World News for March 2018 - by Kathy Hess

Canada the First to Offer Canna-Brews?

Canada - Cannabis is set to be a big business in Canada, and some alcoholic beverage companies are not looking to stop the emerging industry from possible draining their profits-rather their looking to merge the two and reef the benefits of cannabis infused beer.

Constellation Brands have been developing unique cannabis based beverages, they would be able to sell in markets all over the world, not just in Canada.  Bill Newlands, Constellation’s chief operating officer and president (who oversaw the nearly $200 million investment  Constellation made last fall in Canopy Growth Corp., one of Canada’s largest marijuana companies) told investors Wednesday at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York’s annual conference;

“This is very consistent with what our organization has done historically, which is to identify, meet and stay ahead of evolving consumer trends,” Newlands said, according to a transcript of the presentation obtained via Bloomberg.  “Our goal with this organization is to work collaboratively to both understand the cannabis business but also develop unique cannabis-based beverages that will be available around the world as legalities prove those to be an option,” he said.

 “Let me remind all of you, cannabis is going to be legal in Canada starting (this year), and we expect the beverages will be legal soon thereafter,” (2019) he said, according to the transcript. “And let’s keep in mind,” he added, “this is a big business.”

Rattling off the numbers of U.S. states that have legalized the medical use and/or the recreational use of marijuana, Newlands stated that by Constellation’s estimate, cannabis is a $50 billion business in America.

“That’s half the size of the beer business,” he said. “That’s pretty big business.”

Newlands was quick to give the caveat that Constellation has no intention of entering into the U.S. cannabis industry unless cannabis is legal “at all levels of government.”

Canopy Growth and Constellation have already proceeded with research-and-development work, The Canadian Press recently reported.
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Grecians to Grow Ganja

Greece — The Grecian government says it’s accelerating plans to legalize the growth of medical marijuana, arguing that growing interest from investors could help efforts to pull the country out of years of financial crisis, not to mention bring other medicinal options to its aging citizens.

Legislation to legalize cannabis production was submitted to parliament mid February and is due to be voted on later in the month.

Greece allowed the use of medical cannabis products to its citizens last year, but currently needs to rely solely on imports until the legal framework for domestic growers was prepared. Greek officials are optimistic that production and processing could draw investments worth 1.5 billion euros (1.85 billion) over three years.

According to the draft legislation, growers must be age 21 or over, have no drug-related convictions, and have at least 1 acre of land available.
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European Powerhouse Showing Early Signs of Change on Cannabis
Germany— The head of BDK, Andre Schulz, an organization representing criminal police in Germany, is calling for the consumption of cannabis to be decriminalized.

Germany has allowed some patients to get marijuana as a prescription medication since last March, but officials have stressed that doesn’t mean it will be legalized for non-medical purposes.

Schulz told the “Bild Daily” (local paper in Germany) that the group favors a “complete decriminalization of cannabis consumers.” Schulz also argued that the current system stigmatizes people and “allows criminal careers to start.” […]“the prohibition of cannabis was, viewed historically, arbitrary” and is “neither intelligent nor expedient.”

However, Schulz also said that marijuana must remain off-limits for drivers.
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Cunctation of Cannabis in Canada
Canada- As recently as last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s was insisting it was on track for legalization in July.

But a new Senate timetable given to pass the legislation in mid February.  Health Minister Ginette Petitpas-Taylor conceded shortly afterward that it won’t be done by July.

Petitpas-Taylor echoed that provincial and territorial governments will need another 8 to 12 weeks following senate passage and royal assent to prepare for retail sales. That would put recreational sales starting in August at the soonest, but more than likely not until a month later.

Legalization of cannabis recreationally would make Canada the second country to have nationwide legalization, after Uruguay (July 2017).

Each province (sort of like states in the U.S.) in Canada is coming up with their provincial rules (age restrictions, purchase limits, ect.) for the sale of recreational pot.
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Dank Depredation in Africa

Lesotho- The landlocked (entirely encircled by South Africa) country of Lesotho, where the use of cannabis dates back as far as the 16th Century, has become the first African country to permit the legal cultivation of cannabis – but the production of the drug has been restricted to two foreign-owned companies, while rural farmers and the wider population continue to be prohibited from harvesting their own.

A year ago, Lesotho's Ministry of Health granted a Prohibited Drug Operator license to  Pharmaceutical Development Company (PDC) Ltd to legally cultivate, supply, hold, import, and export cannabis. This made PDC (based in Lesotho's capital, Maseru) the first company in the entire African continent, to be permitted to legally produce the drug. Yet, just months later, PDC’s director resigned and was replaced by US-based businessman Michael Ogburn, and all of PDC’s shares were transferred to Corix Bioscience Inc., based out of Arizona.

According to the terms of the license, holders are permitted to "cultivate flowerings of the plant [...] for the purpose of smoking, vaporizing, extraction, edible, [...] and medicine production" across up to 20,000 square meters of land. The license-holder is permitted to "export, import and transit [cannabis] within, into and outside of Lesotho for medical use and/or scientific use and any other lawful use". This thereby allows Corix Bioscience Inc. to transport Lesotho-produced cannabis or cannabis-based substances to any jurisdiction in the world that allows the drug for recreational or medical purposes.
The provision of a cannabis license to PDC/Corix Bioscience Inc., and one to a South African botanical company Verve Dynamics, suggests that Lesotho has taken a ground-breaking step in African drug policy; rolling back prohibition and embracing a regulated approach to cannabis production. However, the reality for its citizens is markedly different.

Cannabis remains illegal for citizens to harvest, sell, and possess across the country, under Lesotho’s Drugs of Abuse Act 2008. Under section 9 of this Act, being convicted of harvesting a cannabis plant mandates a person to face either a minimum of five years in prison, or a fine of at least $1,664 US dollars. Section 81 of the Act allows any police officer to “without warrant … enter any place on or in which [cannabis is] growing” to destroy said plants.

The deprivation of Lesotho’s people from benefiting from a regulated production of this cash crop is particularly poignant given the country’s 57% poverty rate.

Cannabis continues to be a significant part of Lesotho’s agriculture and economy, albeit illegally, today. A 2007 UNODC report claimed that 70 per cent "of the cannabis entering South Africa was grown in Lesotho, where it is estimated to be the third largest source of income".

Despite the importance of cannabis for Lesotho’s economy, the government has yet to regulate the plant’s cultivation and supply – leaving rural farmers to risk criminalization and operate in the shadows to make a living. Despite the Lesotho government permitting two foreign companies to legally cultivate and export cannabis, the people of Lesotho still risk penalization for doing exactly the same thing.

www.mmmrmag.com

National News for March 2018 - by Dolan F.

Girl Scout sells 300 boxes of cookies outside a California marijuana dispensary

This Girl Scout knows her customers well.

The young entrepreneur set up shop outside of Urbn Leaf, a recreational and medical marijuana dispensary in San Diego. According to local news outlet Fox 4, the girl sold more than 300 boxes in about six hours.

Urbn Leaf posted this photo on Instagram, encouraging its clientele to grab some "Girl Scout Cookies with your GSC." (GSC is a strain of weed named after girl scout cookies, and is known for its "sweet and earthy" flavor.)

"I think our customers loved it," said Savannah Rakofsky, a representative for Urbn Leaf. "They went out and bought boxes."

According to Rakofsky, there was an "added value" to visiting the dispensary and getting the chance to buy Girl Scout cookies. Although it didn't necessarily bring in customers, it did drum up publicity for Urbn Leaf. Rakofsky posted the photo as she was leaving for her lunch break, and there were already news teams at the store when she came back.

Rakofsky also said there's a possibility of this becoming a trend.

"The funny thing is, after the news story ran, we had more Girl Scouts show up over the weekend," Rakofsky said.

Although Girl Scouts are only allowed to sell at "approved sites" — which doesn't include pot shops — this particular scout got around the rule by selling cookies from her wagon, and by moving up and down the sidewalk instead of staying in front of the store. Alison Bushan, a spokeswoman for Girl Scouts San Diego, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that this tactic was "gray area."

It wouldn't be the first time a Girl Scout racked in sales in front of a dispensary. In 2014, one savvy scout sold cookies outside of a San Francisco cannabis clinic. Girl Scouts of Northern California actually condoned it, because "the mom decided this was a place she was comfortable with her daughter being at."
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With tracking system hobbling, marijuana industry scrambles to keep pot on shelves

Widespread technology issues with the state's new pot-tracking system have kept marijuana growers and sellers scrambling, and store managers say they're beginning to worry about
increasingly sparse shelves.

Washington state requires marijuana products to be tracked from seed-to-sale, or from when its planted to when it’s sold to a pot user, through what it calls a traceability system. Last Thursday, the state switched to a new contractor, MJ Freeway, to provide a new software and data hub for traceability.

The transition to Leaf Data Systems has been anything but smooth, frustrated pot growers and sellers say.

“Right now, it sort of seems like the whole industry is a wreck statewide,” said Steve Lee, who owns two marijuana stores with his wife and is also a city councilman in Kennewick.

“It’s been a rough week so far,” said Lindsay Short, of Db3, a Seattle company that makes cannabis-infused candies and other edibles. “We’ve probably shipped 30 or 40 sales orders and had only five get through the system.”

The traceability system serves as something of a hub for pot transactions. It allows state regulators to watch the entire industry and flag the suspicious movements of plants or products. Every plant grown is supposed to be recorded in the system, documented when processed into an edible product or packaged and then recorded when sold to customers. Wholesale transactions between growers and retailers are also noted, along with shipping information.

The state was supposed to switch to a new data system last November, but that was delayed after the company initially selected for contract negotation by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) withdrew from consideration.

“They [MJ Freeway] only had between July and October 31 to put together their system. It wasn’t ready,” said Brian Smith, a spokesman for the LCB. For the last three months, the state has been using a contingency system in which pot businesses submitted spreadsheet files with their traceability data.

Now, pot proprietors report myriad, different issues with the newly launched seed-to-sale system.

Some have struggled to get logged in at all. Some growers say the system has been scrambling shipping orders, and sometimes automatically changing which store is supposed to receive the marijuana. Some store managers, meanwhile, say they have not been able to receive shipping manifests, and don’t feel comfortable buying wholesale pot without that required documentation. Some reported that the disruption halted business altogether since the first of the month; others reported that it slowed business down or made simple tasks cumbersome.

“By and large, we just can’t get product right now. We’re basically selling off our back stock,” said Jason McKee, the General Manager of Ganja Goddess, a pot shop in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood.  He said shelves are beginning to look more sparse, and if the technology issues don’t allow a fully-functioning wholesale market soon, some stores could face shortages.

Alex Cooley, the vice president of Solstice, a marijuana grow, said his company was having to re-label each plant with a new barcode because of technical issues.

She said other problems stem from integration issues with third-party companies whose software connects with the Leaf Data System and is used by marijuana companies for internal tracking and bookkeeping. She said it was a priority to get that third-party software integrated.

Marijuana business owners have flooded both the Liquor and Cannabis Board and MJ Freeway with calls, trying to troubleshoot issues.

Horton acknowledged it could take hours to reach someone at MJ Freeway, but said the company had called “all hands on deck” to answer questions.

Meanwhile, the rumor mill among pot proprietors fueled a feeling of chaos within the industry.

“It’s a nonstop mess of emails, text messages and phone calls, between everyone,” Lee said. “It reminds me a lot of high school kids passing gossip about, like, sex ed … no one knows anything, but maybe one kid, and it’s telephone from there. We’re all feeling around in the dark.”

Joby Sewell, who owns Seattle BubbleWorks, a pot processing company, said smaller companies could face cash flow issues because of the disrupted market.

“Most of us are living sale to sale, and you’re talking about a week where you can’t get any sales,” he said. “I have employees. Now, I’m not sending anybody home yet, but I thought about having people take a few days off.”
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Big Money Squares Off with Trump Admin on Cannabis

The wealthy Koch brothers, who have tossed their coveted millions at (mostly) Republican politicians over the years, recently issued a statement on the current administration’s stance on cannabis and states’ rights.

The Koch brothers argue that "citizens have spoken on marijuana" and that the United State Justice Department can "choose to be on the side of individual liberty and states’ rights" by not interfering.  "That Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a Republican appointee in a Republican administration, is undoing a Democratic appointee’s work from a Democratic administration is irrelevant," the statement claims. "Republicans and Democrats alike have criticized the decision, and for good reason: It does little to improve the lives of people in our communities."

The Koch’s' public disagreement with the Trump administration over marijuana could offer Republican electives an advantage in supporting legal marijuana at the state level without risking major GOP donor support.

 The statement also branded the war on drugs as "misguided" and advocates a "new, smarter approach to drug policy."

"The administration would be better suited working with members of Congress to reform outdated sentencing laws," the statement reads. "However well-intentioned these laws were upon implementation, they have ruined lives, torn apart families and communities, and have burdened taxpayers, doing little to keep people safe." They have invested heavily into the cannabis and
hemp industry.

www.mmmrmag.com

V.G.I.P Update - by Kathy Hess

February was been an adventurous month, to say the least.

With existing dispensaries scrambling to get applications in by the mid month deadline, and municipalities making their down-to-the-deadline (or post deadline) decision on opting out of Commercial Cannabis or not, everyday there’s one update or another across the state in regards to cannabis in Michigan.

Detroit is in complete upheaval, as voter initiatives on zoning are deemed invalid.  I’m sure there’s no corruption there, Detroit’s never suffered corruption before.  A number of northern cities like Gaylord, are suffering a long-awaited heartbreak as the much anticipated (delayed) decision on cannabis ordinances from city council came in.

If you look at the map of cities, townships and villages within the state you would currently find a rather large void where municipalities have yet to make a decision on cannabis.  They represent the lack of color across the state.  Perhaps they will eventually choose to opt in ad go green, but for now we wait. A good number of municipalities that have chosen to not allow commercial medical marijuana and are forcing their patients to travel to other counties to obtain their medicine, they would appear in red.  There is a decent list of cities, townships and villages appearing in green that have opted in to serve their medical marijuana community, but its not big enough to adequately serve the people of this great state.

I’ve read a lot of boards and forums over the last month, as each municipality hands down its ruling on whether or not commercial medical marijuana will be a part of their communities or not, and a lot of people are blaming Republican officials who hold seats and vote one way or another against cannabis.

Casting blame is easy enough when majority of local municipalities across this great state have filled their counsels with elected Republicans.  But casting blame in a society and culture where memories are short sighted (and I’m not talking about reefer haze, as those citizens who choose to abstain from cannabis are just as forgetful) does little to no good at all.

For whatever reason this state, which had traditionally backed democrats, faded from blue to red amidst politics which became a game of trumped up and unfounded fears, rather than politics of informed facts.  No one came for our guns.  No death panel reviewed our cases. No, Spanish isn’t our official national language. No, we’ve not been oppressed by the Muslim Brotherhood. No, no, no to all the ridiculous fears they’ve mongered us with.  We voted these conservative individuals in (whom cling to ancient and ineffective drug policies of the past with prejudicial bias), and now we’re surprised they don’t support cannabis? Ugh.

Well here is where you will find the answer to ever changing the tide in terms of cannabis reform. The only answer folks.

VOTE. THEM. OUT.

It’s not an immediate fix to the path of prohibition some municipalities have opted for.  But I promise you, it won’t get any better until we Vote Them Out.

The next elections are midterm elections.  That’s great in terms of other local officials and hopefuls getting more recognition and attention before people cast ballots when there isn’t the publicity of the presidential election casting its own wide shadow.  It’s bad in terms of how many people show up to the polls and let the state or local municipality, know where
they stand. 

Too many of us skip midterm elections.  Less than half of all registered voters let their voices be heard in the last midterm election (2014).  If we want change, then we have to vote for change.  So before this November let’s take a few minutes and research our local councils, find out their voting record on cannabis (and other issues important to you). Learn about the people running for those seats, where do they stand on cannabis?  Then vote accordingly.

If you want change, then be informed enough to promote that change into happening.  If you want change, then take the time (yes even if it takes all day!) and go vote!  Vote them out.

Michigan News - March 2018 - by Kathy Hess

Michigan’s New Universal THC Symbol

LANSING -  The Universal Symbol that will be required on all products containing THC has been decided upon by the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulations (BMMR). The universal symbol is required by Rules 38 and 39 of the Emergency Rules filed on December 4, 2017.

Rule 38 requires that prior to being sold or transferred, a marihuana plant must have a package tag affixed to the plant or plant container and enclosed with a tamper proof seal that includes a “universal symbol if applicable”.

Rule 39 requires that prior to marihuana product being sold or transferred to or by a provisioning center, the container, bag, or product holding the marihuana product must have a label that includes a “universal symbol published by the department”.

In addition to the universal symbol, marihuana product must have a label and be sealed with all the following information:

• The name of the licensee and license number of the producer and/or the packager.

• The tag or source number as assigned by the statewide 
   monitoring system.

• The unique identification number for the package or the harvest, if applicable.

• Date of harvest, name of strain, net weight, and concentration of THC or CBD.

• Activation time expressed in words or through a pictogram.

• Name of the safety compliance facility that performed any test, any associated test batch number,    and any test analysis date.

• A warning that states the following: "For use by registered qualifying patients only. Keep out of      reach of children. It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of marihuana."

If the plant or product does not meet the definition of “marihuana” as defined in the MMFLA then the universal symbol is not required. This advisory bulletin does not constitute legal advice and is subject to change. It is intended to provide advisory information as to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ Emergency Rules which were promulgated on
December 4, 2017.

Licensees are encouraged to seek legal counsel to ensure their operations comply with the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act and associated Emergency Rules.
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Repeal 6% Patient Tax!; The Unannounced 6% 
Patient Tax Sets Trap for Income Tax Evasion Charges!

LANSING - On Monday, February 12, 2018, Michigan NORML (MINORML) launched their REPEAL THE 6% PATIENT TAX campaign. This action is a direct response to the Michigan Department of Treasury's implementation of a 6% use tax on transfers of medical cannabis between a patient and the caregiver with whom they are connected to through the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program patient registry database. It's our hope this campaign will encourage policy makers to rescind this
atrocious policy.

Michigan NORML board members contend the 6% Patient Tax conflicts with Section 4(a) of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMAct); "A qualifying patient who has been issued and possesses a registry identification card is not subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner,..." MINORML Social Media Director, Brad Forrester asks; “If the imposition of a 6% Patient Tax isn't a penalty, then what is?”. Section 7(e) of MMMAct ends with; "All other acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act do not apply to the medical use of marihuana as provided for by this act." To that, Forrester replied, “The plain language itself couldn't be any clearer. No other Michigan statutes apply to the medical use of marihuana. None, not even Treasury Department policies!”

Michigan NORML board member Rick Thompson stated, “Perhaps the most revolting aspect of this new policy is how it was introduced to the 300,000 patients who participate in the program, they were not notified at all! This policy sets a trap for every patient by exposing them to possible income tax evasion charges.” In fact, this policy is so objectionable that it has motivated several legislators to introduce House Bill 5511, a bill that would amend 1941 PA 122 and require the Department of Treasury to provide both the House and the Senate with a written explanation of the Department's interpretation and justification for new policy changes. Thompson added, “Our position can't be viewed as extreme when even some legislators also believe the Treasury Department has overstepped it's authority instituting this new policy!”
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Query for Questionable Council

KALKASKA — Emails show a Kalkaska official guided a medical marijuana investment group on a

shopping spree to snap up numerous village properties, including two with ties to elected officials who voted to legalize commercial medical marijuana production.

Record-Eagle, a newspaper out of Traverse City, obtained emails through a Freedom of Information Act request which showed Kalkaska village downtown authority Development Director, Cash Cook, advised investors while they worked to buy a passel of properties, some for future commercial medical marijuana businesses. Those investments include properties connected to village President Jeff Sieting and former Trustee Kathy Sanborn.

Cook helped Joe Pare (a representative for multiple companies), who had ongoing medical marijuana interests in town; locate properties that had specific zoning and others where the zoning could be adjusted to reflect the needs of businesses Pare represented.

“They sought out pieces of property, we attempted to clarify what the zoning usage would be for that piece of property,”said Cook.

The assistance Cook provided led Pare and KX3 HOT LLC to purchase Hotel Sieting from Jeff Sieting for $125,000 on Sept. 8. Yet emails between Pare and Cook indicate the group worked to seal the deal with the village president in July, a month before Sieting voted to opt the village into the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act. That late-August vote effectively cleared the way for medical marijuana businesses to operate in the village under the new state law.

Sieting did not disclose the potential conflict or recuse himself from the Aug. 28 vote.

Cook claims he held a deposit check related to the hotel deal for Pare at one point and believes the investor began preparing to make the buy in July or earlier. Record-Eagle dug up mails between Pare and Cook in July, some discuss a deposit and purchase agreement for the hotel.

Robert Schwartz sold the building at 256 S. Cedar St. to Pare and KX3 LB LLC for $210,000 on Aug. 3, according to deed documents. Sanborn was a village trustee at the time of the sale and acknowledged she continues to date Schwartz. She resigned from the board Jan. 15 citing concerns with the “direction that the village council is taking,” according to her resignation letter.

Sanborn said Schwartz’s property sale had no impact on her Aug. 28 vote alongside other trustees to allow medical marijuana businesses to operate in the village under the new state law. Sanborn claims she had nothing to do with real estate dealings concerning Schwartz or his RJS Investments and did not see any benefit from the sale. Her only involvement was assuring some of the paperwork was completed by Antrim County Title, she said. Deed documents indicate Pare and FT ONE LLC bought additional parcels near 829 S. Cedar St. for approximately $1.95 million on Aug. 30. Cook claims Pare had already been working on property transactions before they met.

Cook also worked vetting/background checks on applications alongside village zoning and licensing officer Denny Corrado during the fall. Cook and Corrado, were the only officials who determined a list of finalists for licenses, including Pare’s application, to an advisory committee.Pare later received at least two village medical marijuana licenses, including one for a dispensary at 256 S. Cedar St.

Sieting said he knew some of the members of the group that bought his hotel had medical marijuana connections. He denied any conflicts of interest, despite the timing of the sale, less than two weeks after he and council members voted to make the medical marijuana changes.

Pare’s purchase of the hotel and former bank building came before or immediately after the August vote when village trustees decided to make various ordinance adjustments to reflect state statute, clearing the way for approved medical marijuana facilities to set up shop in Kalkaska. Cook contends trustees chose to allow medical marijuana facilities months prior to the August vote.

“None of the applicants in any way, shape, or form were guaranteed any kind of license,” said Cook.

Helping people find opportunities to join the community, build homes and open businesses is a job that Cook and all officials should work toward, Sieting said. “If it’s going to help individuals looking to invest in the community, I say do it,” he said. “Make their want to come here as easy as possible.”

www.mmmrmag.com

Hide and Convict - by Daniel L. Price Esq.

Is Michigan law enforcement Criminal Racketeering?  I recently read an article about an Ottawa County officer who turned off his dash and body cams during the search of a motor vehicle.  A search is a critical point of the invasion of the motorist’s privacy, and in generating revenue for the state.  The federal 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against this defendant essentially stating that turning cameras off did not amount to hiding evidence.

As an attorney, and a citizen, I want mandatory body and dash cams for all law enforcement.  I believe they protect all concerned, as they provide evidence that can either support a conviction, or dismissal of false charges.  They can also exonerate an officer accused of excessive force, or show officer and/or department fraud and misconduct.

I’ve watched footage of dash cams since 2000.  It’s often disturbing to watch.  For instance, I represented a DUI defendant in Van Buren Twp., MI in the mid-2000’s.  The officer stated on dash cam that he “radar timed” the Defendant speeding.  Interestingly, the camera also showed the officer attempting to obtain a breath sample while the EMS technician administered breathing treatments on the driver as she suffered a severe asthma attack.  The EMS technician rightly told the officer to back off.

Even more, the camera showed the radar unit was not on at any time.  But worse, the officer had no training to use a radar device.  It gets much worse.  Turns out the local newspaper reported that the minutes of township meetings stated a group of officers were hired to generate traffic ticket revenue, and if they did not generate a minimum amount they would be fired after one year.  Ironically, I later observed a Van Buren TWP Police car traveling in excess of 90 mph as it traveled eastbound on I-96 from Grand Rapids, after officers received awards for traffic safety from then Governor Granholm. 

Another example is in early 2017, a Berrien County Sheriff’s deputy pulled me over.  His first question was, “how long has it been since you had a speeding ticket”?  Interesting!?!?  In any event, he cited me for going 5 mph over the speed limit.  Before my hearing the prosecutor told me that if I did not admit guilt she would have the officer write another ticket for driving 68 mph, instead of the 5 mph over, which he did.
   
I viewed the dash cam footage prior to entering the courtroom and it showed the radar unit was not on at any time.  Moreover, the deputy testified to having over 10 years in law enforcement, and had been fully trained in traffic safety and in the use of radar units.  Yet, the deputy testified he could not state the manufacturer’s name for the unit, or the manufacturer itself.  He further testified that it is the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department’s policy to have radar units turned off at all times.
 
Let that sink in.  The department takes from us hundreds of thousands of dollars for radar units, officer training, and officer salaries for traffic patrol.  Yet, the department’s policy is to not use the radar units, and the so called “training” results in an over 10 year veteran not knowing the radar unit which he is commanded not to use.

Warrants and tickets in Michigan state that the officer swears under penalty of perjury that the statements he/she writes on these are true.  In both cases above, the officers knowingly committed fraud/perjury themselves in writing the citations.  Moreover, their respective departments did as well, when they took money from us to pay for salaries, training, radar units, and patrol vehicles.  And, it is only due to the word count limitation in this article that I cannot show many more instances of this kind of practice.

Black’s Law Dictionary states, “Fraud consists of some deceitful practice or willful device, resorted to with intent to deprive another of his right, or in some manner to do him an injury.”  In Merriam Webster’s dictionary it is defined as, “Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain”.  Further, that one who engages in this is a, “racketeer”, “cheat”, and “charlatan”, among others.

There are laws against quotas, fraud/perjury, and racketeering.  One must wonder, is the primary purpose of the state to deny citizens’ rights, or protect these rights?
 
How many have paid fines, suffered convictions, jail time, or job loss, because of this racket?  How many can’t pay for kids’ braces, school clothes, or a decent meal because of this? 

Fight those tickets!  There is a good chance there is no evidence against you.  Isn’t it cheaper than allowing your freedom and your wallet to be robbed from you with your consent?  Freedom is not free!  Giving up the fight costs you your money and freedom.

Till next month, as always, keep rolling on.


Disclaimer:  This is an informational article only.  It is not to provide individual legal advice.  If you need legal services, feel free to contact me, or any attorney of your choosing.

MMMR RECIPE: Canna Cinnamon Rolls - by Annette Nay Nay

Ingredients:

The Dough:
•2 cups cannabis flour
 •2 tbsp. granulated sugar
 •4 tsp. baking powder
 •1 tsp. salt
 •3 tbsp. canna butter
 •3/4 canna milk

The Filling:
•4 tbsp. canna butter
 •1 cup brown sugar
 •3 tsp. cinnamon

The Glaze:
•1/2 cup powdered sugar
 •1/4 cup canna milk
                                                                                                                                                      

Directions:

First of all, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In a small to medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all the filling ingredients until it forms a crumbly, but well blended mixture (hint: it helps to soften the canna butter first). Next, spread half of this mixture over the bottom of a 9" x 9" pan, or closest size you have. Now, in a large mixing bowl, combine the cannabis flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and mix together thoroughly. Slowly begin to add in more softened canna butter a little at a time until well blended and subsequently mix in the milk. Spread some canna flour on a cutting board or similar surface and roll into a 1/4" thick rectangle. With the other half of your filling, spread it on top of the rolled rectangle of dough. Next, roll the rectangle up into a log and slice into 18 equal segments or 12 if you prefer bigger rolls. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes on 375 degrees Fahrenheit. While this is baking, combine the canna milk (or regular milk) and powdered sugar in a bowl and spread on top of the rolls once out of the oven. Let cool a minute or two and prepare to get really really medicated.

Cover Story: Dream Detroit-Detroit's Finest Dispensary - by Dolan Frick

Dream Detroit is celebrating 2 years of business this February! Dream Detroit is truly Detroit's Finest Dispensary. We are conveniently located at 15670 East 8 Mile.

With friendly staff and a clean professional environment we stand out above the rest! We are proud residents of Detroit and want to offer the people of the area a high quality experience when entering Dream Detroit Dispensary.

Let us help make your cannabis dreams come true

It's not just our unique name, helpful and friendly staff, or professional environment that makes us stand out. We also have one of Detroit's best and largest selections of concentrates and flower.

At Dream Detroit we specialize in concentrates! We offer at least 10 different strains of concentrates. Among those is one of our best sellers, the OG Cookie Shatter. Another favorite strain is our very own house brand shatter!

We also have our very own house brand of vape cartridges.

Dream Detroit has $20 daily deals on a gram of shatter or a $20 Distillate Vape Cartridge!

We're not just all about the concentrates, we've got it all! Now I'm talkin' Flower! We carry over 40 different strains of it! Among these strains is our best seller the Gelato Flower.

With over 40 strains of flower we are sure to have the one that's just right for you!

Dream Detroit is Licensed and here to stay!

- The dream at Dream Detroit is to offer the most exclusive flower and concentrates at the absolute lowest prices!