Pubdate: Thu, 1 Jul 2010
Source: Saginaw News (MI)
Copyright: 2010 The Saginaw News
Contact: http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/sanews/letters/index.ssf/
Website: http://www.mlive.com/saginaw/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/377
Author: Barrie Barber
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Federspiel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVISTS PROTEST SAGINAW COUNTY SHERIFF'S 
DEPARTMENT DRUG RAIDS

SAGINAW - About 30 medical marijuana activists hoisted placards and 
took to the streets today to protest rising drug seizures in Saginaw County.

"A lot of people have gotten raided," said John F. Roberts, 49, who 
said his Thomas Township home was subject to a police raid in April 
but he faces no charges. "We're fed up with this."

The number of protesters varied throughout the afternoon.

Roberts, a member of the Tri-City Compassion Club, said his club 
helps cancer, arthritis and other patients who use medical marijuana.

"It's not about money," said Roberts, sporting a white T-shirt with a 
red, white and blue marijuana leaf imprinted with a black medical 
symbol. "We are not drug dealers.

"Are (police) here to protect and serve, or are they here to steal and extort?"

Sheriff WIlliam L. Federspiel said deputies have executed 176 drug 
warrants since he took office in January 2009, but only two of those 
turned out to be medical marijuana-related - for Roberts' residence 
and the Saginaw Township home of Edward W. Boyke Jr., 64.

"They have a right to protest," Federspiel said. "That doesn't bother 
me at all. They're erroneous by saying that we are picking on medical 
marijuana patients. That is untrue. It's so far from the truth it's 
ridiculous."

Boyke, a registered medical marijuana user whose home was raided in 
April, didn't agree. Deputies and federal agents confiscated more 
than 50 plants, processed marijuana, a large screen TV, a Chevrolet 
Impala, guns, two lawn mowers, a lawn blower and other equipment, 
archives show.

He paid a $5,000 impoundment fee to recover the car and lawn equipment.

"They've got to stop messing with us medical marijuana (users)," he 
said as car horns honked at protesters. "This is our medicine. We've 
got to do something about this, and it's time. Just leave us alone. 
We're doing nothing wrong."

Protesters showed up from around the state, and at least one person 
traveled from Florida, Roberts said.

"This is not just about Saginaw," he said. "We want this to resonate 
statewide. If it happens in another community, we will take go there, also."

George L. Avery, 55, made the trip from Dexter in southeast Michigan.

With drug asset forfeitures skyrocketing in the county, he said, it's 
time to make sure "medical marijuana patients are not targeted in a 
time of harsh financial need for the Saginaw County Sheriff's 
Department. The new law has special, built-in protection for people's 
property. It hasn't really clicked for (police) yet that our property 
also has been protected by the law. Armed robbery of medical 
marijuana patients must stop."

The number of drug asset forfeitures by the Saginaw County Sheriff's 
Department rose 144 percent in 2009 compared to 2008 and are up 4 
percent so far this year over last, Federspiel said.

He and protesters spotted each other when Federspiel drove by in a 
Ford Mustang GT patrol vehicle emblazoned with "Taken from a Local 
Drug Dealer."

The moment angered one demonstrator. The sheriff was unapologetic.

"They take offense to driving in front of them; it's like me saying I 
take offense to them protesting," he said. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake