College Student with Medical Excuse to Get High Wants His Pot Back from Police

Monday's Frat Boy News Pause for the Cause

Merced College (compiled by Scott Jason, MercedSunStar.com)

Sam Matthews doesn't mind blowing a sweet, thick cloud of marijuana smoke in the city's face.

The 25-year-old resident has challenged just about every city official to get the police to return two handfuls of medical marijuana.

The battle over the buds began 10 months ago when he was handcuffed by police and his stash was bagged as evidence.

Matthews has taken his fight to court, where he's suing the city and police for damages and asking that they return the 26.5 grams of marijuana.

"I ain't scared of them," he bragged before taking a 15-second hit off his glass pipe. "Bring it on."

Matthews, one of four residents with a Merced County medical pot card, is mired in the dopey contradictions between state and federal law over the use of medical marijuana.

The Merced College student believes his pot — still sitting in a police evidence locker — should be returned. City lawyers argue that giving it back would violate federal law, which still considers marijuana, medical or not, illegal.

His latest legal maneuver has been to sue the city and police department in Merced County Small Claims Court for $7,500 in damages stemming from being handcuffed and having his stash seized. "I didn't start the war," he proclaimed. "They did."

Click here to see Shane's heartwarming video.