Michigan Medical Marijuana Raids Involve 160 Cops from 16 Law Enforcement Agencies at 28 Locations, 27 People Indicted, Charges Dropped "Temporarily" a Few Days Later

Raids obviously involved asset seizures too

WOODTV

Medical marijuana is legal in Michigan. Nevertheless, earlier this month the DEA, working with 15 other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies raided 28 locations in Western Michigan as part of "Operation High Mileage," an investigation into a group called the "Medical Marijuana Team." Federal authorities alleged in their indictment that the Medical Marijuana Team used medical marijuana as a front for selling thousands of dollars' worth of the drug. The local county undersheriff says authorities seized 500 marijuana plants, as well as assets the police claim were proceeds from drug sales. An eyewitness account at one location suggests authorities may have seized a boat.

In the criminal complaint, unsealed the day after the raids, on October 17th, a DEA task officer for the case wrote:

"The (organization) uses the framework of the (medical marijuana law) to suggest that they are following Michigan law in manufacturing and distributing marijuana, but my investigation, which includes several weeks of wiretaps on cellphones used by principal members of the organization, finds no support for the claim that they are trying to provide marijuana to sick people; it shows that they are out to make money,"

But the very next Monday, prosecutors asked for charges against the 27 people arrested in the raids to be dropped  while police, who said they had enough evidence to conduct the massive raid and make arrests and seize assets claimed to be drug proceeds, take more time to compile evidence for a grand jury.  No word on when that might be yet.

Comments

[WTF]

finds no support for the claim that they are trying to provide marijuana to sick people; it shows that they are out to make money,"

Because the two are mutually exclusive? Aren't pharmaceutical companies out to make money by providing drugs to sick people?

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

Intentions are all that matter.

[CatoTheElder]

Asset forfeitures are all that really matter.

[Being Waterboarded]

finds no support for the claim that they are trying to provide marijuana to sick people; it shows that they are out to make money,"

This is worse than wanting to supply people with recreational pot! Out to make money - the nerve!

[Somalian Road Corporation]

Good thing we have a hip and cool President who's smoked weed and doesn't let things like this happen anymore.

[WTF]

He would stop things like this from happening, if only the evil teathuglicans would let him!

[Drake]

If only Valerie Jarret told him they were happening!

[gaoxiaen]

Please tell Comrade Stalin that we're starving. He'd help us if he knew.

[Enough About Palin]

Let me be clear. If you like your weed, you can keep it.

[CatoTheElder]

There's no sugarcoating this: Obama is only a lukewarm drug warrior.

[SugarFree]

Fire them all and strip away their pensions.

[Enough About Palin]

I won't be around for PM links so:

Church looks like penis

The newly-constructed Christian Science Church in Dixon, Illinois has tremendous curb appeal. But from the air...well, you decide. One can't help but appreciate the landscaping which adds yet another level to the already powerful Google Earth visual.
The church is located just south of Rock River at the corner of West 2nd street and Highland Ave. That information is completely irrelevant but the story is pretty much finished and I'm not really sure what else to say - other than the fact that the church's slogan is "Rising Up."

[WTF]

That is awesome.

[sarcasmic]

Too funny.

[Paul.]

It would be dope if Planned Parenthood were on the opposite corner.

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

And it was shaped like a vagina or uterus

[Fist of Etiquette]

Looks like some manscaping is in order.

[Paul.]

marijuana to sick people; it shows that they are out to make money,"

I know we're firmly in the era of free healthcare, and things being provided to you by a third party as 'rights', but is there something incompatible between supplying Medical Marijuana and making money?

I didn't realize the Marijuana dispensaries were giving their product away free. Am I missing something?

[Number 2]

Yes you are.

The DOJ Ogden Memorandum from 2009 expressly states that financial gain is proof that a medical marijuana is not being provided "in strict accordance with state law" and is therefore subject to prosecution -- regardless whether state law permits profit-making entities to market medical marijuana.

[Lord Humungus]

Hey! Why that's my home town /Frank Drebin

[SweatingGin]

I thought it was going to be the Battle Creek or Lansing raids. There's enough of them that I can't keep track.

[The Late P Brooks]

the DEA, working with 15 other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies

But state and local cops would NEVER take the side of the feds over the expressed wishes of the voters in their state.

Shit eating lapdogs.

[Number 2]

The Feds offer forfeiture loot. What are the voters offering?

[Death Rock and Skull]

It looks like a marketing-suitable stock photo montage of diversity.

[Geoff Nathan]

This is being encouraged by Michigan Attorney General Schuette, who is convinced that ALL medical marijuana initiatives are just disguised campaigns to help stoners. NTTAWWT...

[The Late P Brooks]

So providing relief from physical illness is illegal if done for teh profitz?

The Mayo Clinic had better watch their asses.

[RussianPrimeMinister]

Wait. What happens if they use the dollar bills they earn as papers to roll joints?

Does taht count as a charitable donation?

Are profits acceptable if they're used to smoke the product?