Dave Overholt was arrested for being in violation of Michigan's medical marijuana law. Photo taken Tuesday, September 10, 2013. (Chris Clark | MLive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – After saying his trial would provide a direction for medical marijuana distribution, Mid-Michigan Compassion Club owner David Overholt agreed to close his Grand Rapids dispensary in exchange for no jail time on a charge of delivery and manufacturing of marijuana.

Overholt was set to stand trial today on the charge along with additional felonies of maintaining a drug house and delivery or manufacture of narcotics.

Instead, he pleaded no contest to the marijuana charge and Assistant Kent County

Prosecutor Gregory Boer agreed to dismiss the remaining charges.

The plea agreement also recommends Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock give Overholt no jail time as long as the business on Leonard Street NW, just a few blocks west of Alpine Avenue, is closed by the date of sentencing, Nov. 7.

In early March, Grand Rapids Police raided the business saying the dispensary was illegal and not authorized under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act approved by voters in 2008.

Previously, Overholt said his “caregiver-to-caregiver” business has about 30 different caregivers who grow different strains of marijuana and provide the club with product.

The marijuana is sold for $10 per gram.

Overholt referred to his nonprofit endeavor as “healing, not dealing.”

“I think this is going to be a really big case for a lot of people across the state,” Overholt told The Grand Rapids Press earlier this month. “It’s going to give a defined direction about dispensaries.”

Related: Healing or dealing? Grand Rapids medical marijuana dispensary owner heads to trial

But Overholt said he had no choice once Trusock ruled he could not argue that he was a licensed caregiver as a defense because the charge is not about the medical marijuana act, but is about the narrower focus of illegal drug activity.

Overholt said the ruling meant the defense he and his attorney Richard Gould had been preparing was moot.

“It would have taken a jury 30, maybe 40 minutes to find me guilty,” Overholt said. "I don’t know if I made the right (decision). Maybe I should have taken my chances with a jury.”

Overholt said he feels like he was railroaded into making his plea and hopes to get the ACLU involved in an appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Overholt remains free on bond pending sentencing.

E-mail Barton Deiters: bdeiters@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/GRPBarton or Facebook at facebook.com/bartondeiters.5