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Marijuana Inmate With Allergy Dies After Being Given Oatmeal

Discussion in 'Cannabis News & Industry Updates' started by claygooding, Oct 17, 2012.

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  1. #1 claygooding, Oct 17, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 19, 2012

    Although marijuana has never killed anyone in history, the marijuana laws have claimed another tragic victim.

    [​IMG]

    Michael Saffioti, 22, who, upon his mother's advice, had turned himself in to the Lynnwood Police Department after missing a court date, was dead after just one night in the Snohomish County Jail in Washington state, reports Molly Shen of KATU.com. The county could face a lawsuit for ignoring Saffioti's food allergy.

    The young man knew dairy products could kill him; he read labels and carried medication, and suffered severe reactions from just being near dairy protein. His anxiety over the allergy was so severe, in fact, it left him needing medication.

    "Ultimately, he found and thought he was better functioning using marijuana," said his mother, Rose Saffioti, who is a nurse.

    But Michael didn't have a doctor's recommendation to use cannabis medicinally, which left him vulnerable to prosecution. His marijuana use led to several encounters with law enforcement. After the most recent incident, he and his mother went to the police station, carrying his medical history, after he had missed a court date.

    "I wanted Michael held accountable for his legal issues and I insisted on it," his mother said. "But I didn't want him to die."


    Michael started having trouble breathing after eating the oatmeal that was served to him in jail. According to other inmates, he begged for help. The guards accused him of faking it, and allowed him to die in horrible pain. The autopsy found his allergic reaction to milk products contributed to his death.

    "I know there's a period where he knew he was going to die," his mother said. "And he trusted me. Everything was supposed to bet set up, that he'd be taken care of." "He was scared," she said, reports The Associated Press. "I said, 'You are doing the right thing. They are going to take care of you.' He said, 'I have a bad feeling that they are not going to take me seriously.' "

    "You can't get help. You can't call 911," said Anne Bremner, an attorney representing the Saffioti family. "You're at their complete mercy. When the jail's the one that gives you something that's going to kill you -- that they know is going to kill you -- they, at a minimum, have to rescue you. And they didn't."

    The Snohomish County Sheriff's Department wouldn't comment on Saffioti's death or the potential lawsuit until its "investigation" is complete.

    Rose Saffioti said she will sue the county, but that her first goal is to hold someone criminally responsible. Michael's death is one of six deaths to occur in the same jale since 2010. It's one of at least two that are resulting in wrongful-death claims against the county. She and attorney Bremner are encouraging the Snohomish County prosecutor's office to file involuntary manslaughter charges against jail workers whom they believe should have helped prevent Michael's death.

    And the sheriff of that jail was just in the news talking to reporters about how important a tool for arresting criminals was for the police    .
    Will legal marijuana make police less effective?
     
  2. #2 Kiefsweat, Oct 17, 2012
    need i say this again?

    FUCK THE POLICE.
    fucking pigs.
     
  3. #3 Rochester, Oct 17, 2012
    Hope she sues the fuck outta those pigs
     
  4. #4 Pulsewidth, Oct 17, 2012
    I hate repeating myself over and over but I'm going to say it every time something like this occurs. Pointless. Just pointless.

    We live in a sick country. People are using a natural herb to get better and we just lock up them and and increase their chances of dying ten fold. Fuck... I'm going out for a smoke.
     
  5. #5 durangobob99, Oct 17, 2012
    The sad part is a handful of rich fuckers write the rules for all of us, I think it is us, the 90% against the 10% wealthy people, who make the laws to favor their interests. The wealthy are attracted to money like flies to shit, so if legalized pot ought to have them flocking as investors, like greedy little pigs to the trough. The war on drugs and the prison for money system employs a lot of people, fuck um, they can learn how to grow pot to make a living.. Keeping people locked in cages for smoking is bad karma, and I hope comes back to bite them on the ass.
     
  6. #6 riverroadjack, Oct 17, 2012
    A blunt and a glass of milk go out to you big homie
     
  7. #7 aPersonUponaHill, Oct 17, 2012
    You all are acting so ignorant, oh yea those fucking pigs, grow the fuck up. Yes, what they did was wrong but does acting immature and calling them names help. Also what does marijuana have to do with it? So he was in there for a marijuana related crime, okay. But that has nothing to do with the actions of the staff or why he died, such jackass behavior around here. He suffered an allergic reaction from improper care, and what was wreckless behavior lead to his death, according to INMATES. oh yea, let me go on and believe that without a doubt whatsoever. Not saying it did not happen that way, it probably did since the staff are generally always aware of the prisoners actions and well-being.

    But really, him being in there for a marijuana related crime is not the issue and it is far from an arguement for legalization. It is an arguement for more accountability for and better regulations regarding how prisoners are held and cared for when being taken under, and while in state custody.
     
  8. #8 aPersonUponaHill, Oct 17, 2012
    And we are all a bit stupier for having read that.
     
  9. #9 JimboSlice12, Oct 17, 2012
    Oatmeal deaths 1. Marijuana deaths 0.
     
  10. #10 criticleMexcan, Oct 17, 2012
    I would torcher the gourds who let him die. I would puts the lotion on there skin
     
  11. #11 JimboSlice12, Oct 17, 2012
    If you're going to ban ganja, then fine. But dont ban it and then legalize alcohol. Wtf.. ever heard of drunk driving? Alcoholism? 70% of domestic abuse involves alcohol. Liver disease? Related to alcohol. You mother fuckers have it all backwards. Marijuana is not bad for you. Fuck... Society rushes to blame all incidents indirectly involving mj on mj itself.
     
  12. #12 floating_by, Oct 18, 2012
    So how did he find himself in jail, where proper care for his medical needs could not be provided, if prohibition of pot didn't land him there in the first place? (And his idiotic mother and her "do the right thing" crusade.)
    You have no business dressing people down for their commentary with glaring holes like that in your logic. None. Think about what you just typed.

    And one death isn't enough? Two wrongful death suits pending against the same jail isn't enough? How many is enough? You tell us. "Oh but they look out for their well being." WRONG. He died. No going back from death. An "argument" for better care in jails? How about skipping that conversation altogether being we are the leading jailor in the world and focus on not making criminals out of so many people so that they are under the thumb of the corrupt legal system?

    Jesus. I hope you think about what you just typed. I feel dumber for having read YOUR post.
     
  13. #13 PAToke775, Oct 18, 2012
    What exactly did the police do in this situation?

    Did you even read the story?
     
  14. #14 Kiefsweat, Oct 18, 2012

    nice one for assumptions man, come on. of course i read the story. maybe i was generalizing the term 'police'.
    my post may sound ignorant to some, but uuhh
    the attitude carries its wieght pretty far imo.

    how bout focus on something more important.
     
  15. #15 floating_by, Oct 18, 2012
    From the story:
     
  16. #16 PAToke775, Oct 18, 2012
    It should sound ignorant to everybody. That's like saying "FUCK TEACHERS" after you read a story about a lawyer fucking somebody over. It doesn't make any sense!

    Guards ≠ police

    I agree that those guards need fucking shot.
     
  17. #17 aPersonUponaHill, Oct 18, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2012
    He did not die due to cannabis being illegal, my logic is fine.

    How can I prove it? Because on his death certificate it won't say primary cause of death: Imprisonment for cannabis possession
     
  18. #18 Kiefsweat, Oct 18, 2012
    if cops wernt arresting people for marijuana related victimless crimes then shit like this wouldnt happen, and a large group of people wouldnt agree on the phrase 'fuck the police'.
     
  19. #19 floating_by, Oct 18, 2012
    A semantics difference does not warrant calling people "ignorant."

    Your example of teachers is not apples to apples. Since when are teachers going out, looking to charge people with a crime that isn't a crime, taking peoples' property, willfully exerting a policy which nearly half the nation no longer agrees with? All so that they can go home at night and live in a large home our tax dollars and the personal property of Americans paid for. Where as teachers have incentives for student performance, police have incentives to "bust" to get their financial share of a pie that is not theirs.

    As to lawyers: who do you think came up with this mess of laws we are forced to call "The Drug War." So yeah, fuck lawyers. At least any that support or benefit from prohibition. That would be a lot of them.
     
  20. #20 floating_by, Oct 18, 2012
    I'm sorry, but how is the fact he was in jail for POT escaping you?? :rolleyes:
     
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