Midland County judge says medical pot law is illegal

MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) -- A judge has struck down Michigan's medical marijuana law in Midland County, saying it can't trump a federal ban on drugs. Circuit Judge Jonathan Lauderbach recently made his decision in the case of two people on probation who wanted to use medical marijuana. He says it's not his job to decide whether the use of pot is good public policy, but he believes federal law trumps Michigan law. Lauderbach says the medical marijuana law can't interfere with the work of Congress. The practical effect of his decision is limited to Midland County, but it's significant because he's a circuit judge. In March, a Dearborn judge struck down the voter-approved law in his district court. Midland County Prosecutor Mike Carpenter tells the Midland Daily News the law has created "chaos." Published: Thu, Jun 23, 2011