Man involved in medical marijuana dispute tries to slit his throat during arrest

[Maine-ah]

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/06/news/bangor/man-involved-in-marijuana-use-case-tries-to-slit-his-throat-during-arrest/

BANGOR, Maine — A man who friends say tried to slit his own throat with a knife when he was arrested by police Wednesday has been ordered to be held in custody until federal officials can determine the extent to which he has violated his probation.

Jeffrey P. Barnard, 47, who has clashed with federal officials over his use of medical marijuana, was pushed in a wheelchair into U.S. District Court in Bangor on Friday morning. He was in court for a brief hearing on whether he wanted to continue being represented by defense attorney Marvin Glazier. Scratches were visible on Barnard’s neck and forehead, which his wife said stems from his arrest Wednesday in Machias, as he told Judge John Woodcock that he was scared of going back to jail.

“You threatened to throw me in a cell forever,” Barnard said, referring to a previous hearing. “I was scared.”

Woodcock clarified his prior comments to Barnard, saying he had neither the power nor inclination to sentence Barnard to life in prison.

[NikRik]

1. Well this kind of behavior is very bad for his cause !

He certainly did not make the case that pot is a harmless weed.Many will now say ,see that pot makes you unstable.I myself believe it is definitley harmless and has many helpfull applications in the medicial area. With that said we need stable informedpeople and those whom can make the case that the harmless weed should be legal!I also come from the belief that adults in truely free country have the right to ingest any substance they wish and the goverment has no right to restrict what we do as long as it does not harm others.You can go to the corner liquor store and buy a gallon of hard liquor and drink yourself to death,yet smoking or ingesting a substance that no matter how much you take will not put your life in danger is absurd IMHO.
Nick

[WingDinger]

2. You try a slow and agonizing UNTREATED diseased death in prison.

[WhiteTara]

11. I'd say the threat of life in prison makes

one unstable.

[uvrays]

3. not the smartest thing to do... but maybe he was high when he made the decision?

[Le Taz Hot]

5. Hmmm . . .

On the one hand, unrelenting 24/7 pain from multiple medical maladies but popping completely legal pharmaceuticals resulting in little pain relief PLUS making him a living Zombie OR . . . relief from unrelenting 24/7 pain at the risk pissing off the feds. Read the article.

[uvrays]

6. so cut your throat. smart move

[Le Taz Hot]

7. Desperate people

sometimes act in irrational ways. He had understood the judge to threaten him with life in prison should he be caught with pot again. I'd be pretty desperate myself if that's what I was facing for merely trying to gain relief from my medical condition. You seem to be hell-bent on blaming the victim here, or are you one of our resident anti-marijuana crusaders?

[Mulhane]

9. Suicide to escape torture

...is not limited to POW's or Gitmo inmates. Unrelenting pain is torture.

[uncle ray]

10. reading the article would be smart, too.

"Barnard claims that several of his medical issues stem from injuries he suffered during prior arrests and during previous stints in jail. Barnard said has been labeled a snitch by jail officials and, as a result, has been threatened several times with physical harm from other inmates.

Barnard has said that in June 2010, concerns about his safety prompted him to jump from a balcony at the Cumberland County Jail to a concrete floor 17 feet below, which resulted in serious injuries to his legs. Since then, Vicki Barnard said Friday, his left leg was amputated below the knee and he has had lingering issues with his right leg."

after being beat up in jail for being called a snitch by his jailors, i could understand being suicidal. the fucking guys life is being ruined by the Feds for mere personal use, something the drug war apologists insist never happens.

[uvrays]

4. edit:dupe

[fredamae]

8. Yes, This Confirms The Myth

that Cannabis "kills", but it is by the hand of the US Fed Gov't enforcing draconian Laws, Rules and Policies that govern it's use:mad: