Police Raids Might Lead to Less Intervention

Last week, the Michigan State Police held a press conference. There, they explained why they chose to infiltrate ten cannabis dispensaries in just one day in March, stating that there were illegal sales to those who do not deserve it and other illegal actions under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. However, instead of giving police more of a chance to attack other dispensaries, this could actually stop police from infiltrating others, police say.

“Our focus is to stop the drug traffickers who are operating illegally under the guise and umbrella of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act and providing marijuana to those who are not eligible, or not their patients, or in excess of the amounts they are authorized to have,” Derrick Carroll, Michigan State Police Lieutenant, said to reporters at the press conference.

Small violations at the dispensaries in the small Otsego County town include illegal cash transactions, sales to customers who are ineligible, and the sale of banned products such as oil and wax. However, the most important part of proponents working in medical cannabis in Michigan, Lieutenant Carroll stated that dispensaries are “not supposed to be charging for marijuana,” and that the payments in medical cannabis across the state are what motivated the police forces to intervene.

In 2013, the Michigan Supreme Court decided that medical cannabis sales are allowed. However, they are only allowed from a registered doctor to their five registered patients. People are looking for a change to this decision.

“Today Michigan’s highest Court clarified that this law is narrowly focused on helping the seriously ill, not an open door to unrestricted retail marijuana sales,” Attorney General Bill Schuette said. “Dispensaries will have to close their doors. Sales or transfers between patients or between caregivers and patients other than their own are not permitted under the Medical Marijuana Act.