5 Pounds of Medicinal Marijuana Returned

Five pounds of marijuana has been returned to a Healdsburg man by a Sonoma County court, medical marijuana advocates say.

Supporters of medical marijuana hailed the move as a sign of new tolerance on the part of Sonoma County prosecutors.

After Richard Thiessen, 62, convinced prosecutors that a doctor recommended he use the drug, they did not oppose its return. Thiessen and his wife, Connie, 45, were arrested in April on suspicion of growing marijuana.

Charges were dropped against Connie Thiessen, but her husband pleaded no contest to misdemeanor possession.