assume he called backup and began running my information. Within about 2 min. or less, he had a canine unit and another backup officer on scene. The officers ask me how much "marijuana" was in the car at the time, I told the officers that I am a legal, medically authorized cannabis user, and handed them my original valid tamper–proof authorization from my healthcare professional.
He again asked, “How much marijuana is in the vehicle?” and I admitted that I was in possession of about a gram.
Then, he asked me to step out of the vehicle and put my hands behind my back.
They also asked if I had a "medical marijuana card", as if that would have been valid, and while I didn't realize it; it was, in fact, on my person.
Then, the officers attempted to explain their interpretation of the law. Telling me that I was required to get my cannabis and immediately take it home, because the authorization was not a "pass to keep pot on me at all times."
One officer then tried to make an analogy about a prescription for Vicodin. He said, "if I had a prescription for Vicodin I couldn't just take that anywhere I want it."
Page 3
Which, I believe he was trying to make a reference about not being able to use drugs any time or place. However, as I understand the law, as long as I am not doing it in a public place or in view of minors, it should be okay in any private residence where smoking is allowed (with some exceptions). However, this was not even a matter of the situation, it was simply that it was in my possession, shouldn’t had matter, if they had verified my authorization.
Also, they made a comment that there are several fake authorizations around, and that they had no way to tell if it was real. I then informed them that my authorization was printed and signed on an original tamper-evident paper, and there was both a website and phone number they could call to verify the authenticity of my documentation.
At this time, they also informed me that my authorization was merely an affirmative defense in court, and did not prevent them from arresting me. Then, they began searching me for any possessions that may have been related to drug offenses. They found approximately one gram of cannabis, which I had just purchased about 20 minutes prior at my licensed dispensary and my pipe (medical device) which was for the use of my medical cannabis.
Once they were done searching me I had already been handcuffed and placed in the back of the police car. During the ride over the arresting officer even commented that he was only doing his job and he felt bad about all of us that are arrested for this, and really it was the people abusing the system that made everything harder on all of us.
Then I was searched again once I reached the police station, afterward I had found that they'd left something in my pocket so I had to turn that in after I'd been placed the jail. It was a simple little drum key, but I didn't want it to be thrown away, or be accused of smuggling some contraband. So, I informed the officer that they had missed it, and asked it be placed with my things.
I had to wait for an hour and a half. During my wait, I was forced to listen to the booking officers as they made jokes about my medical marijuana and about "reefer" and "doobies" and that kind of thing, along with a reference to sitting in the one officer’s car and listening to some “great tunes, while getting stoned.”
All the while I’m left in a jail cell to feel embarrassed and humiliated and bereft. I felt impinged, and upset, and distressed. Extremely persecuted, and utterly humiliated, I was finally fingerprinted and photographed in my broken and miserable state. Which, all this, coming just one day after having all my upper teeth were extracted to be replaced with dentures.
While I was still swollen, and in severe pain, these police officers sat and made jokes at my expense and about my medicine that allows me to have some semblance of a normal life. I wonder if I were getting my marijuana because of chemotherapy if I would have been treated any differently. However, because I appear to be healthy and fit, they discriminate and prejudge, and book first; ask questions later.
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