Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Minnesota court has determined that a case involving the transport of medical marijuana products over state lines to Fulton County-based Vireo Health of New York may move forward to trial.
A judge's Aug. 2 order makes it clear, however, that although there is enough evidence to try the defendants, there is none to indicate the two former officers of Minnesota Medical Solutions charged with illegally delivering cannabis products to New York did so on behalf of their employer. The company and Vireo Health of New York are both subsidiaries of Vireo Health, which has operations in Maryland, as well as Minnesota and New York.
"The Court finds that (the defendants) were working on their own behalf and not as agents (of) MMS/Vireo Health New York," the order from Judge Kathleen Mottl of the Tenth Judicial District Court of Minnesota states.
The New York State Department of Health is conducting its own investigation into the matter, but would not release information until the probe is complete.
A spokesman for Vireo Health said in a statement that neither the company nor any of its affiliates have been a party to the Minnesota case. Both MMS and Vireo Health of New York had their state licenses renewed recently.
"As always, we will continue to remain laser-focused on serving patients suffering from serious conditions like chronic pain, cancer, ALS and HIV/AIDS," the statement read, referring to conditions that patients are allowed to use medical marijuana to alleviate.
The two former officers, MMS Chief Medical Officer Laura Lynn Bultman and Chief Security Officer Ronald Dale Owens, were charged in February with illegally transporting medical marijuana products with an estimated value of $500,000 from Minnesota to Vireo's Fulton County facility in December 2015.
According to court documents, Bultman and Owens transported cannabis oils to the Fulton County growing facility because the New York operation was not going to be able to meet a state deadline for having its first products available in January 2016.
Both Minnesota and New York have strict rules governing the distribution of medical marijuana within their states' legal programs. Because the product remains illegal under federal law, transporting it across state lines is not allowed.
The officers were not charged with a federal offense, however, but with delivering medical cannabis to a person not allowed to receive it under Minnesota law.
Vireo New York grows marijuana and produces medicine at a manufacturing plant in Perth and sells its products from four locations statewide, including one in Colonie.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Court: Medical marijuana transport case can advance - Times Union
Author: Claire Hughes
Contact: Help: Contact Us - Times Union
Photo Credit: James Wood
Website: Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga News, Weather, Sports, Capitol | timesunion.com - Times Union
A judge's Aug. 2 order makes it clear, however, that although there is enough evidence to try the defendants, there is none to indicate the two former officers of Minnesota Medical Solutions charged with illegally delivering cannabis products to New York did so on behalf of their employer. The company and Vireo Health of New York are both subsidiaries of Vireo Health, which has operations in Maryland, as well as Minnesota and New York.
"The Court finds that (the defendants) were working on their own behalf and not as agents (of) MMS/Vireo Health New York," the order from Judge Kathleen Mottl of the Tenth Judicial District Court of Minnesota states.
The New York State Department of Health is conducting its own investigation into the matter, but would not release information until the probe is complete.
A spokesman for Vireo Health said in a statement that neither the company nor any of its affiliates have been a party to the Minnesota case. Both MMS and Vireo Health of New York had their state licenses renewed recently.
"As always, we will continue to remain laser-focused on serving patients suffering from serious conditions like chronic pain, cancer, ALS and HIV/AIDS," the statement read, referring to conditions that patients are allowed to use medical marijuana to alleviate.
The two former officers, MMS Chief Medical Officer Laura Lynn Bultman and Chief Security Officer Ronald Dale Owens, were charged in February with illegally transporting medical marijuana products with an estimated value of $500,000 from Minnesota to Vireo's Fulton County facility in December 2015.
According to court documents, Bultman and Owens transported cannabis oils to the Fulton County growing facility because the New York operation was not going to be able to meet a state deadline for having its first products available in January 2016.
Both Minnesota and New York have strict rules governing the distribution of medical marijuana within their states' legal programs. Because the product remains illegal under federal law, transporting it across state lines is not allowed.
The officers were not charged with a federal offense, however, but with delivering medical cannabis to a person not allowed to receive it under Minnesota law.
Vireo New York grows marijuana and produces medicine at a manufacturing plant in Perth and sells its products from four locations statewide, including one in Colonie.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Court: Medical marijuana transport case can advance - Times Union
Author: Claire Hughes
Contact: Help: Contact Us - Times Union
Photo Credit: James Wood
Website: Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga News, Weather, Sports, Capitol | timesunion.com - Times Union
