20,000 vapes, 477 plants, 100 pounds of pot seized in metro Detroit busts

Robert Allen | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Medical marijuana industry is poised to explode The medical marijuana industry is poised to explode with new state regulations and taxes on the dispensaries that will sell the weed.

Police seized more than 20,000 vape pens and oil cartridges, 477 plants and 100 pounds of marijuana across three locations in Macomb and Oakland counties, Michigan State Police announced Thursday.

As a result of a six-month investigation, authorities arrested a Shelby Township man suspected of growing the marijuana at buildings in Commerce Township and Troy, police said in a news release.

"Investigation revealed that the suspect leased industrial buildings for the purpose of illegal marijuana grows and supplying the marijuana to various 'dispensaries' in the city of Detroit," according to a news release.

The raid of the suspect's home resulted in an arrest and seizure of $11,354, 49 marijuana plants, processed marijuana, a 2017 GMC Yukon and 90 boxes containing more than 20,000 vape pens and oil cartridges.

The raid of the Commerce Township building resulted in 201 marijuana plants, processed marijuana, dryers and lighting equipment. In Troy, police seized 227 marijuana plants, 28 pounds of processed marijuana, drys and lighting equipment. Across the three locations, more than 100 pounds of processed marijuana were seized, police said.

Police said the suspect tried to launder money from the grows at a casino in Toledo, Ohio.

The investigation involved multi-jurisdictional police task forces spanning Macomb County, Oakland County, Wayne County and downriver communities as well as state and federal agents.

Police didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Free Press reported Monday that the city of Detroit had shut down 167 medical-marijuana shops found to be operating illegally, out of a total of 283 believed to be illegal.

Meanwhile, petition language has been filed to put marijuana legalization on the election ballot in November 2018. If the language is approved, petitioners would be required to 252,523 signatures in 180 days.

Contact Robert Allen on Twitter @rallenMI or rallen@freepress.com.