© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Judge in marijuana case: No smoking until your hearing

Marijuana leaf
Hendrike
/
Creative Commons
Marijuana leaf

An Oakland County Judge prohibited defendants charged with violating drug laws from smoking marijuana while on bond until their hearing in October. The defendants say they use medical marijuana legally under the state's medical marijuana law.  The Detroit News has a story about the ruling.  In it they described the scene outside the courtroom:

Outside, a group of about 30 people gathered before the hearing to support the defendants and protest the law enforcement crackdown on medical marijuana businesses. Some wore yellow T-shirts with the words "This is Michigan Not a Cheech and Chong Movie," a reference to remarks last week by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

Fifteen people were arrested after police say an undercover investigation found the Michigan marijuana law was being abused. Many of those arrested said they were using or selling marijuana legally. In an article in Hometownlife.com, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said:

This has nothing to do with compassionate care. These are people running a drug business.

There's been a lot of confusion since voters passed the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act in 2008. Questions remain about who can possess it, who can sell it, where can they sell it, and how much can they sell.

Mark Brush was the station's Digital Media Director. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. He was 49 years old.