OAK PARK - People at an Oak Park medical marijuana dispensary said officers entered their building Wednesday evening, searched people there and took money.



Rick Thompson, who writes for Michigan Medical Marijuana Magazine, a publication located in the same building as the dispensary and Big Daddy’s Hydro, said between eight and 10 officers came into the building at 5 p.m.



“They were very polite, there was no yelling or flash grenades,” he said, noting three officers were masked.



“They were courteous to the 10 patients and employees, and even let one pregnant woman go to the bathroom.”



Thompson said he believes the raid was a response to recent court matters involving the DEA’s request for patient information.



“This was just reactionary action directed by Lansing to intimidate us and the Michigan Association of Compassion Clubs and our stand to protect patients’ rights,” he said.



A call has been placed to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for a response.



Officers asked to see drivers licenses and medical marijuana cards.



“Since everybody had proper ID, there were no concerns,” said Thompson.



Officers seized $2,874 and some medical marijuana, said Thompson.



No one was arrested.



“They didn’t take patients’ money or medicine, but they have done that in the past,” he said.



“They took some medication, whatever we had on hand, and brownies and suckers.”



Thompson said the dispensary uses a locker system, similar to one used at a Mt. Pleasant compassion club.



“It was found to be in compliance and we have a similar system of distribution,” he said.



He explained caregivers bring medicine in for their patients and then dispensary workers distribute it to patients “in a way that means caregivers don’t have to stay all day long,” he said.



“It’s safe and secure and legally correct.”



Thompson said he found the raid’s timing odd.



“What is odd is if they wanted to arrest someone for doing illegal transfers, they could have done that or if they had wanted to hal business for not operating within the law they could have done that. They didn’t toss the place but only focused on one or two rooms.”



Grand Rapids medical marijuana hearing postponed



A judge in Grand Rapids postponed a hearing Wednesday to determine if the state of Michigan should cooperate with a federal subpoena seeking medical marijuana records.



The delay Wednesday was due to a last-minute request to intervene by a group called the Michigan Association of Compassion Clubs.



Federal drug investigators have served a subpoena on the state seeking information on certain people with medical marijuana or marijuana caregiver cards.



The Drug Enforcement Administration won't talk about the Lansing-area probe but says it's not cracking down on medical marijuana users. The agency says it pursues large-scale drug traffickers. The state says it will comply if there is a court order.



More than 45,000 people in Michigan are registered to use marijuana to ease the symptoms of cancer and other health problems.



Thompson said officers said, “‘Don’t blame us, it comes from above.’”



No undercover officers first attempted to buy medical marijuana, he said.



“Now they (officers) come in almost apologetic,” he said



“This tells me this wasn’t directed by the Oakland County Sheriff.”

(Source)