Date: Wed Sep 8 11:04:37 1999 From: LVNORML420@aol.com Subject: Insurer Pays Up For Damaged Pot PlantsHeres an medical marijuana story with a twist. It happened in Northern California where you can legally use cannabis with a doctors OK.Insurer Pays Up For Damaged Pot Plants
September 07, 1999
After a 71-year-old man with prostate cancer and arthritis was given a prescription for use of medical marijuana for pain, he bought 13 small plants from a cannabis club and took them home.
Later, sheriffs deputies broke down the door of Robert DeArklands home, confiscated the plants and charged him with cultivating marijuana for sale.
In a sign of the times, the cultivation charge was dropped by the district attorneys office and the sheriff was ordered to return DeArklands plants and growing equipment. However, the small pot plants had shriveled up and died because they werent watered.
So, guess what DeArkland did? He turned in a claim under his homeowners insurance policy and was reimbursed $6,500 for damage to "trees, shrubs and other plants."
This may be one of the first cases in the nation where an insurer has paid for the loss of medical marijuana plants. Maybe this will send a message to the politicians that medical marijuana has a legitimate purpose and people who use it shouldnt be hassled.