On Tuesday morning, I was ashamed of Oakland County, the legal system and the very courthouse in which I had cut my teeth as a young lawyer.  In the courthouse for another case, I stopped in to watch the closing arguments of the People of the State of Michigan v Barbara Weaver Agro in a case involving the manufacture of marijuana.  The court system failed Barb Agro . . . those involved should be ashamed of themselves.  Sadly, I think that those involved are not ashamed but actually pleased and proud.  They make up the “system” — they failed Barb Agro.

When we are little children, we have dreams of doing great things and of helping people.  Of there being a purpose, a righteous purpose, to our actions.  What was the prosecutors purpose?  Who have they helped? How has society been benefitted?  I have similar opinions about the court’s treatment of Barb Agro specifically and the legal issue of Medical Marijuana (the judge wouldn’t let Agro or her counsel talk about medical marijuana or use the medical marijuana defense.)   Judge’s say that they are worried about “jury nullification” but what they are really saying is that they are worried that jurors will feel that the prosecution of a medical marijuana patient/caregiver is unjust, unfair or intolerable and that jurors will exercise their own freedoms and find the accused not guilty and I guess that I have to wonder, “what’s so bad about that?”.  Along the way, the prosecutors and court officials involved (in my opinion) lost their way.  While they might cling to the justification that “they are enforcing the law” as the reasons for their conduct, I find that justification “hollow”. They have discretion but they choose not exercise it.  This means that their choices are intentional . . . a police officer need not write a ticket to a speeder — he can let the motorist go without a ticket or with just a warning.  Oakland County officials could have done that with Barb Agro — instead they chose to treat her like a drug dealer.  And I am left to think that the system and those in charge let her down!

I defend people in medical marijuana cases.  I will continue to do so.  At Neil Rockind, P.C., we pride ourselves on knowing why we are doing what we are doing.  We do them for the right reasons.  We have “soul” and we sleep easier at night knowing that we believe in what we are doing — protecting you from them.  Attorney Neil Rockind is a highly decorated trial lawyer:  a Super Lawyer, a Top Lawyer, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and Hour Detroit Magazine’s Best of Detroit.  Attorney Colin Daniels is a ferocious advocate.  Come learn how we can help you with your criminal or medical marijuana case.  Visit the Michigan Medical Marijuana Lawyers.