JUDGE UPHOLDS SEIZURE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A federal judge refused to return an ounce of cannabis to a California man
Wednesday, saying the forfeiture was prompted by the recent U.S. Supreme
Court ruling against medical marijuana.

It is believed to be one of the first forfeitures since the high court
ruled last week that patients cannot claim a medical necessity defense
under pot possession laws.

Christopher Giauque had a doctor's recommendation to smoke marijuana to
relieve chronic back pain. Officers seized his marijuana but no charges
were filed.

A judge ordered Sheriff Dennis Lewis to return the marijuana, but he
refused. Lewis was held in contempt of court, and he sued the federal
government.