U.S.A. v. Smith: Federal Judge Allows Medical Marijuana Defense

Cannabis Planet, US v. Steele Smith, Federal Marijuana Case

U.S.A. v. Smith et al is a landmark cannabis case that could change federal medical marijuana law for all 50 states.

This is the first case in which a defendant in the United States has been allowed to raise an affirmative medical marijuana defense in federal court.

Cormac J. Carney is the presiding federal judge in U.S. v Smith. In a courageous and historic ruling he decided that the medical marijuana issues will be heard as testimony. This is the first time this has happened in U.S. history.

This story started in 2001 when Steele Smith — a law abiding business man — became very ill. He landed in an emergency room. Over the next four months it happened several more times. But the doctors could not figure out what was wrong. He was prescribed pain medication, and lost 40 pounds. Ultimately a rare diseases doctor diagnosed Steele’s disease as Zollinger-Ellison (Z-E). The disease causes painful ulcers, making it difficult for patients to eat and is so rare most doctors have never seen it. The result is extreme pain and nausea. Doctors prescribed him the strongest acid reducing drug available. For the severe pain, the doctor also prescribed high doses of morphine and sent him to a specialist (a pain doctor) who ordered a morphine regimen.

Steele became heavily addicted to morphine. With the support of his wife starting in 2004, he began to try and “kick” his morphine addiction. It almost killed him and he ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU). Over the next year and a half Steele battled his morphine addiction. After painstaking research he found a new drug, Suboxone, and under the care of a doctor over several weeks he was finally able to become completely drug free. However the under lying pain and nausea returned. He was unable to eat or live a normal life. After more research Steele was given a medical marijuana recommendation. He bought his marijuana at one of the dispensaries in Los Angeles.

For more information go to Steelcase.org