MINDEN - District Judge Dave Gamble ordered a 25-year-old drug offender to write a report on what the judge called "the nonsensical character" of California's medical marijuana program.
Gamble told Matthew Palazzolo to submit a paper within 90 days to him and to his counselor also discussing the defendant's realization that marijuana was a gateway drug that led to use of more powerful narcotics.
Palazzolo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. He was arrested at a Stateline casino parking lot in February after he sold a quarter-pound of marijuana to an informant for $1,060.
Palazzolo, who lives in Sacramento and works for a law firm, admitted he grew the marijuana after obtaining a medical marijuana card.
"I had a sore back," Palazzolo said. "I used records from my chiropractor who had diagnosed I had regular back and neck pain."
He told Gamble he developed the pain through activities like snowboarding, wakeboarding and martial arts.
Gamble allowed Palazzolo to enter a diversion program in California and ordered quarterly appearances before his court and random drug testing.
He also told the defendant to contact "the quasi-bureaucratic outfit in California and tell them you want them to cancel the card."
Gamble told Palazzolo he had one chance.
"You have the ability to have a very good life," Gamble said. "If you're back here, you don't get two chances."