SICK MAN RAIDED FOR POT CAN'T UNDERSTAND REASON

A man caught in the clash of state versus federal drug laws told News 4's
Brian Maass that he couldn't believe federal agents raided his home for
three marijuana plants he'd grown for medicinal use.

Donald Nord, 57, has a state permit to use marijuana to relieve chronic
pain from cancer and diabetes.

Federal agents, acting on information that Nord was growing marijuana, got
a search warrant and found three plants and growing equipment. The agents
confiscated it, and Nord was given a ticket to appear in county court in
November.

The case was thrown out and, on Monday, the county judge ordered the Drug
Enforcement Administration to return the plants and the equipment. The DEA
says it won't give them back willingly.

"I don't understand why the state says I can but the federal government
says I can't," Nord told News 4.

State law allows medicinal users, with the recommendation of a doctor, to
go into a registry of those permitted to smoke, grow or otherwise acquire
marijuana. Federal law prohibits all possession of marijuana.

The judge gave the DEA 21 days to return Nord's property.

Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the Colorado U.S. attorney's office, said
staff will review the county judge's order for the return of the marijuana.