Court: Probationers Can't Use Medical Marijuana
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Court of Appeals is backing an Arapahoe County prosecutor who argued that a registered medical marijuana user can't use pot while on probation because it violates federal law.
Colorado allows the use of small amounts of marijuana to treat certain medical conditions if the user is registered with the state, but the drug is still illegal under federal law.
District Attorney Carol Chambers had argued that an Arapahoe County District Court judge erred in allowing a man to use medical marijuana during his probation, and the appeals court agreed in a ruling Thursday.
The court said that when people are prohibited from committing another offense while on probation, that includes federal crimes, and that the state constitution doesn't exempt probationers from complying with federal law.
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