October 16, 2017
Cancer Survivor Melissa Etheridge Busted for Medical Marijuana at US/Canada Border
Winnie McCroy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge was arrested and taken into custody by U.S. Customs officials in North Dakota for possession of medical marijuana as she attempted to return from Canada.
TMZ reports that the rocker was pinched on August 17th as her tour bus attempted to cross into the U.S. After a K-9 unit detected the scent, agents found marijuana oil.
Etheridge said she uses to manage the pain from her battle with cancer. It's perfectly legal where she lives in California, but not in North Dakota. So she was booked for possession of a controlled substance, but pleaded not guilty.
The New York Daily News noted that Etheridge was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2004 and has undergone surgery and five rounds of chemotherapy and radiation with no indication of a relapse.
They also mention that musician and singer Todd Rundgren was arrested for a similar offense at the same location on September 9, for possession to drug paraphernalia� when agents discovered two vapes containing with liquid THC.
Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
