Couple sues police for return of seized marijuana plants

GREENFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts couple has filed a lawsuit against state police seeking the return of marijuana plants confiscated in a raid.

The Springfield Republican reports (http://bit.ly/2excB9K ) that Patti Scutari and Francesco “Apollo” Compagnone filed a lawsuit saying they were in compliance with the state’s 2012 medical marijuana law when state police and the National Guard, in a joint operation, raided their Wendell, Massachusetts, property Sept. 13.

The lawsuit in Franklin Superior Court seeks the return of the dozen marijuana plants confiscated from an outdoor growing area at the couple’s property, along with other damages.

A couple’s lawyer says both of them are registered medical marijuana patients and that police had no probable cause or search warrant to seize the plants from private property.

A Massachusetts State Police spokesman declined to comment.