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Sam Penrod reportingDennis Peron on KSL Radio: "THE POT I HAD IS LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA, I GREW IT, I DIDN'T BUY IT, I DIDN'T SELL IT. IT'S MINE!"
One of the country's biggest proponents of using marijuana for medical reasons is off the hook in Utah, after a Cedar City Judge ruled the pot was illegally seized.
Dennis Peron, who successfully led the campaign to get marijuana legalized as a medicine in California, has been fighting prosecution in Utah, after he was arrested for possessing a pound of pot.
A judge decided police should have had a search warrant before they entered Peron's motel room back in the Fall of 2001.
In a written ruling issued by 5th District Judge, Phillip Eves, evidence taken from the Cedar City motel room occupied by Dennis Peron and two of his traveling companions, cannot be used against them.
Back in November of 2001, Cedar City police had responded to the motel, after receiving a complaint. They went into the room and discovered a pound of marijuana and 45- hundred dollars in cash. Peron, who operates a website advocating the use of marijuana and two other men, who were in Utah sightseeing, were charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, along with drug paraphenila.
Peron tells KSL Newsradio he's relieved to be exonerated.
"Dennis Peron "I'M GLAD THE CONSTITUTION IS STILL ALIVE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HANGING OUT IN UTAH, I HOPE THAT SOMEDAY WE CAN LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN UTAH."
Peron had previously lost his argument that a prescription from a California doctor gave him the legal right to have the drug. And there is no indication the judge's decision reflects a person's right to use marijuana for medical purposes, rather the ruling cites unlawful search and seizure, which is prohibited under the Fourth Amendment.
The Iron County attorney says he can either appeal the judge's decision to a higher court or dismiss the charges. That decision is expected within a month.
