Pubdate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011
Source: Daily Tribune, The (Royal Oak, MI)
Copyright: 2011 The Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailytribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1579
Author: Carol Hopkins, For the Daily Tribune
Bookmark: http://www.drugsense.org/cms/geoview/n-us-mi (Michigan)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

DEFENDANTS BOUND OVER IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CASE

The medical marijuana case involving eight people arrested during an
Aug. 25, 2010 drug raid has been bound over to Oakland County Circuit
Court.

Judge Richard D. Kuhn Jr., with Waterford's 51st District Court,
issued an opinion and order Monday involving defendants William Joseph
Teichman and Candace Teichman, both of White Lake, Brian Vaughan,
Matthew John-Drinnon Miller, Laval Anthony Crawford, Kirk Alan
Swafford and Jennifer Zuck, all of Waterford, and Todd Robinson of
Southfield. The eight were charged with various counts of delivery or
possession and manufacture of marijuana, a controlled substance.

Prosecutors contend the charged offenses occurred July and August
2010. An investigation was conducted into marijuana sales taking place
at Everybody's Cafe in Waterford and Herbal Remedies in Waterford.
During those months, various undercover officers entered the cafe and
Herbal Remedies, and were sold marijuana and products.

The Aug. 25 raids - conducted by the Oakland County's Narcotics
Enforcement Team at various growing operations and marijuana
dispensaries across the county - resulted in the arrest of nearly 20
people. Officials said the charges included possession of marijuana
with intent to deliver and other charges.

Defendants' attorneys argued before Kuhn that undercover officers used
"forged" documents to purchase or receive the marijuana. Kuhn said
defendants maintained they were qualified patients or caregivers and
entitled to protection under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.

Kuhn noted the prosecutors established probable cause "to believe that
the crimes were committed and the defendants committed them."

He said the defense often referred to protections in the Medial
Marihuana Act but did not spell out if the marijuana involved was
being used for medical purposes or if defendants' conduct was in
"strict accordance" with the act's provisions.

Kuhn referenced a flyer left in the courtroom during the defendants'
appearances.

The flyer titled "Support the Cause" demonstrated, Kuhn wrote, that
the "Cause" exceeded "protecting from arrest the vast majority of
seriously ill people who have a medical need to use marijuana."

Kuhn concluded that there was probable cause to believe crimes were
committed and that the defendants were to be bound over to Oakland
County Circuit Court on all charges listed in the first complaint.

William and Candace Teichman are to appear before Oakland County
Circuit Judge Phyllis McMillen on April 7.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake