Holland, MI –Police raided a medical marijuana facility Thursday afternoon.
No charges have been brought against the owners of West Michigan Medical Services and Supplies, their attorney Michael Komorn said.
He hopes to keep it that way for Ken Baker and Nicole Rutherford, who are patients themselves and own the business.
Police did not return calls for comment Friday.
It seems representatives from the Holland Police Department came to the office sometime Thursday and said the department would like to work with the business to ensure everything was legal, Komorn said. Later, it appears, the Allegan County Sheriff's Department began pulling over people leaving the business at 4284 Blue Star Highway in Fillmore Township.
One man leaving the office had marijuana, but was not certified by the state as a medical marijuana patient, Komorn said he was told. The man had given West Michigan Medical Services and Supplies a check for $250 to process his paperwork with the state. Apparently based on the man's statements, drug task force, West Michigan Enforcement Team, raided the business, but have not commented for this article. Baker and Rutherford apparently offered to allow police to compare the seized pot with 2 ounces they had on site. That, too was seized, along with money and office equipment.
All of this is hearsay, Komorn said, because police have made no arrests and filed no affidavits.
"I'm hoping to have an open-minded discussion with law enforcement and explain why I believe my clients were within the law," said Komorn, who is also on the board of directors of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association.
Baker suffered a back injury 25 years ago. His fiancee, Nicole Rutherford, injured her spine in 2000.
The Holland office is a satellite company of Green Trees of Detroit. They offer pre-screening for potential patients, exams for state medical marijuana certification, education and – possibly soon – medical marijuana.
They hope to connect patients with care givers.
In an interview last month, Baker said they want to discourage irresponsible behavior such as driving with marijuana in the car. They want to educate people, he said.
"It's not just here's your marijuana, have fun," he said.
Both selling and buying marijuana is still illegal in the state said James McCurtis with the Michigan Department of Community Health.
A patient can have up to 12 plants and 2.5 ounces of useable marijuana. A caregiver can have up to five patients.
People were at West Michigan Medical Services and Supplies Thursday to acquire medical marijuana, to sign up to become patients, to get information on the state program created last year.
They were searched, but no one was arrested.
"I don't think patients should be treated this way, and I don't think the voters wanted them to be treated this way," the Southfield-based attorney said.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Holland Sentinel
Author: ANDREA GOODELL
Copyright: 2010 GateHouse Media, Inc.
No charges have been brought against the owners of West Michigan Medical Services and Supplies, their attorney Michael Komorn said.
He hopes to keep it that way for Ken Baker and Nicole Rutherford, who are patients themselves and own the business.
Police did not return calls for comment Friday.
It seems representatives from the Holland Police Department came to the office sometime Thursday and said the department would like to work with the business to ensure everything was legal, Komorn said. Later, it appears, the Allegan County Sheriff's Department began pulling over people leaving the business at 4284 Blue Star Highway in Fillmore Township.
One man leaving the office had marijuana, but was not certified by the state as a medical marijuana patient, Komorn said he was told. The man had given West Michigan Medical Services and Supplies a check for $250 to process his paperwork with the state. Apparently based on the man's statements, drug task force, West Michigan Enforcement Team, raided the business, but have not commented for this article. Baker and Rutherford apparently offered to allow police to compare the seized pot with 2 ounces they had on site. That, too was seized, along with money and office equipment.
All of this is hearsay, Komorn said, because police have made no arrests and filed no affidavits.
"I'm hoping to have an open-minded discussion with law enforcement and explain why I believe my clients were within the law," said Komorn, who is also on the board of directors of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association.
Baker suffered a back injury 25 years ago. His fiancee, Nicole Rutherford, injured her spine in 2000.
The Holland office is a satellite company of Green Trees of Detroit. They offer pre-screening for potential patients, exams for state medical marijuana certification, education and – possibly soon – medical marijuana.
They hope to connect patients with care givers.
In an interview last month, Baker said they want to discourage irresponsible behavior such as driving with marijuana in the car. They want to educate people, he said.
"It's not just here's your marijuana, have fun," he said.
Both selling and buying marijuana is still illegal in the state said James McCurtis with the Michigan Department of Community Health.
A patient can have up to 12 plants and 2.5 ounces of useable marijuana. A caregiver can have up to five patients.
People were at West Michigan Medical Services and Supplies Thursday to acquire medical marijuana, to sign up to become patients, to get information on the state program created last year.
They were searched, but no one was arrested.
"I don't think patients should be treated this way, and I don't think the voters wanted them to be treated this way," the Southfield-based attorney said.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Holland Sentinel
Author: ANDREA GOODELL
Copyright: 2010 GateHouse Media, Inc.
