Wolf pardons former Havertown ophthalmologist for pot arrest

A former Delaware County ophthalmologist was pardoned by Gov. Tom Wolf last week after serving time for growing marijuana plants in his home as a medical treatment for his dying wife.

Paul Ezell, 65, pleaded guilty in 2014 after Haverford police raided his Brookline home on suspicion he was running a drug operation out of his house; he wasn’t.

Police say a tip from a citizen first led detectives to begin investigating the operation. The tipster told police that Ezell was selling marijuana to his patients. On a Wednesday morning in late April 2014, police descended on the home and took away 20 marijuana plants and growing equipment. They also found approximately $1,200 in cash. At a press conference later that day, police said they were investigating whether Ezell was selling the plant to patients. However, it since has come to light that he wasn’t selling.

On Wednesday, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who chairs the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, announced the pardon and praised Wolf for signing it. The pardon formally forgives Ezell, who told officials he was actually using the plant to reduce his wife’s use of her prescribed opioids.

“Here’s a doctor of 30 years who had not so much as a speeding ticket, and then his whole life is ruined for giving his wife medicine that’s now legal in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said. “This is a prime example of the destructive power of reefer madness.”

Police became aware of Ezell’s posession of marijuana plants when clippings were discovered while he was trashing the grow operation after his wife’s death.

Ezell pleaded guilty, lost his medical license, and served six months before being released for good behavior.

The pardon is a first step to getting his record cleared, which may allow him to return to his profession as an eye doctor.

“He lost his wife, his career, everything,” Fetterman said. “Today, Dr. Ezell can start to rebuild his life. Cases like his illustrate why we must end marijuana prohibition before it destroys one more life.”

Fetterman has developed an expedited process to clear marijuana charges until full recreational legalization passes in Pennsylvania. The Board of Pardons, in its March meeting, voted to send Ezell’s case to the governor, who solely carries the power to pardon. Ezell’s case was among others the governor signed on Wednesday.

The case of Ezell’s daughter, Victoria Ezell, 30, a nurse who was in the house at the time of the police raid and who also lost her license because of the charges, will be heard before the Board of Pardons in June.

Paul Ezell