Lawsuit Seeks $5M For Medical Marijuana Users Allegedly Harassed By Police
WARREN (AP/WWJ) - A lawsuit against the city of Warren seeks up to $5 million in damages on behalf of 23 state-approved medical-marijuana users who say they've been harassed by police.
The Detroit Free Press reports the lawsuit, filed Monday in Macomb County Circuit Court by attorney Michael Greiner, also says Warren zoning officials, police and Mayor Jim Fouts cooperated to shut down a medical marijuana center that was raided Sept. 18.
The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens reports the suit also says police on Sept. 17-18 illegally stopped drivers leaving the Michigan Safe Transfer Center.
Fouts tells WJBK-TV that he denies ordering any sort of a police presence at the center and says he was surprised by the lawsuit.
Michigan voters approved marijuana use for some chronic medical conditions in 2008.
A concerned Detroit city councilman says medical marijuana is the fastest growing businesses in the area — with an estimated 180 medical marijuana dispensaries within the city alone.
With continual confusion about state law as it relates to dispensaries, some communities are taking it upon themselves to regulate them. A proposed ordinance in Detroit would ban drive-thru windows and limit hours at the establishments in the city.
Meantime, a new poll conducted by Lansing-based Marketing Resource Group showed 46 percent of Michiganders would support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for those aged 21 and up — while the number spiked to 75 percent in Detroit.
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