Little Tommy
Well-Known Member
Now they (these dispensaries) can use the proceeds made from their overly high priced medicine to pay all the legal fees. There is no time like now to be self reliant.
Official Michigan Dispensary List Official
- Thread starter rzza
- Start date
ganja girl
New Member
Yikes, just heard on the radio that they raided some private residences, too. Now we have a problem.
...where at?
rzza
Well-Known Member
it was the six people involved with the dispensaries.
phew. thought GG meant patients..
ganja girl
New Member
Sorry, at the time they announced it on the radio they didn't say who. It did freak me out a bit, too.
lol no problem.
Little Tommy
Well-Known Member
They are just following the money. Every good raid comes down to money & dope on the table.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/08/26/news/local_news/doc4c76e0887bb09385887715.txt
Fifteen arrested in marijuana raid
Thursday, August 26, 2010
By DAVE PHILLIPS
Of The Oakland Press
One day after an investigation that resulted in 15 arrests, the closure of two medical marijuana dispensaries and the seizure of approximately $750,000 worth of marijuana products, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard spoke about what he sees as a growing problem.
During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Bouchard touched on many topics related to the drug raid, ranging from the specifics of the law to the details regarding Wednesday night’s police activity.
“This is Michigan,” Bouchard said. “This is not a Cheech and Chong movie.”
Ferndale’s Clinical Relief medical marijuana dispensary, 362 Hilton, was among the establishments that were raided Wednesday by undercover officers with Oakland County’s Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Police action may not have come as a surprise to employees there. Bouchard said the Sheriff’s Office recently warned those at the facility that police believed they were participating in illegal activity.
Undercover officers bought marijuana at the facility without a medical marijuana card, which is required for a legal purchase of the drug. Marijuana was also being sold in the parking lot, and undercover officers witnessed hand-to-hand drug deals.
Other drugs were also confiscated, and the owner had solicited others to buy high-end marijuana to sell in the establishment, Bouchard said.
“There were many commonalties with what we regularly see in drug houses,” Bouchard said. “One place had live alligators walking around protecting the product.”
The evidence was on display for the media, ranging from jars of a wide variety of marijuana strains and marijuana plants to candy, cookies, sugar and lollipops, along with several guns
Waterford Township’s Everybody’s Cafe, was raided under similar circumstances Wednesday, after officers purchased marijuana without proper credentials there. Police also raided multiple residence, though the locations of those homes were not released.
Many arrest details are not yet available because no suspects have been arraigned. Arraignment could be as soon as today Phillips 8/26/10 (FRIDAY), Bouchard said.
“(Marijuana is) illegal to use except in certain, limited circumstances,” Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper said during the press conference. “In Michigan, it is very limited.”
Limits include a cap on plants per patient (12) and patients per caregiver (5). Patients are not able to purchase the drug legally from anyone other than their designated caregiver, and marijuana plants must be maintained in an enclosed, locked facility.
“No dispensaries are authorized,” Cooper said. “No co-ops are authorized.”
She said the state’s medical marijuana act is quite different from that of other states, like California.
“Most of the population does not understand that,” Cooper said. “Medical marijuana is an exception (that has been) carved out for people who have a debilitating disease.”
Both Bouchard and Cooper agreed that the statute needs clarification. They suggested changes that might make the law clearer.
“New Jersey has one state-run dispensary,” Cooper said. “That would eliminate the need for caregivers and eliminate the need for growers.”
Bouchard said a tamper-proof medical marijuana card with a photo ID should be required. A photo is not required on the current cards.
“There’s no way an officer or a deputy can verify that it’s a valid card,” Bouchard said.
Law enforcement officials don’t want to deal with the issue, Bouchard said, noting that enforcement can be costly and require many resources.
“We don’t want to deal with this at all if it’s within the scope of the law,” Bouchard said. “It’s going to divert a lot of precious resources from things we could and should be doing. This is not something we should be spending a lot of time and money on.”
Bouchard said in his opinion, voters decided that people who were suffering deserved to have their pain lessened when the measure passed in Nov. 2008.
“This has gone far (away) from that,” he said. Patients have received medical marijuana cards for things such as stomachaches and shoulder pain, Bouchard said, while others have taken the opportunity to “take an illegal operation and give it the air of legality.”
An investigation is ongoing and more arrests could be made. Suspects could face charges like possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and manufacturing marijuana, with penalties ranging from 90 days to 15 years imprisonment.
“This is a clear abuse of Michigan’s medical marijuana exemption,” Bouchard said. “It will get nothing but worse. There will be more problems unless the legislature does its job.”
Contact staff writer Dave Phillips at 248-745-4631 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dave_phillips1.
URL: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/08/26/news/local_news/doc4c76e0887bb09385887715.prt
Fifteen arrested in marijuana raid
Thursday, August 26, 2010
By DAVE PHILLIPS
Of The Oakland Press
One day after an investigation that resulted in 15 arrests, the closure of two medical marijuana dispensaries and the seizure of approximately $750,000 worth of marijuana products, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard spoke about what he sees as a growing problem.
During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Bouchard touched on many topics related to the drug raid, ranging from the specifics of the law to the details regarding Wednesday night’s police activity.
“This is Michigan,” Bouchard said. “This is not a Cheech and Chong movie.”
Ferndale’s Clinical Relief medical marijuana dispensary, 362 Hilton, was among the establishments that were raided Wednesday by undercover officers with Oakland County’s Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Police action may not have come as a surprise to employees there. Bouchard said the Sheriff’s Office recently warned those at the facility that police believed they were participating in illegal activity.
Undercover officers bought marijuana at the facility without a medical marijuana card, which is required for a legal purchase of the drug. Marijuana was also being sold in the parking lot, and undercover officers witnessed hand-to-hand drug deals.
Other drugs were also confiscated, and the owner had solicited others to buy high-end marijuana to sell in the establishment, Bouchard said.
“There were many commonalties with what we regularly see in drug houses,” Bouchard said. “One place had live alligators walking around protecting the product.”
The evidence was on display for the media, ranging from jars of a wide variety of marijuana strains and marijuana plants to candy, cookies, sugar and lollipops, along with several guns
Waterford Township’s Everybody’s Cafe, was raided under similar circumstances Wednesday, after officers purchased marijuana without proper credentials there. Police also raided multiple residence, though the locations of those homes were not released.
Many arrest details are not yet available because no suspects have been arraigned. Arraignment could be as soon as today Phillips 8/26/10 (FRIDAY), Bouchard said.
“(Marijuana is) illegal to use except in certain, limited circumstances,” Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper said during the press conference. “In Michigan, it is very limited.”
Limits include a cap on plants per patient (12) and patients per caregiver (5). Patients are not able to purchase the drug legally from anyone other than their designated caregiver, and marijuana plants must be maintained in an enclosed, locked facility.
“No dispensaries are authorized,” Cooper said. “No co-ops are authorized.”
She said the state’s medical marijuana act is quite different from that of other states, like California.
“Most of the population does not understand that,” Cooper said. “Medical marijuana is an exception (that has been) carved out for people who have a debilitating disease.”
Both Bouchard and Cooper agreed that the statute needs clarification. They suggested changes that might make the law clearer.
“New Jersey has one state-run dispensary,” Cooper said. “That would eliminate the need for caregivers and eliminate the need for growers.”
Bouchard said a tamper-proof medical marijuana card with a photo ID should be required. A photo is not required on the current cards.
“There’s no way an officer or a deputy can verify that it’s a valid card,” Bouchard said.
Law enforcement officials don’t want to deal with the issue, Bouchard said, noting that enforcement can be costly and require many resources.
“We don’t want to deal with this at all if it’s within the scope of the law,” Bouchard said. “It’s going to divert a lot of precious resources from things we could and should be doing. This is not something we should be spending a lot of time and money on.”
Bouchard said in his opinion, voters decided that people who were suffering deserved to have their pain lessened when the measure passed in Nov. 2008.
“This has gone far (away) from that,” he said. Patients have received medical marijuana cards for things such as stomachaches and shoulder pain, Bouchard said, while others have taken the opportunity to “take an illegal operation and give it the air of legality.”
An investigation is ongoing and more arrests could be made. Suspects could face charges like possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and manufacturing marijuana, with penalties ranging from 90 days to 15 years imprisonment.
“This is a clear abuse of Michigan’s medical marijuana exemption,” Bouchard said. “It will get nothing but worse. There will be more problems unless the legislature does its job.”
Contact staff writer Dave Phillips at 248-745-4631 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dave_phillips1.
URL: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/08/26/news/local_news/doc4c76e0887bb09385887715.prt
Little Tommy
Well-Known Member
Well, there you go. Another perfect example of people ruining a good thing. I guess the attraction to all the money was too much for them. Perhaps a couple State Run dispensaries is the only answer they are leaving the state. I know how much everybody would like that to happen. Junk meds at reasonable prices - a recipe for mediocrity. This type of thing is what is keeping MJ from being legitimized as a medicine. My whole start to growing my own was to be removed from all this chaos. When will they ever learn?
DoinIt2Gether
Active Member
But it looks like the only reason they all went down is because the cops were able to purchase without credentials...guess it really does pay to stick to the rules...
rzza
Well-Known Member
i would bet a whole crop that the undercovers who bought "without proper credentials" were buying with only their paperwork, first of all. and second of all they mentioned other drugs were also confiscated but they dont mention what it is. are they talking bout some prescription drugs found on an employee? thirdly, the guns. name one party store owner that works in the store without a rifle behind the counter?
ferndale for one is sueing the sheriffs office and i wish them the best of luck.
ferndale for one is sueing the sheriffs office and i wish them the best of luck.
baddfrog0221
Active Member
Really who would sell to people without credentials that was dumb, arrogant, and greedy. The drug deals in public need to stop. I've met a few caregivers that have no sense of privacy about selling and distributing medicine. We need to be smart and keep in mind that this is still illegal for a lot of people. Keep distribution to private closed facilities, don't meet in random parking lots and alleys anymore.
DoinIt2Gether
Active Member
Beautifully said!
ganja girl
New Member
They don't use rifles, they use handguns-BIG ONES.
Where did you see that Ferndale was taking the sheriff to court. Isn't Bouchard also a lawyer?
Where did you see that Ferndale was taking the sheriff to court. Isn't Bouchard also a lawyer?
ganja girl
New Member
I don't like people asking for caregivers/patients on RIU either. That can bring trouble too.
baddfrog0221
Active Member
Yea that's prohibited for a good reason. But that is the problem with the whole thing. Patients need to get connected with caregivers and vice versa. Yet most patients I talk to have never heard of a compassion club, RIU, or a dispensary. We have to make it easier for people who need medicine. Who is the system helping when it's pot-heads that are visiting dispensaries and paying jacked up prices and then selling whatever they buy for more then the paid? Meanwhile patients are out there with a need for qualtiy medicine and they are suffering because they can't find a reliable caregiver or a source of medicine that dosn't cost an arm and a leg.
DoinIt2Gether
Active Member
Once again, beautifully said...
Little Tommy
Well-Known Member
It seems to me that I heard the Ferndale bust also involved someone in the parking lot buying meds for people without credentials.