MARLOWE GETS DRUG EQUIPMENT BACK

Polk County Sheriff's officers returned marijuana growing equipment
Friday afternoon to a local man whose drug charges were dropped
earlier in the week.

Charges against medicinal marijuana advocate Steve Marlowe were
thrown out Monday after a judge ruled that deputies showed a
"reckless disregard for the law" in using a discredited informant's
statement to obtain a search warrant.

The charges against Marlowe of Mill Spring were dismissed by the
District Attorney's Office late Monday afternoon, according to
Marlowe's attorney, Ben Scales.

Marlowe called the Polk County Sheriff's Office on Friday to request
that his property be returned to him, but was instructed to talk with
the District Attorney's Office.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office was instructed to return any of
Marlowe's property that was not considered paraphernalia or marijuana
itself, Lt, Brent Jackson said. Marlowe pulled his tie-dye colored
truck up to the Polk County Sheriff's office late Friday afternoon.

"They gave it all back except the pot," Marlowe said. "I think this
is a good thing because this is about medical marijuana. I mean if it
weren't about that, I wouldn't fool with it."

Marlowe said this is the third time he has had his equipment returned
by the Sheriff's Office after they raided his home.