TRIO DENIED USE OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA WHILE OUT ON BOND

A request by three people - arrested during an August medical
marijuana drug raid - to be allowed to smoke medical marijuana while
on bond was denied in Waterford's 51st District Court Wednesday.

William Joseph Teichman, Candace Jean Teichman, and Brian Vaughn -
medical marijuana patients - had been instructed as part of their
bond not to use medical marijuana. The Teichmans own Everybody's Cafe
in Waterford and Vaughn had worked with them.

The three were among 16 people arrested during the Aug. 25 drug sweep
conducted by a county narcotics team. They were charged in August
with counts related to marijuana delivery and manufacture.

The defendants' attorney Michael Komorn told Judge Richard Kuhn Jr.
that his clients had medical conditions and that they had been
prescribed prescription pain medication.

Komorn said Candace Teichman's pain medications had undesired side
effects and that medical marijuana had provided "tremendous benefits"
for pain she incurred after a serious car accident.

"Medical marijuana allowed her to function," he said.

He said William Teichman also had serious medical conditions.

"To deprive them (of medical marijuana) was unfair without a medical
determination," said Komorn. "With the state medical marijuana card
comes privileges and protections."

Assistant Prosecutor Beth Hand told Kuhn she opposed any change to
the bond, arguing the court was in its right to set limits and that
possessing marijuana is a violation of federal law.

Kuhn reviewed the Teichmans' legal skirmishes, including the fact
Candace Teichman had just graduated from Kuhn's sobriety court in
August and that Vaughn was on probation for a driving charge. William
Teichman, Kuhn noted, had a case pending involving a driving charge.

In denying a change to the defendants' bonds, Kuhn said, "There are
glaring holes (in the Medical Marijuana Act) and the Legislature
needs to step up and put in some guidelines."

Jeffrey Perlman, attorney for the Teichmans, said afterward, "Judge
Kuhn is fair and trying to be as impartial as he can be. Anyone who
has had a family member suffer from the pain of cancer and other
diseases understands the importance of medical marijuana."

William Teichman said Everybody's Cafe closed this week and the
restaurant on Airport Road is now up for sale.

All defendants charged in Waterford's 51st District Court in
connection with the Aug. 25 medical marijuana raid are due back in
court today THURS for preliminary exam conferences.