MAYHEM IN MICHIGAN

As Michigan scrambles to adjust to rapidly changing laws, the police have launched a blitzkrieg of raids against collectives across the state. Last September, Governor Rick Snyder signed a bundle of regulations now collectively known as MMFLA. The new regulations have put many Michigan cannabis businesses in legal limbo.

Kent County was hit the hardest. In late November 2016, every collective in Grand Rapids was raided. In one aggressive sweep, several collectives were hit including Third Day, Michigan Relief Hub, (Unnamed) 5000 block of Circle Dr., (Unnamed) NE 5400 block of Pine Island Dr., (Unnamed) NE Red Jasper 1200 block of Taylor Ave NW and Green State Caregiving. The Kent County Area Narcotics Enforcement Team cited that all collectives were operating illegally. Despite initial reports, the DEA denied involvement in the raids.

As of December, many need to travel to Ann Arbor or Detroit to find an open cannabis collective. Patients protested the raids, saying they have the right to have access to medicine. The way townships and counties pick and choose which collectives to raid defies logic. Collectives get away with more in metro Detroit, aside from those pushing the envelope with drive-thrus and out of zoning compliance.

“We are trying to work fast and find a new shop, perhaps in Lansing if we can afford the cost. The DEA says they were not involved, but considering how accounts were frozen seems like feds to me. No one in our shop got charged—they just took the meds, the cash, the laptops, computers and tablets robbed and left.”

Michigan patients are allegedly forced to pay for the raids themselves, through money funneled into the Michigan Medical Marihuana Fund. Michigan patients pay a $60 fee for a two-year registration. The concept that patients are covering the cost of raids has sparked outrage. According to a report from Detroit News, Metro Detroit police have spent $600,000 so far towards stakeouts and raid gear, coming directly out of Michigan medical cannabis funds coming from fees.

Possessing up to two-and-a-half ounces of medical cannabis is legal in Michigan, however, finding a consistent caregiver or collective and source of quality cannabis is another story.

Rick Cope is owner of Third Day Collective chain located in Michigan. His nephew, Stephen Matthew is manager. Initially the two were unaware of the raids that were happening at one of their locations. “Apparently the karate shop next to us called and complained 42 times about the smell and people smoking outside,” Matthew told CULTURE. “It was just cigarettes, but they were always calling because they disapprove of marijuana.”

In many townships across Michigan, medical cannabis collectives have always been illegal. “The raids had a lot to do with Sue Bond, the owner of the Michigan Relief Hub which used to be involved with The Provision Center. She is charged with seven felony charges, racketeering, money laundering, etc. No one is fighting back because we all were in a township that had ordnance against dispensaries since 2011, and now they are pressing issues and cease and desist.” Several counties made the decision to conduct the raids.

The reason for the rash of raids is unclear. Just a few months ago, new legislation took place. Public Act 282, formerly known as HB-4827, enacts a statewide monitoring system. A 24-hour patient registry is being developed.

“As far as handling our raid they did okay. For the most part, they were all nice,” Matthew said. “But they took meds from some volunteers and not from others, took money from some and not from others. They didn’t take any phones, just cash. They had warrants and didn’t really have a reason other than citing illegal sales in that county.” Matthew is resilient. “We are trying to work fast and find a new shop, perhaps in Lansing if we can afford the cost. The DEA says they were not involved, but considering how accounts were frozen seems like feds to me. No one in our shop got charged—they just took the meds, the cash, the laptops, computers and tablets, robbed and left.”

The Arab American community in Michigan was hit in particular. The Arab American community has opened dozens of collectives in Detroit, as it’s become a popular business venture choice. Many of those businesses were left in limbo after new zoning regulations prohibited the shops from operating within 1,000 feet of churches, parks and schools

The Michigan chapter of NORML, led by Matthew Abel, is working hard to keep business owners educated about compliance due to the rapidly changing regulations.