seattle420lover

Medical pot patient wants his stuff back
bruce olsen marijuana - Google Video Search

Medical pot patient wants his stuff back - Port Orchard Independent

By CHARLIE BERMANT
Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer
May 21 2009

A medical marijuana patient who was recently found not guilty of criminal
charges returned the Kitsap County Courthouse on Tuesday to reclaim
confiscated property, but several large greenhouse items were not
returned.

Bruce Olson, of Olalla, received his verdict in March at which time all
charges were dismissed.

He pegged the value of the equipment at around $3,000 and said he planned
to seek reimbursement for the lost equipment.

The equipment includes four ballast machines, which are used for indoor
plant cultivation, along with two machines that remove mold and odors from
the air.

The equipment is often used in marijuana grow operations but is not
exclusive to them, according to Cannabis Defense Coalition spokesperson
Pam Haney.

Olson was told the equipment had been destroyed and he did not expect it
to be returned.

Haney said police departments routinely destroy such confiscated equipment
in these cases.

Olson visited the courthouse accompanied by his wife, Pamela, who faced
similar charges last year, Haney, and paralegal Kayleen Bystrom.

Olson had an appointment with property clerk Brian Bocherding, who had
testified at Olson's trial.

Bocherding returned the items that were on a predetermined list, which
included paperwork and photographs.

The equipment was not on the list.

"These are documents that he can legally return to you," Bystrom said to
Olson. "We will need to talk to (attorney) Tom (Balerud) about getting the
rest. Brian doesn't have control over what you are getting here."

Also not returned was 19 pounds of medicinal marijuana, which was
presented in the courtroom as evidence.

Olson found it necessary at this point to argue this point with
Bocherding.

"I don't get my 19 pounds back?" Olson said.

"No sir," Bocherding said.

"Why not?" Olson said. "It's mine."

"Sir, if you remember, it was really moldy," Bocherding responded. "It
would be dangerous for you to have that."

"It's mine." Olson said again.

"Like I said, we are going by this," Bocherding said, pointing to the
property list. "I am only supposed to give you back legally returnable
items."

"I don't understand that part of the law," Olson said to Bystrom, and the
camera. "I can understand not getting the moldy marijuana, but not the
equipment, which is legal and can be purchased at stores."

After the meeting Bocherding escorted Olson to the County Clerks' office
to retrieve other defense exhibits, including a 3-foot square picture of
one of Olson's plants.

Sheriff's Deputy Lt. Earl Smith said he was not sure which items had been
destroyed or kept in storage. He plans to meet with the prosecuting
attorney to determine what Olson is entitled to have returned to him.

"We will review the items with the prosecutor to see what it is legal for
him to possess," Smith said. "If it is legal, we will return the items if
they have not been destroyed."

Smith said there were other possible options, and that Olson can obtain a
court order for return of the property.

Olson said he and his wife plan to leave the state when the matter is
resolved.

Pam Olson, who is also a medical marijuana patient, is no longer able to
withstand the cold winters.
bruce olsen marijuana - Google Video Search
Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Charlie Bermant can be reached at
cbermant@portorchard independent.com or (360) 876-4414.
____________________ ____________________ _______
cdc-alerts mailing list
cdc-alerts@lists.cdc.coo p
cdc-alerts Info Page

__________________
"The highest realms of thought are impossible to reach without first attaining to an understanding of compassion" SOCRATES, 470-399 BC

Guest

Was this in Washington State?

cantSEEme

yeah, kitsap county is in washington state.

__________________

seattle420lover

Top cop cuts $2,000 check over medical marijuana fiasco

PORT ORCHARD, WASH. MAY 28, 2009 -- Last March, a Kitsap County jury
acquitted Bruce Olson on charges that he grew more medical marijuana than
allowed by state law. During the trial, after the prosecutor attempted to
introduce an "example ballast" as evidence, it came to light that the
Kitsap County Sheriff's Office had destroyed much of the evidence in the
case, including Mr. Olson's growing equipment.

This morning, Mr. Olson met with officials from the Sheriff's Office, who
agreed to pay him $2,000 for his grow lights, on the condition that he not
speak with the press. After signing a non-disclosure agreement, Mr. Olson
walked out of the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office with a check in hand.

__________________
"The highest realms of thought are impossible to reach without first attaining to an understanding of compassion" SOCRATES, 470-399 BC

Guest

Did the check bounce?

Inquiring minds want to know.