SPOKANE — Defense attorneys are asking a federal judge to dismiss marijuana charges against the so-called Kettle Falls Five.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rice said Thursday that he will rule soon on the requests, as trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 23 in Spokane.
The federal medical marijuana case has drawn wide attention in a state where the recreational use of pot is legal.
Federal authorities contend the five were violating the state’s medical marijuana laws when law officers seized 75 marijuana plants, guns and business records from a rural property near the town of Kettle Falls in August 2012.
Defense attorneys say Congress recently passed a budget bill that included a provision banning federal funds from being used to prevent states from implementing their own medical marijuana laws.
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