Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Flint police are taking a firm stance on a thorny issue and ordering several medical marijuana dispensaries to close shop for illegal operation.
Police Chief James Tolbert said the city began initiating visits when they discovered some dispensaries were operating illegally.
"These individuals who we have been looking at here at the police department, have not submitted any kind of paperwork and have opened up a provisionary center to dispense medical marijuana and that's contrary to the ordinance, so we have to do something about it," said Tolbert.
This round of crackdowns have raised concerns from advocates like Rick Thompson who serves on the board of Michigan's chapter of NORML, and says it isn't unusual to have paperwork delays on both sides.
"The city hasn't been such a good actor either it seems like this is more a case of paperwork not pot.," said Thompson.
The ramp up forced a handful of medical marijuana dispensaries in the process of obtaining a license to close to be in compliance with the law.
Attorney Bruce Leach who represents The Sweet Leaf said he doesn't believe they were operating outside of the law.
"The Sweet Leaf was not operating as a dispensary under the definition in the city of Flint's ordinance, at this time they had been doing interior renovations and preparing their business to operate once they were issued a business license," said Leach.
Instead Leach claims the city has been slow to act.
"The same police who are checking to see if they have those licenses are the ones that know the background checks haven't been completed yet. That is on the chief of police's desk in Flint," he said.
Chief Tolbert says arrests were not made during visits and he says the majority of dispensaries have been cooperative.
The new ordinance mandates that dispensaries have to be more than 1,000 feet from any school, park or church.
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Full Article: Flint police crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries : News : miNBCnews.com
Author: Nicky Zizaza
Contact: nzizaza@sbgtv.com
Photo Credit: Rick Sforza
Website: miNBCnews.com - Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Flint and the Tri-cities
Police Chief James Tolbert said the city began initiating visits when they discovered some dispensaries were operating illegally.
"These individuals who we have been looking at here at the police department, have not submitted any kind of paperwork and have opened up a provisionary center to dispense medical marijuana and that's contrary to the ordinance, so we have to do something about it," said Tolbert.
This round of crackdowns have raised concerns from advocates like Rick Thompson who serves on the board of Michigan's chapter of NORML, and says it isn't unusual to have paperwork delays on both sides.
"The city hasn't been such a good actor either it seems like this is more a case of paperwork not pot.," said Thompson.
The ramp up forced a handful of medical marijuana dispensaries in the process of obtaining a license to close to be in compliance with the law.
Attorney Bruce Leach who represents The Sweet Leaf said he doesn't believe they were operating outside of the law.
"The Sweet Leaf was not operating as a dispensary under the definition in the city of Flint's ordinance, at this time they had been doing interior renovations and preparing their business to operate once they were issued a business license," said Leach.
Instead Leach claims the city has been slow to act.
"The same police who are checking to see if they have those licenses are the ones that know the background checks haven't been completed yet. That is on the chief of police's desk in Flint," he said.
Chief Tolbert says arrests were not made during visits and he says the majority of dispensaries have been cooperative.
The new ordinance mandates that dispensaries have to be more than 1,000 feet from any school, park or church.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Flint police crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries : News : miNBCnews.com
Author: Nicky Zizaza
Contact: nzizaza@sbgtv.com
Photo Credit: Rick Sforza
Website: miNBCnews.com - Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Flint and the Tri-cities
