Can MI cops seize properties of licensed med mar patients? AG says they must NOT return the MJ.

[Bozita]

Attorney General: Police can seize medical marijuana
5:15 PM, Nov. 10, 2011
BY DAWSON BELL
DETROIT FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU


A provision of the Michigan medical marijuana law that prohibits police from seizing pot possessed by licensed medical marijuana patients is invalid because it conflicts with federal law, Attorney General Bill Schuette said in an opinion released today, one in which he warns officers who return marijuana to patients could be prosecuted as dope dealers.

“It is ‘impossible’ for state law enforcement officers to comply with their state law duty not to forfeit medical marijuana, and their federal law duty not to distribute or aid in the distribution of marijuana,” according to the opinion.

Schuette was responding to a request from state Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, who asked whether police were required to return marijuana to medical marijuana patients who had been arrested or detained upon their release.

An opinion from the attorney general is generally considered binding legal opinion, especially on state agencies like the Michigan State Police, unless and until it is rejected by a judge.

more...
http://www.freep.com/article/20111110/NEWS06/111110057/Michigan-attorney-general-Police-can-seize-medical-pot-not-return-patients?odyssey=tab




So,

Under the drug forfeiture laws, couldn't the cops seize the licensed med-mar patients' cars, homes, assets?

They have the drugs. The bust is now legal. Why not take everything they've got?

Local PDs will love this AG opinion! Every PD is always in need of new toys, like the *latest* in riot gear. Stuff like new high-powered Mustangs to pursue those always irritating Ferraris cruising side streets at 140+mph. And tear gas guns with lots of extra canisters. Never can tell when an Iraq or Afghan War vet will get in the way. And don't forget the "Michelin Man" costumes. Lotsa those! And tanks. Best tool ever for barricaded gunmen. And pepper spray, lots of pepper spray. Stuff like new, improved, slimmer, yet heavier batons. (Better to fuck up the ribs of any asshole willing to challenge their *legal* orders.) And rubber bullets and the guns to fire them. (They don't hurt anybody anyway.) Lots of those.

And whoa! I almost forgot those fun flash bang grenades. Like the one that killed that little girl during filming of a TV program raid on a home in Detroit. http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/11/aiyana-stanley-jones-detroit

Thank you, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette (R) for making us safer!

[elleng]

1. Sorry, but he was doing his job as AG,

asked by a state rep. for his legal opinion, and he gave it. Its correct, imo, unfortunately; its the system. The problem derives from the feds.

[Bozita]

2. How 'bout the licensed patients' cars, homes, etc.?

Do the cops get to take it all?

It sounds so damn stupid, but I'm asking this seriously.

[elleng]

5. No, not intent of the law; if they did so, would be a violation, imo.

[Union Scribe]

3. Michigan is run by mad and corrupt men.

It shames me deeply that they were voted into power. This election gave me hope that the people have snapped out of it, but the big fish still have their boots on our collective neck.

[Mojeoux]

4. Vote these bastards out! They are fighting sick people.

They are robbing sick people. People with leukemia and tumors and MS and all kinds of painful disorders.
There is no honor in this.