Probation For Farmer Accused Of Growing 8K Pot Plants
DETROIT (AP) - A light sentence for a farmer caught growing more than 8,000 marijuana plants doesn't mean it's "open season" for pot growers -- that's what the chief federal prosecutor in eastern Michigan warned Friday.
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said she's disappointed that a judge this week chose to sentence Edwin Schmieding to two years of supervised release, or probation -- but she respects the judge's authority to set the punishment. McQuade's office wanted a minimum prison sentence of seven years.
Sixty-one-year-old Schmieding is recovering from cancer and had many letters of support. He and his wife were growing marijuana to sell to people who were permitted to use it for medicinal purposes -- but there's nothing in state or federal law that allows a large-scale medical marijuana operation.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
