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News Release |
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February 8, 2001
WI Supreme Court Rules Passengers Can Be Legally Searched If Driver Gives Consent
Madison, WI:
The Wisconsin State Supreme Court ruled by a 4-3 vote, this past Tuesday, that a
driver's consent to search an automobile justifies a warrantless search of a
passenger's belongings inside the car.
Jennifer Matejka was one of several
passengers traveling in a van that was stopped on March 16, 1997 by a state
trooper in Portage County, WI. The officer obtained the driver's consent
to search the vehicle and he ordered everyone to vacate the van. Matejka
left her jacket behind, and the officer searched it, finding drug paraphernalia,
marijuana and LSD. She was charged with two counts of misdemeanor drug
possession.
The arresting officer told the
passengers that the driver, Anthony Miller, consented to the van's search.
The officer asked the passengers if they possessed any weapons or illegal
drugs. Justice Diane Sykes wrote in her opinion that alerting the
passengers to the search put them on a "similar notice."
Matejka's lawyer moved to suppress
the drug evidence, arguing that the warrantless search violated her Fourth
Amendment rights because she had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the van
and she never gave permission for police to search her belongings. The
circuit court granted the motion, finding the search violated her Fourth
Amendment protections, but the court of appeals reversed the circuit court
ruling and the supreme court agreed with the court of appeals.
"Matejka's jacket pockets were
certainly capable of containing drugs, guns, or other contraband," Justice
Sykes wrote. "Significantly here, the consent to search was not
limited in any way by Miller or Matejka. Thus, the officer's search of
Matejka's jacket was well within the proper scope of the consent to search in
this case and was therefore reasonable."
For more information, please
contact Keith Stroup, NORML Executive Director at (202) 483-5500.
Three Decriminalization Bills Are Introduced In Massachusetts
Boston, MA:
Three bills calling for the decriminalization of marijuana have been introduced
in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
House Bill 2124, introduced by Rep.
Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Middlesex County), would institute a civil fine of $100
and no arrest for persons over the age of 18 who possess an ounce or less of
marijuana.
House Bill 1170, introduced by Rep.
Branford Hill (R-Essex County), calls for a civil fine of $300 and no arrest for
persons over the age of 18 who are caught possessing any amount of marijuana.
A third decriminalization bill, House
Bill 1223, also introduced by Rep. Hill, would allow for persons aged 21 or over
to legally possess 40 grams or less of marijuana. If the person possesses
more than 40 grams of marijuana, he or she must pay a $1 per gram tax to the
state for a tax stamp.
Rep. Hill's bills were introduced at
the request of Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition/NORML attorney Stephen
Epstein, Esq. In November 2000, decriminalization public policy questions
were approved by the voters in three Massachusetts districts.
For more information, please
contact Stephen Epstein, Esq., at (978) 685-9696 or visit http://capwiz.com/norml2.
Iowa Bill Would Allow For A Therapeutic Medical Marijuana Research Program
Des Moines,
IA: A bill creating a medical marijuana therapeutic research program
was introduced in the Iowa State Senate last Thursday.
Senate Bill 113 would permit state
approved doctors to prescribe marijuana to treat patients under their care who
suffer from multiple sclerosis, hyperparathyroidism, nail patella syndrome,
AIDS, any condition with symptoms of chronic pain or spasms, nausea and
glaucoma.
SB 113, sponsored by Sens. Joe
Bolkcom (D-23), Robert Dvorsky (D-25) and Johnie Hammond (D-31), has been
referred to the Senate Human Resources Committee.
For more information, please visit
http://capwiz.com/norml2.
Sonoma State University Student's Medical Marijuana Returned By Police
Santa Rosa,
CA: A 23-year-old Sonoma State University student, whose medical
marijuana was seized by police during a traffic stop, had his marijuana returned
on January 31 after the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office dropped the
charges against him.
Ross Benbrook was stopped for
avoiding a sobriety checkpoint on October 14, 2000 after making an illegal left
turn near the Sonoma State University campus. Police found and confiscated
27 grams of marijuana. Benbrook showed the officers documentation from his
physician that the marijuana was being used to treat pain from scoliosis and
arthritis.
"The police report said it
looked fake and they tried to say I wasn't Ross Benbrook," Benbrook said.
The district attorney's office
offered to drop the charges if Benbrook did not ask for his marijuana
back. Benbrook refused and Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Elliot Daum
ordered the marijuana to be returned last week.
It is believed to be only the second
time that medical marijuana has been returned to a patient by law enforcement in
Sonoma County after an arrest.
For more information, please
contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Foundation Executive Director at (202) 483-8751.
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