JUDGE TO HEAR DEA REQUEST TO OBTAIN STATE MEDICAL-MARIJUANA RECORDS

GRAND RAPIDS A hearing is set next week in the federal government's
request for access to certain state medical-marijuana records.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents is seeking the records
related to a Lansing-area investigation of seven people.

In June, the DEA served a subpoena on the state's Department of
Community Health, but the state would not provide the records citing
confidentiality laws.

The Department of Community Health told investigators that they faced
potential civil and criminal sanctions if they released the information.

A hearing is Jan. 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh Brenneman,
court records said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Bruha filed a motion to enforce the
petition. He said in court filings that state officials were
"reluctant" to release the records without a judge's order.

The DEA is seeking "copies of any and all documents, records,
applications, payment method of any application for Medical Marijuana
Patient Cards and Medical Marijuana Caregiver cards and copies of
front and back of any cards located for the seven named individuals."

The names of those under investigation are redacted from records.

Under the law, Community Health maintains a confidential list of
those who have obtained registry identification cards. Disclosure of
the information is a misdemeanor.