-Caveat Lector- Home insurance carriers reconsider marijuana reimbursement policies By JUSTIN PRITCHARD, Associated Press UKIAH, Calif. (July 30, 2001 3:44 p.m. EDT) - A growing number of medical marijuana users whose homegrown pot plants were stolen by thieves or taken by police have successfully gotten their insurance companies to reimburse them for the loss. The dollar amounts aren't huge: The pot is not supposed to be sold on the street, where high-grade marijuana is more expensive than gold. However, one insurer paid $12,375 to a man who lost three pounds of pot to an armed intruder. But just as medical marijuana was beginning to gain acceptance as an insurable good, a recent ruling by the Supreme Court in an Oakland, Calif., case has cast doubt on the future of such payments. The court ruled in May that clubs dispensing medical marijuana according to state laws could not use a "medical necessity" defense against federal anti- drug laws, which do not allow for medical marijuana. The court didn't resolve the question of whether individual Americans have a right to marijuana as a pain remedy. Even so, State Farm will deny future claims for medical marijuana, and the other insurers will give them renewed scrutiny, spokesmen said. "It's clearly stated in the homeowners' policy that we will not pay for illegal activities," said Lonny Haskins, the State Farm spokesman. In September 1999, Robert DeArkland of Fair Oaks became the first person known to be reimbursed for marijuana through household insurance. He received $6,500 from CGU California Insurance for 13 marijuana plants seized from his garage by sheriffs' deputies. Insurers generally agree that marijuana becomes a homeowner's personal property under state law when the policyholder has permission to grow or possess it for medical reasons. That's possible in the eight states with state laws allowing medical marijuana - California, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon and Washington. Even though these laws are in conflict with federal law barring use or possession of marijuana, major insurance companies have made at least a dozen such reimbursements, according to a series of interviews by The Associated Press. Most of the claims have been filed in California. Medical marijuana advocates say insurers are treating the court ruling as political cover, not legal precedent. "If an insurance company is looking for an excuse to save a few dollars and deny a claim, I suppose they can use the Supreme Court case as an excuse," says Keith Stroup, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Steve Wingate, Webmaster ANOMALOUS IMAGES AND UFO FILES http://www.anomalous-images.com <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
