MISSOULA AUTHORITIES ARREST PATIENT

Missoula authorities arrested a 40-year-old medical marijuana patient
on Thursday after seizing 30 pot plants from inside his garage.

Narcotics detectives used a battering ram to enter David A. Michaud's
Missoula home, where they found several dozen marijuana plants and a
hydroponic growing operation. Authorities let Michaud keep the six
plants he's allowed to possess under Montana's Medical Marijuana
Act, according to court documents charging him with felony criminal
production of dangerous drugs.

"We did leave behind six plants, which is the allotted amount for
Michaud," according to one investigator's report. "Also left at the
residence was a small amount of dried usable marijuana in a glass jar
that was found on Michaud's person. No marijuana smoking devices were
seized either."

Detectives arrested Michaud and confiscated the rest of the
operation. He remains jailed at the Missoula County Detention
Facility in lieu of $20,000 bail.

A convicted felon and stay-at-home dad, Michaud said he uses medical
marijuana to relieve chronic migraine headaches, pain and nausea.

In addition to the felony drug charge, Michaud also faces a count of
criminal endangerment because his infant child was inside the house.
Prosecutors allege that the grow operation posed a fire hazard
because it used high-powered lights and a lit Bunsen burner.