[420 Girl]

CO: Choosing 13 Jurors Nearly Exhausted Participant Pool.

The attorneys in the marijuana cultivation trial against Thomas Sexton nearly exhausted the jury pool before picking the final 12 men and women and one alternate juror who will decide Sexton's guilt or innocence.

The day of jury selection provided a glimpse into public opinion on a hot-button issue. Sexton is charged with cultivation of marijuana and possession of more than 8 ounces of marijuana.

Sexton's farm was raided Aug. 14, 2007, and more than 120 plants were seized and destroyed. Sexton claims every plant was legal under Colorado's medical marijuana law.

While many of Tuesday's questions focused on whether potential jurors could be fair in applying the law to the case or whether they understood that Sexton, 55, is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, many other discussions focused on marijuana itself.

Two men admitted they were regular users of marijuana and didn't see anything wrong with what Sexton is accused of doing. Both were dismissed from the jury.

Two women had nearly the opposite opinion.

One stood up and declared that her sister used medical marijuana, got her sons hooked on the drug and led them into a life of crime. She also said she didn't trust the police or courts.

The second woman said she probably could not be fair either because of her feelings against marijuana and other drugs.

Both women were dismissed from the jury.

One man, who also was dismissed, said his libertarian views would keep him from making any judgment on the matter. He said he personally felt that marijuana should be legalized and what Sexton did on his property was his own business.

Most of the people polled for the jury said they understood that while marijuana is still considered illegal, the Colorado Constitution provides for its medical use.

Many also said that if its medical use is justified and prescribed by a doctor, they didn't have any problem with marijuana.

At least two people said they knew others who used medical marijuana and one man said he saw an improvement in his friend, who was suffering from cancer. He was kept on the jury.

Another woman, who also stayed on the jury, said she wished medical marijuana was legal when her mother was suffering from cancer because it might have helped with her pain.

The trial continues today.

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