Trio Charged With Running Illegal Marijuana Dispensary In Canton
CANTON (WWJ) - A woman and two young men are facing felony charges after being accused of running an illegal marijuana dispensary in Canton.
Forty-year-old Amanda Elaine Joslin, 26-year-old Eric Dejonghe and 21-year-old Jacob Scholin were arraigned Thursday in Ypsilanti 14A-2 District Court on charges of conspiracy to deliver and manufacture marijuana, and delivering and manufacturing a controlled substance, marijuana. Both charges carry a 4-year prison sentence with $10,000 and $20,000 fines, respectively. .
All three pleaded not guilty and were released on personal recognizance bonds. They're due back in court for a probable cause hearing on July 23.
Additionally, Joslin was arraigned in Plymouth's 35th District Court with conducting a criminal enterprise, which carries a 20-year prison term and $100,000 fine, and two counts of delivering and manufacturing marijuana. She again pleaded not guilty and was released on a personal recognizance bond. A probable cause hearing was set for July 24.
The charges follow a six-month investigation into the Pure Wellness Marijuana Dispensary located at the corner of Haggerty and Cherry Hill roads in Canton.
According to reports, the center was growing large amounts of marijuana and selling the drug to anyone who came in with a medical marijuana registry card -- which is illegal. Under state law, a licensed caregiver is only allowed to serve up to five patients and is allowed to grow a maximum of 12 plants per patient.
In March, investigators executed multiple search warrants at the dispensary. Based on evidence collected, felony charges were authorized and on Wednesday, the trio turned themselves in to police.
The case was investigated by the multi-jurisdictional Western-Wayne Criminal Investigations Unit.