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Posted (edited)

http://fox17online.com/2015/11/12/theres-no-access-medical-marijuana-patients-without-caregivers-dispensary-shut-down/

 

 

MUSKEGON, Mich. – A West Michigan medical marijuana dispensary owner was raided and taken for all he’s worth but said he thought he was doing things by the book.

Since voters passed the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act many card-carrying patients and caregivers say they were wrongfully raided because they thought they were protected under the law. State police data shows that between 2008 and 2014, arrests for marijuana went up 17 percent. Just last year alone, there were more than 20,400 arrests for using marijuana.

When it comes to dispensaries, why are some raided and others untouched?

Paul Miller is a card-carrying caregiver. Thursday FOX 17 met with him in his shut-down Muskegon dispensary, while his patient trimming buds explained that Miller’s grow and curing process creates medical quality marijuana.

“In my mind, just looking at the law, I felt I was just helping customers, helping patients,” said Miller.

In May 2011 Miller opened the Muskegon Medical Marijuana Dispensary because as a patient himself, he couldn’t find affordable, medical-grade marijuana. He said access to caregivers is something badly needed in Michigan.

“There’s no access,” said Miller. “You have 136,000 patients, you have 24,000 caregivers; not all 24,000 caregivers grow for five patients.”

To Miller, quality is king. When he was in business he says patients were calling from across the state.

“It’s difficult for any patient: there’s still patients out there today, I’ll guarantee you, that have nowhere to turn, nobody to call, and no way to get medical marijuana,” said Miller.

But last April his large scale care-giving was cut short. West Michigan Enforcement Team officers showed up with a warrant, raided, then shut-down his dispensary. Miller says the cops took him for all he is worth.

Court documents show April 17, 2015 officers also seized $16,479 from the dispensary’s safe, and 156.6 pounds of medibles, 184.1 grams of Butane Hash Oil, 52.7 grams of ground marijuana, and 6.6 pounds of usable marijuana.

Miller also said law enforcement emptied $25,000 his business’ bank account the next day, charging him with a 15-year felony for growing and delivery of 45 kilos of marijuana.

But there’s a problem with the math here: Miller said cops weighed his edibles as whole marijuana, not just the labeled THC that were in them.

“That’s the whole thing the state’s just creating criminals, almost as fast as they can pump them out of jail,” said Miller. “It’s really sad; the people that pay the price are the actual patients, and the people that can’t afford to.”

Miller told FOX 17 he wanted to fight the charge through to a jury of his peers, but the high legal costs on top of what was seized forced him to take a plea deal earlier this week.

“When it comes down to it you can only hold out until you’re broke and you can’t eat,” said Miller.

“So now we’re looking at 18 months’ probation which I have to pay $30 per month to the city and then of course $650 in court costs. So you’re looking at another grand to Muskegon, including the $29,000 the state police stuck in their pocket.”

When it comes to the pending medical marijuana legislation, with police wanting to phase out the caregiver, Miller said he doesn’t buy it.

“I really feel it's bad to limit and have a certain amount of commercial grows the only people it's good for is the state and the people with money who can afford to pay the licensing,” said Miller.

Edited by bobandtorey
Posted (edited)

Obtuse..thinking this describes these dispensary owners , republicans in Lansing and their supporters.

We the People never intended for drug dealers to set up as dispensaries.

This guy was warned but his greed clouded his better judgement.

This guy also had no regard what so ever for our law.

He hid behind our good law to run an illegal opp.

These guys and the rest of the Legal Liars give us a bad rep.

We the People and the good caregivers of this state will always take care of our own.

Glad to see trash taken to the curb.

Once in a while Leo gets it right.

Another drug dealer bites the bust.

Edited by beourbud
Posted

Goes to show you that anyone can easily hide from the free flow of information and knowledge. Imagine how hard it was to bury his head that deep? There's no way that he didn't have people telling how 'brave' he was on a daily basis. I think he had that Super Hero Complex. For some reason he felt he was The Chosen One. Saw that over the years before our law was passed. They always ended up in jail. This is no different because it's medical or because he owns a store. He was just one of those people ..... 

Posted

I am glad he had 16k in his safe. Normally safes are emptied at night, or was this the days earnings? Compassion has taken on dollar signs, none of this would happen if owner was content in supplying his five patients, and being happy with that measly income. he needed more cash, and found away to make it, for awhile anyways. A real pioneer for our medical movement, and a boon to the  plea bargain system of course. yeeeehaaaaa!!! way to go on the four year run!!

 

these dispensary groups and their money have even infiltrated fine medical marijuana forums with posts and advertisements for products, living plants, and even doctors to qualify people to use marijuana!  they are everywhere now, and seemingly unstoppable. May as well accept them as part of the scene we support.

Posted

I am glad he had 16k in his safe. Normally safes are emptied at night, or was this the days earnings? Compassion has taken on dollar signs, none of this would happen if owner was content in supplying his five patients, and being happy with that measly income. he needed more cash, and found away to make it, for awhile anyways. A real pioneer for our medical movement, and a boon to the  plea bargain system of course. yeeeehaaaaa!!! way to go on the four year run!!

 

these dispensary groups and their money have even infiltrated fine medical marijuana forums with posts and advertisements for products, living plants, and even doctors to qualify people to use marijuana!  they are everywhere now, and seemingly unstoppable. May as well accept them as part of the scene we support.

How can you support stupidity?  I'll support an informed guy that helps people but I can't bring myself to support ignorant people who don't follow rules right out in the open using stupidity as a defense. 

Posted

Dispensaries are very much needed, I figure their are about 6 patients for every CG in MI. We know that CG are, and should be, very selective. Most only grow for family/friends, or select their patients very carefully, as they should, but this leaves thousands of patients with no access, other than to grow for themselves but most are not able to. I've got to much to say on this, I just don't understand how we can be upset with people like this, I just don't.

Posted

Dispensaries are very much needed, I figure their are about 6 patients for every CG in MI. We know that CG are, and should be, very selective. Most only grow for family/friends, or select their patients very carefully, as they should, but this leaves thousands of patients with no access, other than to grow for themselves but most are not able to. I've got to much to say on this, I just don't understand how we can be upset with people like this, I just don't.

I hear ya. People are miffed because they think the line was crossed. I think most of us are fine with a compassionate dispensary, but most also very much disagree with those operating in excess. Maybe this guy was or wasn't? Not for me to say. Just my 2 cents on the general issue. Sorry for your frustrations. There is more sarcasm and such in these forums than you think.
Posted

What's really sad here, whether you support dispensaries or not, is that because of the actions of some players, LEOs have a some fat mama pigs to suckle on in the form of asset forfeiture.

 

It seems pretty clear that this dispensary operator was motivated by greed.  I'm sick and tired of hearing folks like him say "I was just trying to help people."  If you just want to help people, go work at the local soup kitchen, read books to old people, or go do household chores for the invalid. Sign-up five patients on SSDI and give them free meds.  

 

But if you run a dispensary and give LEO the opportunity to collect (in this case) $41,000+ in CASH to fund their continued enforcement against others, in the end you haven't helped anyone.  All you did was collect profits from patients and caregivers and given that money to LEOs who then use the funds to make life hell for other folks.

Posted

Miller told FOX 17 he wanted to fight the charge through to a jury of his peers, but the high legal costs on top of what was seized forced him to take a plea deal earlier this week.

 

wanted to fight. lots of people want to fight but only a few have taken it to the END. wheres kingpinn?

Posted (edited)

Why should anyone have any iill put upon them for marijuana period? Medicinal or recreational, no one should ever have any injustice brought against them for having anything to do with marijuana in any way. Most all of us were illegal before the law took effect.

 

My 2 cents

Edited by wildman69
Posted

Why should anyone have any iill put upon them for marijuana period? Medicinal or recreational, no one should ever have any injustice brought against them for having anything to do with marijuana in any way. Most all of us where illegal before the law took effect.

My 2 cents

somebody charging 30 a gram should be flogged. Period.
Posted (edited)

somebody charging 30 a gram should be flogged. Period.

eat a cack.  Simple supply and demand will fix this problem.    Anyone who wishes jail upon another marijuana user is a POS in my book. 

Edited by garyfisher

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