Medical Marijuana Patient Murdered in Washington State

(ORTING, Wash.) - A Washington medical marijuana patient has died after being attacked by robbers who were after his pot crop, in what is believed to be the first ever medical marijuana related murder in Washington State.

When local police were called to the scene, rather than investigating the assault, they started questioning mortally injured Michael Shane Howard about how many plants he had.

The police told Howard, who had just been clubbed in the head with a crowbar, that the medics would "probably just put a big bandage on his forehead and leave him at the house."

Two days after the attack, as Howard lay dying, the police called his housemate, Renee, and asked when she was going to go visit him in the hospital. When Renee visited the hospital, Pierce County Sheriff's detectives began a raid on the home, still unaware of the severity of his injuries.

According to patient advocacy organization Cannabis Defense Coalition, Howard had been facing constant and continued police harassment in the small town of Orting, Washington. He was well-known to local law enforcement as "the medical marijuana guy" in town, and he was repeatedly pulled over, arrested, and put in jail because of his authorized use of medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana activist Steve Sarich -- himself the victim of a home invasion robbery Monday morning in Kirkland, Wash. -- had been working to publicize the Mike Howard murder over the weekend. Sarich suffered a shotgun blast to the arm and face, and returned fire with a handgun, critically wounding at least one suspect.

Source: The Cannabis Defense Coalition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit member cooperative focused on marijuana activism in Washington State. More information is available at .

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Cat Springs April 1, 2010 1:10 am (Pacific time)

You know how to tell the difference between a cop and a criminal. Duh, the cop has a badge!

Dan March 21, 2010 7:11 am (Pacific time)

Gee. Willfully neglecting the serious injuries of a crime victim, resulting in death. Sounds like manslaughter at least, so I expect perhaps a couple of cops to get 3-day paid suspensions. Seriously... if you ever see a wounded cop, KEEP GOING. Or if they're on fire, maybe piss on hem if you're feeling generous.

iGrow March 18, 2010 2:16 am (Pacific time)

If everyone was allowed to grow, nobody would have to rob patients... http://iGrowblog.org

ME March 17, 2010 3:56 am (Pacific time)

I believe law enforcement are letting their criminal buddies know where these patience are to have them burglarized to bring more headlines about the dangers of growing medical marijuana

douglas benson March 17, 2010 5:08 am (Pacific time)

Too bad Washingtons law doesnt have a card system and statute that ends the search warrant process in its tracks . Thier law only provides a defense AFTER they arrest you .Can you say big lawsuit ? They will listen after they pay up .

JG March 16, 2010 5:11 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you very much for an accurate report of what happened up here. Most of our media outlets have failed.

Jean Boyd March 16, 2010 4:45 pm (Pacific time)

Something seems awfully suspicious about this story. I mean are the cops losing their minds. Is this going to pass without an investigation?

Jean Boyd March 16, 2010 4:35 pm (Pacific time)

Something seems awfully suspicious about this story. I mean are the cops losing their minds. Is this going to pass without an investigation?

foxislandnative March 16, 2010 1:58 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you for the fair and informative article. The drug war culture amongst law enforcement needs to change. Soon!

Sutton13 March 16, 2010 12:57 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you for printing this article. ALL the news should be told so that people can make an educated decision,

ISO2BWELL March 16, 2010 12:46 pm (Pacific time)

A BIG THANK YOU to Salem-News for publishing the true facts. Wish we had more like you in WA.!

ISO March 16, 2010 12:45 pm (Pacific time)

THANK YOU to Salem-News for posting the facts about this issue!

Fefe March 16, 2010 10:48 am (Pacific time)

The ROGUE law enforcment officers need to be fired and jailed. They are probably behind the breakins also. Power hungry freaks!

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