Ypsilanti medical marijuana contest moved to undisclosed location
An organizer of a medical marijuana competition said today he's moved the Jan. 30 contest from an Ypsilanti Township hotel to an undisclosed location in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area.
The decision comes as Washtenaw County prosecutors and law enforcement officials question the legality of the inaugural Michigan Caregivers Cup.
Darrell Stavros (left) and Anthony Freed of the Michigan Marijuana Chamber of Commerce are pictured in their Ypsilanti office. They have been organizing the Caregivers Cup. Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Although the marijuana judging contest will be moved off-site, the overall event - which aims to raise awareness of the recent legalization of medical marijuana - will still be held over three days at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest. The event runs Friday, Jan. 29 to Sunday, Jan. 31, and includes live music, guest speakers and growing classes.
Anthony Freed, executive director of the Michigan Marijuana Chamber of Commerce (MMCC), which is holding the pot-judging contest, wouldn’t reveal the location “for the safety of everyone involved,” he said.
The contest was moved because of a scheduling conflict and potential for a fire code violation, he said.
To compete, state-licensed medical marijuana growers must provide marijuana samples to patients with state-issued medical marijuana cards. The patients will judge the buds for quality - using vaporizers, glass pipes or rolling papers, Freed said.
Many participants are suffering from serious health problems, including cancer, Freed said.
The legal issue, prosecutors say, is that growers will be providing a quantity of marijuana that will be divided among more than five patients or “judges.” They say that violates the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.
“Our interpretation of the medical marijuana law is that it does not provide for the kind of activity that they’re describing that this contest is encompassing,” said Washtenaw County Chief Deputy Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller. “According to the act, a patient can designate a caregiver, and that caregiver can provide that patient with marijuana, but that caregiver is limited to five patients.”
People who violate the law can face criminal charges, including delivery of marijuana, which is punishable by up to four years in prison on a first-offense, Hiller said.
About 60 judges and 45 growers will be participating, Freed said. He said the contest falls within the confines of the law.
“My interpretation of the law is that a caregiver can only grow for five patients, but a caregiver can assist anyone with a medical marijuana card,” he said. “Anytime you're talking about Cannibis, it’s a risk. I believe wholeheartedly that the event is entirely legal.”
Asked whether prosecutors or police are responsible for notifying organizers the contest may be illegal, Hiller said they are not.
“The old adage, ‘Ignorance of the law is no excuse,’ applies here,” Hiller said. “I think it probably applies to willful ignorance, as well as inadvertent ignorance.”
Freed said he hopes if prosecutors and police believe he’s breaking the law, he'll be extended some “professional courtesy.”
Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies and Eastern Michigan University police officers said they'll be handling traffic and crowd control during the three-day event at the hotel. Organizers said thousands are expected to attend.
Michigan State Police Lt. Monica Yesh, who heads the Livingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team, has been monitoring developments in the contest.
“If the event does take place and they are partaking in any illegal activity, then appropriate enforcement action will be taken,” Yesh said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. You can reach him at (734) 623-2527 or by email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Lee Higgins
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 12:42 p.m.
Here's a link to some other discussion about the event: http://www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/node/15073
Lee Higgins
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
Here's a link to a Detroit Free Press article on the competition: http://www.freep.com/article/20100123/NEWS05/1230338/?imw=Y
clownfish
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 9:10 a.m.
OK, once again lets talk money. Of those opposed to the use of MJ by adults, how much more are you willing to pay in tax to put smokers in jail? The Drug War is an abysmal failure. It costs more than it helps, it drives the murder wave in Mexico and IT creates gateway activities by bringing pot smokers into the orbit of hard core criminals, because that is who has the drugs. Legalize it. Tax it. Let people grow their own. Individuals win, society wins.
actionjackson
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 11:06 a.m.
Anyone who has depended on pharmaceutical painkillers to live without a great deal of pain should always have the option of a natural or homeopathic method! Most adversaries of marijuana as an alternative have no experience in chronic pain and the treatment by FDA approved drugs. CONTEMPT PRIOR TO INVESTIGATION IS A GREAT DEFINITION OF IGNORANCE.
tdw
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.
I hate to agree with anything David Brigel says but MJ laws are pretty stuipid.( BTW this coming from a hard core right winger)Alcohol causes much more problems across the board than MJ just legalize it, tax it,restrict like booze and get rid of the criminal elements involved
delete this profile
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 10:10 a.m.
David Briegel is absolutely correct when saying that if Pfizer could patent pot it would be legal. And why shouldn't it be? It's safer than alcohol and most of the prescription medications people use every day. If people are using is responsibly and it helps them, what's the big deal?
Doodles
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 9:05 a.m.
I have to admit that the event sounded a bit shady from the get go but don't Washtenaw county prosecutors and police have bigger issues to deal with than this? I am certain they do. LEAVE THESE POOR SICK INDIVIDUALS ALONE! I know two people who have a card and have tried everything for relief and when it comes down to it pot works best for them. I myself would be pretty upset if the medicine I needed to feel better was not readily available and/or illegal. Love the Pfizer comment! So true so true.
David Briegel
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 8:25 p.m.
If Pfizer could patent pot it would be legal! That alone is criminal in the highest court of all!!! Everyone who is concerned or interested should google LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. They are a fine organization for many obvious reasons. Check them out. Their latest initiative is a partnership with clergy. Imagine, Cops and Clergy for the common good. What a concept!!!
Billy Staples
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 8:09 p.m.
Go here http://www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/node/15004 and sign up for the alternate location from that info. I'm a real MM Patient and this disgusts me - I'm sick of charlatans using my illness to further their own agandas. Not one dime from any of these events this group has planned donates one single dime to Medical Marijuana Compassion Clubs or our fragile mother organization at that link above. Not a dime.
Doug Orton
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 7:36 p.m.
As the host of the Brighton Area Compassion Club, I take offense to statements like "medical marijuana" is a veiled effort to make pot legal". I have witnessed life as lived by a person who is addicted to pharmecueticals, not because that is their choice, but because that is their only option. Cannabis therapies do work, they do improve the lives of many of these severely sick and dieing folks. This is not a 'big ol' pot party', as these poor folks, when they partake of this medicine, are finally allowed to live a more normal existence...please do not judge us all by the "Cup". These are not representatives of medical users as a whole, just a small, small portion.
voiceofreason
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.
Chet, Of course "medical marijuana" is an attempt to legalize it. Unless they can justify some kind of "legitimate purpose", there is no way the judicial system will uphold the referendum. In my opinion though, medical marijuana is a good thing. Patients with terminal ailments should be able to do whatever they want to themselves.
Chet R Biggerstaff
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 6:29 p.m.
It is in no way a veiled attempt at legalizing. The majority of patients are good people stuck in a very bad situation. Lumping the bad apples into this and calling it all a farce is akin to saying the sky is bright lime green. There will always be people that take advantage of a situation but as responsible adults we KNOW that the majority are not included in this group. Calling all patients people that are trying to legalize cannabis for recreational use is ludicrous at best bordering on stupidity. All youve done is show your own ignorance in this subject but dont take this as a put down but rather a chance for you to educate yourself about the true facts of medical cannabis.
time will tell
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.
According to this story there are 60 registered patients and 45 registered caregivers planning on participating in this event. Does anyone mind explaining to me how the behavior or actions of one percent of the over 10,000 registered patients and caregivers can be assumed to represent the views of the majority? I am a medical marijuana patient, I have lived with a seizure condition for over 50 years that the traditional medical community had poor success in treating, and many of the medications attempted created all new sets of symptoms. Cannabis is one of the only treatment that has allowed me to maintain a level of functioning that resembles something like normal. Frankly I resent people assuming my very real medical condition which society makes no allowances for is attacked as a convenient excuse to "get high". The people I know who use it for medical reasons don't experience any high, unless relief is now the equivalent of high. Nor am I impressed by the likes of Stavros and Freed who seem to think it is a good idea to use sick people to test the laws in the courts, since obviously sick people don't have enough problems already. To those Michigan voters who voted for this law for all the right reasons I want to thank you, and let you know not everyone seeking medical relief through this law are taking advantage of your compassion, indeed we are immensely grateful that our fellow citizens show the sense our government has failed to show for so many decades. I hope you will not allow a few fools and greedy creeps destroy the good you have done so many.
Chris Thomas
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 5:32 p.m.
Medical marijuana is no veiled attempt at anything i was solely dependant on hydrocodone to control my pain from perphial neurapathy since i recieved my card i rely only on vaporizing and somking the natural herb cannabis which would rather see a loved one do waste away on opiates destroying all their internal organs or see them medicate naturally? Educate yourself before you speak against someone next time. Stavros and Freed slipped and showed their hand with their last ann arbor press interview the medical marijuana communitys on to them and nobodys buying into their snake oil caregivers cup bs to me this just glorifys getting high thats not the message we need to portray to the people of this state.
TF
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 4:55 p.m.
I think these groups would be more open about their intentions if every assistant prosecutor wasn't foaming at the mouth to make an easy and unnecessary bust.
snoper
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 4:40 p.m.
Dude! Check out their website here: www.michiganmarijuanachamberofcommerce.com Or wait, who was supposed to start the website again?
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 4:35 p.m.
bet things get fired up at 4:20?!? LOL
Matt Sussman
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.
It's going to be in someone's basement, isn't it?
Atticus F.
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 4:24 p.m.
I would ask that Steve Hiller lock-up both of these clowns in prison. Not because they are organizing a cannabis cup, but because they want to rewrite the law to benefit themselves, with no consideration for patient privacy, or low income patients.