Police seize 36 marijuana plants and growing equipment from apartment
Pittsfield Township police Sunday arrested a 28-year-old man accused of growing marijuana and possessing more than allowed under the state’s medical marijuana law.
There they found 36 marijuana plants, growing equipment and more usable marijuana, police said in a press release. The man, who had a medical marijuana card and a permit to carry a concealed weapon, also had two pistols, police said.
Police seized the marijuana and growing equipment and arrested the man.
Police did not disclose how much marijuana, besides the 36 plants, was seized. Michigan law allows a qualified user to possess 2.5 ounces and 12 plants if the patient has not appointed a primary caregiver to cultivate the plants.
Pittsfield Township Police continue to investigate. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Pittsfield police at 734-822- 4911.
Comments
Caring
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 : 9:22 p.m.
If it were legalized a lot of problems that exist now could be resolved, but right now I don't think you want a grow room in the apartment next to you. It becomes a target. It attracts thieves who might be willing to go to great lengths the neighbors would not enjoy just to get their hands on thousands of dollars worth of crop or cash. This also makes it unsafe for young children in the home. Keep the growing out of residential neighborhoods. The grower has to keep it secret because they don't want to be targets, so visiting children (and their parents) have no idea their children are playing or spending the night in a drug manufacturing home with the risks that may involve. Keep it commercial and make it legal. There are lots of stupid choices for people to make already. Smoking anything is just one more.
rutrow
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 : 11:27 a.m.
Decriminalization is urgently needed ASAP. Way, way, way too much in police resources (and lives) is being flushed down the toilet in this 75-year debacle that is clearly as heck a solution desperately in search of a problem. Legalize it already!!!!!!!!
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 : 12:04 a.m.
i dont think this mans in the joking mood.those guns could increase his imprisonment BIG TIME.
Billy
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
Hey guys....I just had a thought and had to come back here to mention it. The raid is probably legitimate......because it wasn't LAWNET...
Basic Bob
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 6:22 p.m.
Bill Schuette would approve.
bobslowson
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
LEGALIZE IT!
RJA
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
Great job Pittsfield Police!!!
C Steve Kime
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
Yeez you'd think the police would have better things to do, isn't there an epidemic of jaywalkers in downtown Ann Arbor, as long as your going all Barney Fife on us at least do a real public service?
smokeblwr
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
Having a grow house in an apartment building can't be allowed can it? All that humidity is sure to be bad for the drywall and other residents would be impacted. But then again, drug manufacturers don't think about the environment.....just their bottom line.
JustinHale
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
It's not exactly a grow house if its in an apartment my friend. Growing 36 plants in an apartment probably isn't the best idea. There aren't any mentioned legalities of it in the law other than being behind a locked door only the patient/caregiver can access. However, having a grow of that scale in an apartment, you are just asking for trouble. I don't know the full details but the odor of Cannabis was pretty bad supposedly.
Third Coast
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
We should also outlaw showers as they put quite a bit of humidity in the air.
JPLewis
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
What does a CPL matter? One does not need a Concealed Pistol Licence to carry a firearm in one's own dwelling.
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 : 12:17 a.m.
when there is a firearm in place were unlawfull drug activity is accused bring your toothbrush to the trial.
G. Orwell
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:23 p.m.
Why is marijuana illegal? It has amazing madicinal properties and it is less harmful than alcohol. It is because anyone can grow it and corporations cannot control it. They cannot profit from it. If it were legal, no corporation could sell it since everyone can grow it themselves. To assist corporate interests, our law enforcement is being manipulated and used for corporate interests. Throwing people in jail and ruining their lives. Police should not go after marijuana growers and users. Waste of valuable tax payer money.
Billy
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
Why do they go after marijuana so hard? Because of stigmas and vilification... Anyone who takes a step back and looks at the big picture will see it easily. Unfortunately most people refuse to take that step back.....usually due to simple ignorance but occasionally it's voluntary and malicious. Things will change when there are enough people IN POWER that want it to change. I mean...we still have power as the proles....it's just the wielding of that power that's the challenge.
nickcarraweigh
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
Thank goodness our nettlesome drug problem is finally solved.
xmo
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
Lets just sell the stuff and drug stores and be done with this kind of stuff before someone gets hurt. The Medical marijuana law is stupid!
ribs1
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
Glad Barney cracked this caper.
FormerMichRes
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
Just another indication the well intentioned medical marijuana law has been hijacked by the recreational users. There are over 100,000 medical marijuana cardholders in MI. I don't think the proponents of the law or the voters ever intended this. Legalize the stuff ... and tax it like tobacco and booze. From a lung health perspective smoking anything is not a good idea. Additionally, marijuana use can trigger psychosis in those prone. Call the UM Depression Center for more information on that. Best of luck.
TinyArtist
Wed, Oct 10, 2012 : 2:33 a.m.
"Additionally, marijuana use can trigger psychosis in those prone." That could be a reason why marijuana is used by so many upright citizens.
JustinHale
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 : 11:29 p.m.
DonBee, that is amazing.... How exactly did these "specialists" come to this conclusion? What study data was used for these conclusions? The cold hard fact is there has been so very few studies done that would back up these statements from the so called "specialists" you speak of. There is no funding surrounding the study of Medical Cannabis, because it is such a grey topic. Investors don't want to put their name on any backing and big pharmaceutical obviously will not spend one cent on studying a possible substance that could put them out of business or take a very large bite out of their profit margins. The only reason Dr's or "specialists" suggest eating it over smoking is for the simple fact that they assume ingesting flaming plant material will cause negative effects on your body. Unfortunately the truth is these specialists should just keep their opinions to themselves as like I said, there is no data to back this up either. The Medicinal Cannabis users WANT these items studied also. If there are better methods to refine the active components in Cannabis and deliver it to your system safer, they are all for it. But who is paying for the expensive testing and studies that would need to take place?
DonBee
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
Billy - Every pain specialist I have talked to has said the same thing. If you really want to use marijuana as a pain medication, bake it into something and eat it. Don't smoke it. I have heard this from specialists at MSU, UofM, Mercy and other places.
Billy
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.
You realize that marijuana is a really good "analgesic," right? I put that in quotes because it doesn't function the same way as real analgesics.....but the end result of pain management is still there. That alone makes it very useful for a ton of ailments. Speaking of triggering psychosis....do you know what it also does? Helps people with depression. It can trigger dopamine production where there normally is very little to none, which can be very beneficial to those suffering from depression. Also.....more people are vaporizing now...which pretty much kills the smoking argument entirely.
Brad
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:30 p.m.
Note that the ATF prohibits marijuana users from posessing firearms or ammunition. Medical MJ card notwithstanding. http://www.atf.gov/press/releases/2011/09/092611-atf-open-letter-to-all-ffls-marijuana-for-medicinal-purposes.pdf Michigan law also prohibits CPL holders from carrying while under the influence of "intoxicants".
DonBee
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.
Bertha - Saw a t-shirt you might like the other day in D.C. "To the Feds...Bud out"
Bertha Venation
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
Don't know why MJ card holders are not allowed a CCW permit. I've had the munchies before, but never had the urge to eat a weapon!
Brad
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
The CPL application asks if you are an ILLEGAL drug user, so presumably if you have a card then that wouldn't be the case.
Billy
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
Actually that is for FEDERAL firearm licenses....it has no direct bearing on state issued concealed pistol licenses. However I believe it HAS been interpreted by an individual on the Michigan CPL board to apply to state licenses...and this is currently in debate because it is NOT a consensus. Those who already had their CPLs and medical cards had no problems renewing their cards earlier this year, and SOME people who had their cards had no problems getting new CPLs. Yet there are tons of other people who had their CPL applications denied on the grounds that they were current medical marijuana program members. Time will tell on this issue since it's just now starting.
Ron Granger
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:43 p.m.
If only the same prohibitions applied to codone, oxycontin, adderall, lithium, and hundreds of other prescription drugs. But the big phrama drug lobby would never allow it.
Billy
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
If he had two patients and was a patient himself then the 36 plants were legal under state law. He would also be allowed to possess 7.5 oz of "usable medicine." Everything "curing" does NOT count in that weight. Pittsfield PD isn't the brightest when it comes to actually reading the laws or interpreting them correctly though....
JustinHale
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
Unfortunately that isn't how it works. Anything dried or drying will count towards your weight. It is usable medicine according to law enforcement. This also includes any leaf trimmings, stems, stalks, seeds, roaches or bud. Doesn't matter. According to some well known lawyers in the area which specialize in Marijuana cases, any product that you are not planning on using or that is already dried.. You should put it in a freezer for storage because it is then not counted as usable as its frozen. I'm not saying do that, but it might make chances better in a court situation like this.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:07 p.m.
The final piece of the war on drugs.....mission accomplished. "The man, who had a medical marijuana card a permit to carry a concealed weapon, also had two pistols," did he have any cereal in his cupboard?
Bertha Venation
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
HMMM was it cooking marijuana or smoking marijuana? Makes a big difference when it comes to omlets!
Billy
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
Yes and charges for said breakfast entree will be forthcoming.....
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
He did have socks in his underwear drawer...the horror, the horror "Think of the children"