News

Marijuana Defense

• Police Checkpoint Uncovers 19 Pounds of Marijuana
  Mar 15, 2010

  
  A police checkpoint in Omaha last week led to the discovery of 19 pounds of marijuana in a single vehicle.  The driver, a Stockton, CA man, was stopped for an improper lane change.  The trooper detected the odor of marijuana and found it in a duffel bag.  The driver was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver - 81 - 90

• Medical Marijuana Leads to Unlawful Firing in Montana
  Mar 15, 2010

  
  A Montana claims he was unfairly fired from his job at Loaf-N-Jug, a convenience store, after testing positive for marijuana.  He claims he is eligible to use medical marijuana, and his employer was aware of this, but nevertheless fired him after he tested positive for the drug.  He has filed a lawsuit for $500,000. - 82 - 90

• Fed Ex Delivers 35 Pound of Marijuana to D.C. Couple
  Feb 28, 2010

  
  A Washington, D.C. couple opened a Fed Ex package delivered to their house, and were stunned to find drugs inside.  The package had their address on it, but someone else's name.  They immediately called police.  The drugs inside turned out to be 35 pounds of marijuana ($120,000 worth), according to MyFoxDC. - 83 - 90

• Judge in Colorado Rules City Can't Close Marijuana Dispensary
  Feb 20, 2010
  
  

  Fairfax County Marijuana Defense Attorney Paul McGlone is impressed with how this Court handled the difficult situation of a local dispensary selling Medical Marijuana which might be in violation of Federal law.   Please click here to read my blog.

  A County Judge in Colorado ruled last December that the city of Centennial, Colorado, was wrong to issue a cease and desist order last fall to CannaMart, a medical marijuana dispensary operating in Centennial.  

  The city's position was that since the Federal government prohibits distributing marijuana, the dispensary was operating in violation of the city's land use code.  While the Judge acknowledged the Federal law, he said it's up to federal agencies, not local ones, to enforce that law.  Since Colorado legalized medical marijuana in 2000, the Judge said that the dispensary was operating within the state's law.

   

  - 84 - 90

• CA Marijuana Farmer Stole Electricity for Marijuana Plants
  Feb 10, 2010

  
  
  A San Diego County man was ordered by the Court to pay $18,000 to San Diego Electric & Gas for the electricity he stole to grow over 100 marijuana plants.  He was also sentenced to jail and supervised release.
  
  The 23 year-old used high-intensity grow-lights, and bypassed his rented home's electricity meter, to grow his plants.  One of the lights caused a fire, and the fire department responded, resulting in the criminal charges. 
  
    - 85 - 90

• New VA Court of Appeals Opinion for Marijuana Cases
  Feb 02, 2010
  
  
  This new opinion from the Virginia Court of Appeals appears to be potentially helpful to folks accused of Possession with the Intent to Distribute (P/WID), but if you read it carefully, it probably only helps if it was an imitation drug.   The "police expert" testified that 3 small packages could only mean that the person was in distribution, or that he was "ripped off" by a seller, since it was fake.   The appeals court found that it might be the latter, so there wasn't proof that he intended to distribute.   The Trial Court had found him guilty, so Mr. got the help he needed from the Court of Appeals in this case:
   
  Alton Nelson Wilder v. Commonwealth of Virginia 01/19/2010
  
   
  - 86 - 90

• VA Court of Appeals Addresses Search Warrant in Marijuana Case
  Feb 02, 2010
  
  This new opinion form the Virginia Court of Appeals describes the convoluted situation involving use of a "conditional, anticipatory search warrant" to find evidence against suspected drug owners.   Mr. Ford appealed this case after being convicted at trial, but the Appellate court did not help him any:
   
  Marcus Darius Ford v. Commonwealth of Virginia
  - 87 - 90

• Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Marijuana Convictions Might Disappear
  Jan 21, 2010

  
  
  This is an interesting article about H.R. 1466, which would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenses.  Fairfax Marijuana Defense Attorney Paul McGlone believes that many times mandatory minimum sentences are much too harsh for the crime that was committed.
  
  If you have been charged with a marijuana offense, please contact me to discuss your case. - 88 - 90

• Great website reporting news in the War against Marijuana Prohibition
  Jan 10, 2010

  Fairfax Marijuana Defense Lawyer Paul McGlone recommends this link to a great site reporting news in the war against Marijuana Prohibition.
  
  http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml - 89 - 90

DWI w/REFUSAL

• Date Night Ends with DWI Arrest and Fractured Skull
  May 10, 2010

  
  A New York couple's date night ended with the wife being arrested for DWI, and the husband's hospitalization for a fractured skull.  The couple left their two young children with a babysitter and went out drinking Friday night.  
  
  Some reports say the drinking continued at home before the wife insisted on returning to the bar for more carousing.  Her husband refused, insisting they were both too drunk to drive, but she ignored him and hopped into their pick-up truck.  He jumped onto the hood, trying to stop her, but she drove off.  
  
  As she made a turn, he fell, hitting his head on the road and fracturing his skull.  The wife continued to drive, apparently unaware of her husband's injuries.  He is currently in the hospital in serious condition.  She was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injuries, and felony vehicular assault.  She refused a breath test, so her blood alcohol level is unknown.
    - 90 - 90


Since graduating from George Mason University School of Law in 1988, I have had over 20 years of trial experience, defending citizens accused of a wide variety of misdemeanor and felony offenses in Northern Virginia.   Since 1999, my practice has been almost exclusively focused on the Fairfax County Courts, allowing me to gain an increasing familiarity with the Courts, Prosecutors and Judges here in Fairfax County, Virginia.  


Share |