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Legal
Brief:
Peter
McWilliams,
Writer,
TV
Correspondent,
Activist,
Medical
MJ
User,
going
to
trial
in
Michigan
7/17/97
From time to time, THE WEEK ONLINE with DRCNet will feature a current
legal battle of significance to drug policy reform. The following information
has been provided to DRCNet courtesy of the National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). You can find NORML's web site at http://www.natlnorml.org.
The NORML site is also part of the DRCNet Drug Library family of sites
and therefore, you guessed it, searchable via our new Drug Library search
engine!
In an 11th hour reversal, prosecutors in Wayne County, MI have switched
from compassion to zero-tolerance in their prosecution of AIDS-cancer patient
Peter McWilliams. McWilliams, a familiar figure to many Americans after
two years as a correspondent for the Today Show, is also an author whose
books, including "Ain't Nobody's Business if You Do" have appeared
on the New York Times bestseller list five times. He currently publishes
the Medical Marijuana Magazine Online (http://www.marijuanamagazine.com)
and is the founder of the Medical Marijuana Foundation, a non-profit educational
organization.
McWilliams, a California resident who uses cannabis to relieve nausea
caused by AIDS and his cancer treatments, was arrested last December at
Detroit's Metropolitan Airport after an officer asked if he was carrying
marijuana. As recently as two weeks ago, according to McWilliams, "the
prosecutor's office led me to believe a letter from my doctor was all I
needed." But the Wayne County prosecutors have suddenly changed their
tune.
In a blatant strong-arm attempt to force McWilliams to take a guilty
plea, Assistant Prosecutor Maria Petito sent a fax to McWilliams on July
11th informing him that he must either plead guilty or begin trial on July
18th. "How can I prepare to defend myself in less than a week?"
He asked.
On July 14th, McWilliams submitted an impassioned motion to the 34th
district court asking for a 60 day delay in the trial date, due to the
fact that he was led to believe that the case would not be tried.
If you are a member of the media, and would like to receive a copy of
the motion, including pertinent correspondence between McWilliams and Wayne
County prosecutors, or to be added to a fax list for future press releases
in this case, please call Ed Hashia at (213) 650-9571 x125.
DRCNet will keep our members updated on this story as it progresses.
-- END --
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Issue #3, 7/17/97
Past Alerts: Civil Asset Forfeiture -- Or, Henry Hyde forfeits | Web Site News: The ultimate Drug Policy Reform search engine!!! | Legal Brief: Peter McWilliams, Writer, TV Correspondent, Activist, Medical MJ User, going to trial in Michigan | Link of the Week: The Swiss Heroin Prescription Trial | Employment: Job opportunities in the movement | Quote of the Week: What part of "BLACK MARKET" doesn't President Clinton understand? | Editorial: "All the news that's fit to... er... that doesn't question the status quo."
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