People v. Chakos

(2007): The Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District reversed appellant's convictions for possessing six ounces of marijuana for distribution based on the "expert" testimony of a police officer that a scale, baggies, and small sum of cash evidenced marijuana distribution. The court found that such testimony evinced a lack of understanding of the patterns of use of marijuana by qualified patients, which rendered the police officer unqualified to testify as an expert and required that his testimony be stricken. Click here to view the ruling.