Former Candidate for Governor Cleared of Marijuana Charges

by Phillip Rawls
Associated Press

ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (AP) -- Loretta Nall of Alexander City, founder of the U.S. Marijuana Party and a former write-in candidate for governor, had marijuana charges dismissed on Friday - a day that held special significance for her and her cause.

Tallapoosa Circuit Judge Ray Martin signed an order dismissing misdemeanor charges of possession of less than a gram of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nall said it's fitting that the judge's decision came on what's unofficially known in the cannabis culture and on several Internet sites as National Pot Smoking Day.

"It makes me question my atheism when things like this come together," Nall said.

Nall was the Libertarian Party's nominee for governor last year and even though she ran as a low-budget write-in candidate, she attracted attention with her humor and a platform that set her apart from the other candidates, including advocating the legalization of marijuana.

After the charges were dismissed Friday, Nall said she's considering another race, either for the U.S. House next year or the Alabama House in 2010.

Agents from a drug task raided Nall's mobile home on Nov. 13, 2002. Officers got a search warrant by using statements made by Nall's daughter in her kindergarten class and by using a letter to the editor that Nall wrote to The Birmingham News in support of changing marijuana laws.

Nall was convicted by a district court judge in 2004 of the two misdemeanor charges and given a 30-day suspended sentence. She appealed to circuit court, seeking to suppress the evidence that was used to obtain the search warrant.

In an order Friday, the judge said the prosecution did not respond to Nall's suppression request, which he then granted. With the evidence suppressed, the prosecution said it could not continue with the case, and the judge said that prompted him to dismiss the charges.

District Attorney E. Paul Jones was out of his office and unavailable for comment, an aide said Friday. (yeah I bet he was)

Nall said she doesn't consider the case over. "I'm going to seek retribution for what they did to me and my kid," she said.