Judge Rules Trayvon Martin's Marijuana Use Admissible

Judge Debra Nelson has ruled in the George Zimmerman trial that evidence of marijuana that was found in Trayvon Martin’s system can be admitted. 

The prosecution had attempted to stifle the introduction of such evidence gained from the toxicology report, and previously Nelson had agreed that the marijuana evidence was inadmissible.

Nelson allowed the evidence after medical examiner Shiping Bao changed his initial opinion that the level of amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) from marijuana in Martin’s system did not affect his physical or mental state the night of his encounter with Zimmerman. Last week, Bao stated that the level of THC in Martin’s blood “could have no effect or some effect.”

Zimmerman’s lawyers plan to call a forensics expert to testify regarding the toxicology report. They tried to get permission to introduce the marijuana evidence because Martin had texted messages referencing his marijuana use, and Zimmerman’s call to a police dispatcher had included him describing Martin as being “on drugs.”

The judge has thus far disallowed the defense from admitting photos of marijuana plants taken from Martin’s cell phone.