Jacob Bell
New Member
Brandon McQueen got the letter at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Mt. Pleasant Police officers arrived at Compassionate Apothecary on Michigan Street, handing McQueen the cease and desist order from Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick.
Although McQueen's attorney told him the order must be signed by a judge to be valid, he complied, shutting down the medical marijuana business following a Michigan Court of Appeals opinion that "patient to patient sales" of medical marijuana are not allowed under the voter-approved Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.
McQueen, who owns the dispensary with Matt Taylor, decided the best, if not only, way to get medical marijuana to patients who qualify is by an act of the state Legislature.
That's why McQueen announced Wednesday he is running as an independent for state representative in the 99th District, which includes Mt. Pleasant and is currently held by Republican Kevin Cotter.
After getting the letter Wednesday afternoon, McQueen was upset, saying patients who rely on medical marijuana will have to go without or turn to the black market.
Because the court of appeals opinion set a precedent, dispensaries all over Michigan were being closed Wednesday.
McQueen said it's possible that he will work with his attorney to come up with a way to distribute medical marijuana to patients that is protected by the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.
He also said the MMMA was drafted in a vague manner deliberately so state courts could define the law.
"My heart goes out to the patients," he said. adding that the opinion did not indicate that dispensaries are illegal but that the manner in which the medical marijuana is being sold is the issue.
McQueen said there were about eight patients at the dispensary when police arrived with the letter.
More filed in afterward, with McQueen apologizing and turning them down, explaining the situation and showing them a copy of the 17-page opinion.
McQueen also said it is important to him that Isabella County Chief Judge Paul Chamberlain, who ruled in December that the dispensary was legal, said in his opinion that the manner in which McQueen and Taylor are distributing medical marijuana is not "selling."
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: themorningsun.com
Author: Susan Field
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The Morning Sun
Website: Marijuana dispensary owner responds to shut down
Mt. Pleasant Police officers arrived at Compassionate Apothecary on Michigan Street, handing McQueen the cease and desist order from Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick.
Although McQueen's attorney told him the order must be signed by a judge to be valid, he complied, shutting down the medical marijuana business following a Michigan Court of Appeals opinion that "patient to patient sales" of medical marijuana are not allowed under the voter-approved Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.
McQueen, who owns the dispensary with Matt Taylor, decided the best, if not only, way to get medical marijuana to patients who qualify is by an act of the state Legislature.
That's why McQueen announced Wednesday he is running as an independent for state representative in the 99th District, which includes Mt. Pleasant and is currently held by Republican Kevin Cotter.
After getting the letter Wednesday afternoon, McQueen was upset, saying patients who rely on medical marijuana will have to go without or turn to the black market.
Because the court of appeals opinion set a precedent, dispensaries all over Michigan were being closed Wednesday.
McQueen said it's possible that he will work with his attorney to come up with a way to distribute medical marijuana to patients that is protected by the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.
He also said the MMMA was drafted in a vague manner deliberately so state courts could define the law.
"My heart goes out to the patients," he said. adding that the opinion did not indicate that dispensaries are illegal but that the manner in which the medical marijuana is being sold is the issue.
McQueen said there were about eight patients at the dispensary when police arrived with the letter.
More filed in afterward, with McQueen apologizing and turning them down, explaining the situation and showing them a copy of the 17-page opinion.
McQueen also said it is important to him that Isabella County Chief Judge Paul Chamberlain, who ruled in December that the dispensary was legal, said in his opinion that the manner in which McQueen and Taylor are distributing medical marijuana is not "selling."
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: themorningsun.com
Author: Susan Field
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The Morning Sun
Website: Marijuana dispensary owner responds to shut down
