WOMAN CONVICTED AFTER USING MARIJUANA IN CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE

A woman with multiple sclerosis has been convicted of drug possession for
lighting a marijuana cigarette in a congressman's office when she felt the
onset of an attack related to her illness.

Judge Stephanie Duncan-Peters of the District of Columbia Superior Court
ruled in a nonjury trial that the woman, Renee Emry Wolfe, 39, of Ann
Arbor, Michigan, had not met the burden of proof necessary for a medical
defense.

She could have sentenced the mother of four to six months in jail and fined
her dlrs 1,000, but instead ordered Wolfe to perform 50 hours of community
service and pay court costs of dlrs 50.

Marijuana is banned by the U.S. government, although voters in six states
have approved laws allowing the drug to be used for medical purposes.

Nearly 70 percent of voters in Washington, D.C., voted last year to allow
the medical use of marijuana, but Congress blocked the measure from
becoming law.

Wolfe went to Rep. Bill McCollum's office on Sept. 15, 19 legalized for
medical use.

Defense lawyer Jeffrey Orchard said Wolfe intended to simply tell the
congressman about her experience with marijuana, but started to feel tense.
She lighted the marijuana cigarette only when she believed she was about to
suffer an attack of shaking and muscle tightening caused by her condition,
he said.

A neurologist, Dr. Denis Petro, testified that marijuana works as a muscle
relaxant, allowing people with multiple sclerosis to control their shaking,
or spasticity. Other drugs produce severe side effects or are not as
effective, he said.

Prosecutor Alex Bourelly acknowledged "this is a unique case, and a unique
defense," but said it was clear Wolfe was guilty of marijuana possession
under the law in Washington.

The judge said the "case comes down to whether there was a necessity for
(Wolfe) to possess marijuana on that day in the District of Columbia."

"There isn't any evidence she was suffering an attack of spasticity at the
time she was in the congressman's office," Duncan-Peters concluded.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that afflicts
more than 300,000 Americans. Wolfe has difficulty walking and usually sits
in a wheelchair.