MAN WHO GREW MEDICINAL MARIJUANA DIES

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- A Roanoke Rapids man who used marijuana for medicinal
purposes and reported to police someone had stolen his pot plants died of
cardiac arrest Monday at Halifax Regional Medical Center, a family member
said. Emmit Scott's niece, Shanie Scott, said this morning she did not
believe stress from the national attention her uncle's case received
complicated her uncle's poor physical condition.

Scott's case, for which he was to have a second appearance in court on Sept.
19, received national media attention as well as the attention from several
groups which advocate the legalization of marijuana.

Ms. Scott, who was busy with other family members working out details of her
uncle's funeral arrangements, said her uncle's death has been painful. "I'm
not dealing with this very well," she said, trying to choke back tears. "I
was just like his daughter." The 60-year-old Scott's case gained national
attention when he reported to the Halifax County Sheriff's Office someone
was stealing some of his marijuana plants from his backyard garden. Police
who answered the call found 27 marijuana plants in Scott's back yard. Scott
was charged with one count of manufacturing a controlled substance and one
count of maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance, both
felonies. Scott, who was on dialysis, said he has grown marijuana and
several other herbs to use for personal pain relief since 1991. He said he
never sold marijuana and that he did not know it was illegal to grow it for
personal use.

Scott did not take out a warrant on the man whom he believed stole the
marijuana plants from his garden.

The Associated Press reported Scott's friends said he used marijuana to
treat a kidney ailment, sometimes making tea from it. "After he drank that
tea, he felt a whole lot better," said Mary Ashe. "I know it gave him
energy, very much. He did a lot of chores and stuff out in his yard."
Barbara Ashe, who also identified herself as a relative, said Scott did not
sell the marijuana but simply grew it for his own use. "Since they took that
stuff away from Emmit, it should show everybody that what he said was
right," she said. "When he was taking it, Emmit was doing good."

A spokesperson for the advocacy group the National Organization for the
Reformation of Marijuana Laws said Scott's case is an important one for the
group's cause.

"This may very well lead to the legalization in more states," the
spokesperson said.

Marijuana is currently legal for medicinal use in eight states and
Washington D.C.