Jim Lewis, a 76-year-old grandfather and former missionary worker, got a surprise visit from the police last month.It was around dinnertime, when he heard a knock on the door of his Flint Township home. He answered the door and found police officers from the Flint Area Narcotics Group.
Someone had given a tip that there was an illegal marijuana growing operation and a possible methamphetamine lab, they said.
While there was no meth, police found an indoor growing operation in the basement with a kiddie pool-size tub full of 15 marijuana plants – — marijuana that Lewis legally grows to treat his arthritis and headaches, as well as provides to three patients, who also use the drug for medicinal purposes.
Police spent about 15 minutes in his house during the Aug. 17 visit and left. He was not arrested, and nothing was confiscated.
Although Lewis said he understood police were doing their jobs, he was a little confused as to why anyone would think a guy like him would take part in any illegal activities.
“I was accused by someone of growing and selling marijuana,” said Lewis, adding that the officers were polite. “That is not the type of person I am.”
Lewis is not alone in getting a visit from police officers who must differentiate between illegal and state-sanctioned marijuana growing operations.
Tuesday, a Lapeer County marijuana dispensary had nearly 50 marijuana plants seized and cash and scales confiscated by police, who believe its operators may be breaking laws governing who can sell and receive medical marijuana.
Last week, authorities in Oakland County raided three marijuana clinics and arrested 16 people.
Jeremy Rupinski, director of the Genesee County Compassion Club, said he knows of at least a dozen cases this year in which he has heard that police searched homes of people who are growing legally.
“It does concern us,” he said. “For families, a search can be a difficult thing.”
Rupinski said he understands police are just doing their jobs, and he would like to sit down with law enforcement officers to iron out issues.
James McCurtis, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community Health, which administers the medical marijuana program, said the state has about 24,000 medical marijuana patients. He said he did not know the number of registered growers.
State police Lt. Mitch Krugielki, who heads FANG, said it can be difficult for police to differentiate between legal and illegal growers because the unit is not provided with a list of those who are in the program.
Since the medical marijuana law went into effect last year, Krugielki said FANG officers have “occasionally” come across people who are growing legally through the medical marijuana program.
“The only way we are going to find out is if we continue to make contact ( with people ),” said Krugielki.
In Lewis’ case, FANG Detective Shannon Sims said police were following up on a tip, just as for any other they would receive.
Sims said police did not know a senior citizen was living there.
“Not all tips include information on who lives in the house,” he said. “We didn’t know it was an elderly man until he answered the door.”
Sometimes, even if senior citizens live in a home, some activity still may be going on, whether they are aware of it. Criminals are of all ages, he said.
But Lewis’ son, Carlton Lewis, who also grows medical marijuana, said the visit was unnecessary.
“How would the police officers like it if we went to their parents’ homes and searched their medical cabinet?” said Carlton Lewis, 48, who also lives in Flint Township. “He has never committed a crime in his life.”
After working at General Motors for nearly 40 years, Jim Lewis said he spent seven years touring the country doing missionary work for Roving Volunteers in Christ’s Service.
Lewis said he has been using medical marijuana for the past three months but doesn’t smoke it, preferring instead to put it in his mouth and absorb it.
“I just feel the pain go away,” he said.
Source: Flint Journal (MI)
Copyright: 2010 Flint Journal
Contact: http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/fljournal/letters/
Website: http://www.mlive.com/flint/
Author: David Harris, Flint Journal
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