ARAPCO MARIJUANA CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST VET

CENTENNIAL - Charges were dropped today against a Desert Storm
veteran who was arrested for growing 71 marijuana plants in his basement.

Kevin Dickes, who has a medical marijuana card, faced up to six years
in prison. He was scheduled to go to trial in Arapahoe County
District Court in February.

Dickes said he needed the marijuana to help him with the pain he has
suffered daily since a grenade landed next to him in Kuwait when he
served there as a Marine in 1991. He has no feeling below his right
calf and suffers from chronic vascular disease.

Police swarmed Dickes' Aurora home on April 27 on a tip from a
neighbor. SWAT officers opened his door and threw him to the ground
and pointed their guns directly at him, according to Dickes.

Dickes' attorney, Rob Corry, was pleased with the decision and said
he will file a motion Monday to have Dickes' possessions returned,
including the pot plants.

"This is a victory for medical marijuana, a victory for Colorado
voters and a victory for compassion," Corry said.

Under Colorado's medical-marijuana law, approved by voters in 2001,
patients under a doctor's care who get a medical-marijuana card, as
Dickes did, can have up to 2 ounces of pot or six plants. But there
is a provision in the law that allows for more plants if a judge
deems the medical condition warrants it.