Ex-Lawmaker Arrested For Growing Marijuana: 71 Plants Found

By Zachary Babin - April 5, 2016

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ex-Lawmaker Arrested For Growing Marijuana

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A former state lawmaker from Grand Rapids caught with marijuana has been sentenced to 45 days in jail.

Roy Schmidt apologized Tuesday and asked Kent County Judge Donald Johnston to consider his many years in office. He says he served the public “in the best possible way.”

Schmidt pleaded no contest in January, months after police seized 3 pounds of marijuana and 71 plants. Earlier, he had claimed protection under Michigan’s medical marijuana law.

But the judge says Schmidt knew he had more pot than allowed.

Schmidt served on the Grand Rapids City Commission and then in the Michigan House. He was defeated in 2012 after a switch to the Republican Party.

Schmidt changed parties just before a filing deadline and tried to have a political novice run against him.