A man allegedly caught walking into a Seattle courthouse with a small amount of marijuana is demanding it back.

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John Worthington of Renton, Wash., representing himself, is not denying possession or even invoking his medical marijuana card, Seattlepi.com reported.

Citing a state Board of Pharmacy decision that pot has medicinal value, he asserted Tuesday that it was an "herbal substance," not a drug, and therefore does not fall under laws regulating illegal narcotics.

Worthington was passing through security on his way to the King County Courthouse's law library Oct. 14 when he allegedly placed an old baggy of pot tucked in his jacket in a security tray, the report said.

"I just kind of forgot that I had it," he said.

"I asked Worthington why he would bring marijuana into a courthouse knowing that he would be searched," a deputy sheriff said in the incident report. "He replied that it was an herb, and not a controlled substance, and therefore not illegal."

The deputy said he made sure Worthington had no outstanding warrants and confiscated the marijuana.

"He then told me he wanted to be arrested," the deputy continued.

Worthington was freed. His marijuana remains in the custody of the sheriff's office.