Michigan Medical Marijuana Raids
TRAVERSE CITY — Local authorities, including the Traverse Narcotics Team raided eight medical marijuana dispensaries on Wednesday. Law enforcement agents served cease and desist notices at each of the facilities. Officials said that the owners were in violation of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.
Authorities say that the dispensaries were found to be non-compliant after an investigation by undercover agents revealed that the dispensaries sold medical marijuana to people who were not patients.
The cease and desist orders that were served to the eight dispensaries said that “Consequently, you are hereby notified to comply with the law, and cease and desist immediately the dispensing of marijuana, and/or allowing patients to transfer marijuana to each other on your premises.”
Law enforcement agents seized both cash and marijuana plants in the raid. They also seized other marijuana products including concentrates and edibles.
Officials said that they aren’t trying to take medicine away from patients and that they only want dispensaries to operate within the boundaries of state laws. Lt. Josh Lator of the Michigan State Police said in a news conference that “Anyone operating in those guidelines of the law is perfectly fine. They can obey the law, that’s no problem at all. When someone steps outside the guidelines and operates in violation of Michigan law, that’s where the accountability comes in.”
The current law in Michigan states that a patient or a caregiver is permitted to have 2.5 ounces of cannabis and can possess up to 5 marijuana plants.
County Prosecutor Bob Cooney wrote in a statement that dispensary owners and anyone connected to the dispensaries who did not obey the cease and desist order would be subject to criminal and civil prosecution. Law enforcement officials did not arrest anyone in the raid.
Niko Mann is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. She enjoys writing about activism, social justice, politics, education, marketing, and comedy.
