Smokin' Mad: Cops Bash Michigan Pot Farmer's Sentence

[bobandtorey]

Probation for a southeastern Michigan farmer caught growing more than 8,000 marijuana plants is not “logical or reasonable” and sends the wrong message to people considering similar schemes, the head of an anti-drug task force said Wednesday.

Detective Lt. Robert Sinclair of the state police reacted a day later to the sentencing of Edwin Schmieding, who got an extraordinary break from a federal judge in Detroit.

Instead of prison, the Lenawee County man was placed on supervised release, or probation, for two years. He was arrested in 2011 after an investigation by a police task force in Lenawee and Hillsdale counties. Federal agents subsequently took over the case.

“It does not seem logical or reasonable to sentence a person growing this much marijuana to two years of probation, especially when it obviously was not for personal use but for monetary gain,” said Sinclair, commander of the task force.

“We will continue to pursue all criminal activity including illegal marijuana growing operations,” he said.

Schmieding, 61, began growing marijuana after raising cut flowers for years. His wife told police they wanted to sell it for use by people approved for medical marijuana, although large-scale production is illegal.

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman said Schmieding, who is recovering from cancer, deserved a break. The marijuana was not considered to be high quality and many plants were immature.

“It’s inconsequential to me,” Sinclair said. “It’s marijuana, and it’s being grown for profit. That’s the way we look at it.”

Friedman met privately with attorneys before the court hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Barrington Wilkins said he recommended a prison sentence. He declined to elaborate.

 

http://www.freep.com/article/20130626/NEWS06/306260152/Lenawee-County-Michigan-marijuana-farmer

Edited July 4, 2013 by bobandtorey

[solabeirtan]

What a limp dick? Left over "Drug Warrior" having hard time accepting the Change in the Weather. Reality check, time to find something productive to do. Like timing traffic lights or Helping little old Ladies and Medical Cannabis Patients to cross the streets, safely.  ... 

[bobandtorey]

i agree

 Goes to show someone just how far they our wiling to keep pushing Change is Hard when most of them have learned from their fathers 

[painterdan]

In the meantime, murderers,rapists,carjackers etc. walk the streets without a worry in the world.Marijuana users and growers are easy targets,they don't shoot back.

[RandomStoner]

Yet

[phaquetoo]

They are emptying the prisons of rapist's, thieves and murderers,  to make room for mm pt's,  c.g's and impaired drivers.

 

 

Peace

Jim

[bobandtorey]

I agree Jim impaired drivers or DUI is making a come back i was once in Canada long ago and their they do have check points people would go to the Bar and when it was time to go they would leave their cars in the parking lot because their where only one  or two roads you could take home and the Cop's new them

 

Theirs Big $$ for Leo,Courts,Lawyers, and  Drug testing places with Marijuana and drunks