State police this week filed felony and other drug charges against a man for having 70 grams of suspected marijuana in his vehicle in Butler.

The case stemmed from a traffic stop about 1 p.m. March 7 when police pulled over Timothy R. Gerhold, 40, of Butler who was driving a sport utility vehicle on West Penn Street, authorities said.

Police made the stop, according to court documents, because the vehicle's inspection sticker was “significantly pulled away from the windshield making it impossible to view the expiration month.”

The sticker, it turned out, was not expired.

But while at the vehicle, the officer smelled marijuana coming from it. Police said Gerhold subsequently admitted that he had a bag of marijuana in the center console.

“He stated he has stage IV brain cancer,” a police affidavit said, “and marijuana is the only thing that helps him.”

A search of the vehicle turned up a Ziploc bag containing nearly 2½ ounces of marijuana, documents said. Also found in the console was a cigarette roller and rolling papers.

In Pennsylvania, a small amount of marijuana is defined as being no more than 30 grams, or a little more than an ounce. More than 30 grams can be a misdemeanor or a felony.

Police on Tuesday charged Gerhold with both felony and misdemeanor possession. He was arraigned on the charges and released on his own recognizance.

His preliminary hearing is set May 7.