Pubdate: Sun, 18 Sep 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, Daily Tribune

MEDICAL POT PRODUCER LEAVING COUNTY

BIG DADDY'S HYDRO OPERATOR SAYS PATIENTS WERE HARASSED

OAK PARK - A few desks, stray files and a large poster with a
marijuana leaf are about all that remained inside Big Daddy's Hydro
facility here Friday.

The medical marijuana operation - possibly the last of its kind in
Oakland County - will be closed up by Monday.

Rick Thompson, editor of Michigan Medical Marijuana Magazine and a
member of Big Daddy's Management Group, spoke of a raid on the medical
marijuana facility and hydroponics store in January.

"That raid only hardened our resolve to stay," he said.

"We were determined to fight it out, but now there are charges filed
against (four) individuals and our patients finding themselves
challenged in the street (by law enforcement) after leaving us. We
can't in good conscience remain."

The 6,000-square-foot building situated in an industrial park opened
in March 2010. Seventeen people worked there, said Thompson.

"We were open six days a week," said Thompson. On days when a
physician was in, "we were quite busy," he said.

Now the operations will be concentrated in Big Daddy's Management
facilities in Chesterfield Township, Sandusky (Michigan), Burton and
Detroit. The corporate office will be in Detroit, he said.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard responded to the
move.

"People who are within the law have no problem with us and we have no
problem with them," he said.

"Profiteering attorneys and dispensaries keep picking fights with us
instead of following the law."

Thompson said a raid by law enforcement this week had nothing to do
with the move-out.

"Our decision was made prior to that," he said. "However, it
reinforced our decision as a smart one."

Law enforcement entered Big Daddy's at least twice in the last
year.

In January, officers raided the business, seizing money but making no
arrests.

"They were courteous to the 10 patients and employees, and even let
one pregnant woman go to the bathroom."

At that time Undersheriff Michael McCabe said some undercover officers
wore masks to conceal their identity. He said the raid was the result
of a months-long investigation.

McCabe said the Sheriff's Office arrested drug dealers who were
selling marijuana out of their homes. The dealers told the Sheriff's
Office that they were "purchasing all their marijuana at Big Daddy's
and then selling (from their homes) illegally," said McCabe.

McCabe said officers seized 9 pounds of harvested marijuana, 5 pounds
of packaged marijuana, 10 pounds of baked goods with marijuana,
documents, a digital scale and a laptop computer. An informant had
made undercover purchases at the dispensary and that person "was
buying from other patients in the facility," said McCabe.

On Aug. 31, Thompson said Oak Park police came to the business on
Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. looking for two patients and returned at 10 a.m.
to arrest them.

Four people eventually were charged with conspiracy and delivery of
marijuana, he said.

Thompson said the incidents were reactionary, coming after state court
decisions issued marijuana-related decision. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.