Customers have a wide variety of products in a medicinal cannabis shop in San Francisco on June 7, 2005. People with a doctor's recommendation and a card from the California Department of Public Health can purchase from the store.The Supreme Court dealt a blow to the medical marijuana movement 6/6, ruling that the federal government can still ban possession of the drug in states. (UPI Photo/Terry Schmitt) | License Photo

KENT, Wash., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A California man says police in Kent, Wash., have returned a portion of his medical marijuana that was seized during his February arrest.

Seattlepi.com said Thursday that Kent Police returned the first portion of the more than 11 pounds of marijuana seized from Matthew Zugsberger as part of a King County Superior Court judge's ruling the drugs be returned in 1 1/2-pound portions.


After police found the drugs in the trunk of Zugsberger's car in February, Zugsberger pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession and received three months of probation.

Defense attorney Aaron Pelley, who represents Zugsberger, filed a petition seeking the return of the marijuana to his client, who has a prescription for medical marijuana.

The presiding judge ultimately ruled that Zugsberger, whose age was not reported, would receive portions of his marijuana stash at seven-day increments.

"To my knowledge, it was the first time anyone has asked for their marijuana back," Pelley said. "It's the weirdest case I've ever dealt."

Seattlepi.com said the incremental distribution was deemed necessary since Washington state law allows an individual with a valid marijuana prescription to possess only 1 1/2 pounds of the drug at a given time.