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Use Of National Guard In Federal Raid Raises Questions

EdwardGlen

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EdwardGlen Advanced Member

+EdwardGlen

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There goes the rest of the Constitution! So are we officially changing the name from "The United states Of America" to something ending with ist?

 

THIS CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN!!!

 

 

http://michiganmessenger.com/45414/use-of-national-guard-in-federal-raid-raises-questions

 

LANSING — On Nov. 30, the Drug Enforcement Agency raided a facility in Meridian Township. Along with ground forces, the Michigan National Guard provided two Blackhawk helicopters to assist in the operation.

 

The facility was a joint growing operation by several registered patient caregivers. The caregivers decided to rent the facility to grow medical marijuana for their patients, and remove the drug from their homes.

 

Dave Clark, an Okemos attorney representing one of the patient caregivers, told the City Pulse that his client and the others had done nothing illegal.

 

“We were surprised there was even a warrant. Everything inside was legal under state law,” Clark said. “I’m sure it was 100 percent legal.”

 

Clark and his client were not the only ones surprised by the raid. Meridian Township Police Chief Dave Hall tells Michigan Messenger that his department was never informed of the raid by federal authorities. Traditionally, when a law enforcement agency is going to be engaged in an action in another jurisdiction, they let the law enforcement from that jurisdiction know. This is done to prevent sending officers to the scene of a police action because of 9-1-1 calls.

 

United States District Attorney Rene Shekmer of the Western District in Grand Rapids told the City Pulse that the raid was conducted at several locations, and agents seized 400 plants, as well as growing equipment.

 

“Under federal law, there is no exemption for medical marijuana. Under Michigan law, there are limits and rules you have to follow,” Shekmer told the City Pulse. “As a broad brush, it does not appear they were (state-compliant) because of the number of plants.”

 

Feds are also seeking information from the Michigan Department of Community Health about several medical marijuana caregivers. It is widely believed this subpoena, issued in June, is directed at the caregivers involved in the Meridian Township growing operation.

 

But that conflict over whether or not the facilities were following Michigan law, also raises the questions about why the Michigan National Guard participated in the operation.

 

“Our helicopters do not support action in violation of state laws. A warrant authorizing Guard air support was issued for the Meridian Township mission. We supported the mission,” says Angela Simpson, deputy public information officer for the Michigan National Guard.

 

Simpson says in 2009 Guard assets were used to assist law enforcement in the seizure of 730,000 tablets of ecstasy, 607,865 pounds of illegal drugs (cocaine, heroin, hashish, crystal meth, opium, and others) and 107,480 pounds of marijuana. The counter-drug program’s focus is on prevention, education and apprehension support.

 

The Blackhawk helicopters, Simpson said, were not armed, nor were National Guard personnel.

 

Simpson also released an 80 page document from the Secretary of Defense which is the basis for the Guard’s involvement in federal government operations. Under those standing orders, Simpson says, the Guard can assist when presented with a warrant. Civilian leadership is not required to be briefed on those actions, or to approve them.

 

Those orders also authorize the deployment of Guard units and assets in drug interdiction actions and outline specific rules of engagement including lethal force to protect lives.

 

Former Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s office said last month that Granholm supported the actions of the National Guard, but declined to answer any specific questions.

 

Gov. Rick Snyder’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this situation.

 

The ACLU of Michigan says it is too early to tell if the use of National Guard assets was legal, or if the DEA was right to conduct the raid.

 

“This situation seems to raise more questions than answers. The federal government has a policy of not enforcing federal marijuana laws where state medical marijuana laws are being followed,” said Dan Korobkin, ACLU of Michigan staff attorney. “However, if a grow operation is being conducted outside of the confines of the MMMA, federal law enforcement may have reason to investigate and act.”

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thanks2 Advanced Member

thanks2

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Wow what can i say it was 40 plants now it's 400 some one post and some one missed a zero

The 40 plants was at one location, the warehouse. The other 360 was from undisclosed location around the state they say were "connected". A bunch of other care givers. Since it looks real bad they need to bolster the numbers a little.

 

Sounds like a bunch of government crap to me.

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thanks2 Advanced Member

thanks2

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dp you have a link? i mean did that really happen or are you just trying to freak people out for fun?

No, it has not happened yet. The Feds are looking for information on 7 connected to the raids. I am not sure if they are the 7 already raided or if they are thinking about raiding 7 more. My guess is it is the 7 already raided and they want to question more people to build their case.

 

Ether way, no good will come of the Feds getting these records.

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boroboro Advanced Member

boroboro

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I thought this raises more answers than it does questions:

 

  • How far will they go to prosecute us?
    Answer: As far as it takes
  • Did the DEA really mean it when they said they would leave state-legal growers alone?
    Answer: H e l l no.
  • Do politicians lie?
    Answer: Hang on, didn't we answer this one already?
  • Are we living in a nation of laws and constitutional limitations?
    Answer: If you weren't guilty of something you wouldn't have asked. Perhaps you should re-read the book 1984.

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Guest 1TokeOverLine

Guest 1TokeOverLine

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You don't think the local cops can afford choppers with FLIR pods, do you? This has always been going on, the military has always supplied the vehicles to help fight the scourge of the evil plant. Check out the mess they made in Hawaii busting legal medical grows with these tactics. But they got called out there, who's gonna do it here?

 

They do flyovers, take videos, then play them back and pass them on to LEO to act on. Then LEO builds the case and denies military involvement. It's all massively documented, but to date no one has been charged for this flagrant violation of state laws.

 

1T

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bobandtorey Advanced Member

bobandtorey

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lets do some math shall we? 6 care-givers x 5 patients = we know 60 for 1 care-giver being max with-out counting himself as a patient. Take 60 x 6 = 360 max plants. If I decided to rent a ware-house space & have plenty of connections for nutrients & equipment, I wonder if as a caregiver sharing 3000 sq ft. with 5 other care-givers would I only grow 6 plants total to take care of my patients?, if the DEA only seized 40 from one location, it makes me wonder why go through all the trouble? Other than keeping the community safer by not having people risk burning down there houses, or getting the neighbors stoned from flowering fumes! We MUST ProTECT OUrselves From Ourselves!!! & from all appearances the big grow ware-houses are now the target for the feds. As many say over again on here, the law works very well just as written with the Care-giver-Patient model of distribution (& networking)it seems like keeping private about where & how you get your meds has it merits. Dont get me wrong I see dispensaries as being beneficial for patients or CG's between crops, or to try the flavor of the month, if ran correctly they are a great asset to the community.

 

you are so right

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MORE COWBELL Advanced Member

MORE COWBELL

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There goes the rest of the Constitution! So are we officially changing the name from "The United states Of America" to something ending with ist?

 

THIS CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN!!!

 

 

http://michiganmessenger.com/45414/use-of-national-guard-in-federal-raid-raises-questions

 

LANSING — On Nov. 30, the Drug Enforcement Agency raided a facility in Meridian Township. Along with ground forces, the Michigan National Guard provided two Blackhawk helicopters to assist in the operation.

 

The facility was a joint growing operation by several registered patient caregivers. The caregivers decided to rent the facility to grow medical marijuana for their patients, and remove the drug from their homes.

 

Dave Clark, an Okemos attorney representing one of the patient caregivers, told the City Pulse that his client and the others had done nothing illegal.

 

“We were surprised there was even a warrant. Everything inside was legal under state law,” Clark said. “I’m sure it was 100 percent legal.”

 

Clark and his client were not the only ones surprised by the raid. Meridian Township Police Chief Dave Hall tells Michigan Messenger that his department was never informed of the raid by federal authorities. Traditionally, when a law enforcement agency is going to be engaged in an action in another jurisdiction, they let the law enforcement from that jurisdiction know. This is done to prevent sending officers to the scene of a police action because of 9-1-1 calls.

 

United States District Attorney Rene Shekmer of the Western District in Grand Rapids told the City Pulse that the raid was conducted at several locations, and agents seized 400 plants, as well as growing equipment.

 

“Under federal law, there is no exemption for medical marijuana. Under Michigan law, there are limits and rules you have to follow,” Shekmer told the City Pulse. “As a broad brush, it does not appear they were (state-compliant) because of the number of plants.”

 

Feds are also seeking information from the Michigan Department of Community Health about several medical marijuana caregivers. It is widely believed this subpoena, issued in June, is directed at the caregivers involved in the Meridian Township growing operation.

 

But that conflict over whether or not the facilities were following Michigan law, also raises the questions about why the Michigan National Guard participated in the operation.

 

“Our helicopters do not support action in violation of state laws. A warrant authorizing Guard air support was issued for the Meridian Township mission. We supported the mission,” says Angela Simpson, deputy public information officer for the Michigan National Guard.

 

Simpson says in 2009 Guard assets were used to assist law enforcement in the seizure of 730,000 tablets of ecstasy, 607,865 pounds of illegal drugs (cocaine, heroin, hashish, crystal meth, opium, and others) and 107,480 pounds of marijuana. The counter-drug program’s focus is on prevention, education and apprehension support.

 

The Blackhawk helicopters, Simpson said, were not armed, nor were National Guard personnel.

 

Simpson also released an 80 page document from the Secretary of Defense which is the basis for the Guard’s involvement in federal government operations. Under those standing orders, Simpson says, the Guard can assist when presented with a warrant. Civilian leadership is not required to be briefed on those actions, or to approve them.

 

Those orders also authorize the deployment of Guard units and assets in drug interdiction actions and outline specific rules of engagement including lethal force to protect lives.

 

Former Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s office said last month that Granholm supported the actions of the National Guard, but declined to answer any specific questions.

 

Gov. Rick Snyder’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this situation.

 

The ACLU of Michigan says it is too early to tell if the use of National Guard assets was legal, or if the DEA was right to conduct the raid.

 

“This situation seems to raise more questions than answers. The federal government has a policy of not enforcing federal marijuana laws where state medical marijuana laws are being followed,” said Dan Korobkin, ACLU of Michigan staff attorney. “However, if a grow operation is being conducted outside of the confines of the MMMA, federal law enforcement may have reason to investigate and act.”

 

after the Bush Admin doing away with posse comitatus almost anything is legal on american soil as far as military actions go-shoot- we are not even supposed to have a standing army here in the USA! constitution says its illegal!

 

so they can do anything-be paranoid...your freedom may depend on it!

 

a post yesterday raises the question

[1]Q...are we MMM patients legal or illegal

A...we are legal on paper in the state of Michigan B...we are illegal in the eyes of the FED's, most LEO, court justices and legislators

 

they OWN the GOLD

they make the rules

we follow the rules..everything fine

we break their laws...we go to jail/prison

 

we are breaking their internal laws-their mindset does not allow for repeal of prohibition-they are willing to get rid of a whole portion of society to build society to their ideals...Citizens who use non prescription medicine to treat their illness are not part of that model for utopia---its all psychology --until we convince the entrenched power to loosen up... we all- will face the terrible proposition of loosing our freedom and having a blackmark put upon our public/private records

be smart people-just because we have a piece of paper saying we can medicate using Medical Marijuana... just because we have a piece of paper saying we can grow our own medicine...just because we have a piece of paper saying we can grow Medical Marijuana for ourselves or others patients mean..... you will not be arrested, all your property and assets seized, your children being taken away, fined and imprisoned!

 

we live in a police state

we live in a policed nation

we live on a prison planet

 

our own military/natl guard should not be used in interdiction!

i dont want to pay for it nor do i agree with it

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