Police give back seized pot after months

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By Henry Rosoff

LYNNWOOD, Wash. — A million dollars in pot got wasted.

Pot plants and pot growing equipment was recently returned to the co-op it was seized from by Lynnwood police in May 2012. The problem was that all the plants were basically dead.

After the raid, no criminal charges were ever filed against the people who ran the co-op. Attorneys for the co-op threatened to sue if the pot wasn't returned.

A few days ago, Lynnwood did return the dead plants in sacks. Fortunately for the city, Jesse Corkern and Aaron Pelley's clients will not sue the city for damaged property.

"They were very upset, but when we got closer and closer to ending this, they just wanted somebody to say they hadn't committed a crime," Pelley said. "The best way to do that was to force them to give the property back."

Pelley and Corkern believe local communities could see situations like the one Lynnnwood faced with pot now legal. Some people might choose to sue and might have good cases.

"I don't foresee law enforcement or municipalities taking the stance that they're going to take care of that property, especially something like cannabis," Corkern said.

Documents KIRO 7 obtained show Lynnwood's mayor, city attorney and police chief agreed to give back the plants to avoid being sued. KIRO 7 went to city hall to find out if they would take better care of seized property in the future. No one there could talk. Phone calls were also not returned.