REDDING POLICE WON'T RETURN MEDICINAL MARIJUANA TO VET

A disabled Vietnam War veteran tried -- and failed -- Wednesday to get his
marijuana back from police. He was told authorities will let him know by
next week what they intend to do with the pot.

Redding police have held Dan Craig's marijuana and a doctor's written
medical marijuana recommendation since Sept. 20 when officers made a traffic
stop and discovered his marijuana. The pot, along with an Oakland Cannabis
Buyers' Cooperative card, were taken by the police officers.

Craig, 51, of Redding received notification last week from the Shasta County
district attorney's office that he will not be prosecuted for possession of
marijuana.

Craig went to the district attorney's office Wednesday and was given written
proof of that decision, which he then took to Redding police with a request
that his property be returned.

Craig says it is legal for him to use and possess marijuana under the
Compassionate Use Act approved in 1996 by California voters.

Earlier this month Richard Levin, 49, of Redding, a medical marijuana
patient acquitted of possession of marijuana for sale, attempted to retrieve
his marijuana from the Shasta County sheriff's office.

Instead of returning the pot as a Superior Court judge had ordered, deputies
handed it over to a federal agent armed with a seizure warrant. Levin's
attorney, Eric Berg, is asking that Sheriff Jim Pope and Undersheriff Larry
Schaller be held in contempt of court.