MARIJUANA TOP 2010 LOCAL STORIES

Medical Marijuana Raids

Oakland County Sheriff's narcotics agents raided a medical marijuana
dispensary in Ferndale and another in Waterford Township Aug. 25 and
owners and employees were charged with violating the state's medical
marijuana act.

About 16 people were arrested who were connected with the Clinical
Relief dispensary in Ferndale and Everybody's Cafe in Waterford.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the defendants sold pot
to people without proper ID. County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper joined
Bouchard for a news conference after the raids.

Authorities claim the state law, which allows registered patients and
caregivers a limited number of marijuana plants, does not allow
operating dispensaries. The raids were seen by many as a way for
county authorities to build a test case on the pot law.

Nine defendants in the Ferndale raid are awaiting a decision from
Ferndale 43rd District Judge Joseph Long on whether the case will go
to Oakland County Circuit Court for trial in early 2011.

Michigan's marijuana law has left cities, patients, police and even
the courts locked in unresolved disputes over what the voter-approved
law allows.

Adding to the confusion, marijuana possession or use of any kind is
still prohibited under federal law, which supersedes state laws. The
federal Drug Enforcement Agency is currently seeking patient records
of seven people in the Lansing area from the state Department of
Community Health which is bound by confidentiality laws. The feds say
the records are needed as part of a DEA drug probe and the conflict
is expected to end up in court.