Michigan Cannabis Collectives Receive Cease-and-Desist Orders

Eight medical cannabis collectives across Grand Traverse County, Michigan were raided and issued cease-and-desist orders on October 4. Most local Michiganders had assumed that their businesses would remain open until at least December 15. They were wrong.

Helping Hands, Traverse City Provisioning Center, Select Pro-Visions, Superior Genetics, the Farmacy, Interlochen Alternative Health, Great Lakes Helping Hands and Green Relief were all raided. Police cited “large overages” in reference to Michigan’s 2.5 ounce caregiver limit. Michigan controls where and how the supply chain operates. Police confiscated all cash, cannabis, living plants, edibles and wax from the collectives.

Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT) members, with the help of local law enforcement, obtained search warrants and searched the premises, according to the Traverse Ticker. “These searches were conducted after investigation revealed that these eight establishments were operating in violation of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act by selling marihuana to persons who are not patients of the seller,” County Prosecuting Attorney Bob Cooney said in a statement. “As a result of those investigations, I have issued cease-and-desist notices to those eight dispensaries notifying each to cease and desist operations immediately.” Tales of 14-year-olds being influenced by medical cannabis collectives soon followed.

Locals in Michigan have questioned the odd selection of leadership over the state’s medical cannabis system. Donald Bailey, one of five members of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Licensing Board, used to be a Michigan State Police Sergeant in Traverse City, and he attended the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Drug Unit Commanders Academy. Bailey’s false statements about cannabis have been heavily criticized. He is also one of the main voices gunning to shut down all the dispensaries in Michigan on September 15. However, that deadline was pushed back until December 15, which is also the deadline for licensure under Michigan’s new system set forth by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Grand Traverse County isn’t alone. According to the city of Detroit’s own interactive map, the city has shut down 175 medical cannabis collectives since 2015 that were out reported to be out of compliance.