Officials: Drug ring used medical-marijuana laws as cover

[copobo]

Officials: Drug ring used medical-marijuana laws as cover - The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17035804?source=rss)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Officials: Drug ring used medical-marijuana laws as cover
By John Ingold
The Denver Post

The Denver Post
Posted:01/07/2011 12:05:20 PM MST

State law enforcement officials today unveiled an indictment against an alleged large-scale marijuana-trafficking ring the officials say were using Colorado's medical-marijuana laws as cover.

It is the biggest pot operation to-date that officials have accused of exploiting medical-marijuana laws to shield black-market activities.

Nine people were named in the 21-count indictment announced this morning by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers. In the announcement, Suthers said investigators from his office and the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force seized more than 110 pounds of marijuana and 687 cannabis plants during the investigation. The ring is alleged to have been based in the northern Front Range, with production hubs in Erie, Fort Collins, Longmont and Westminster.

The indictment alleges that the suspects kept binders of photocopied medical-marijuana patient records to make it look like they were acting as legal medical-marijuana caregivers. The indictment charges that the suspects were actually selling the pot illegally to people throughout Colorado and New Mexico.

Named in the indictment are: Richard Caleel, 34; Lakshman Garin, 28; Buck Glanz, 28; Magin Gomez, 30; Micah Krout, 29; Clayton McCann, 28; Charles Whitson, 28; Austin Leard, 29; and Laura Vanwormer, 44.

In a statement, Suthers said the indictment is a mark against Colorado's medical-marijuana system.

"This case, while disturbing, should come as no surprise to Coloradans who have been concerned that there is a nexus between Colorado's booming medical marijuana industry and illegal distribution of the drug," Suthers said. "This case counters the contention among marijuana advocates and some public officials that a regulated medical marijuana system will undercut the illicit market for marijuana."

[ThaiBuddhaMan]

D@mn! Was really hoping TimmyT's name was going to be on that list somewhere.

[Zedleppelin]

John Suthers is a drunken buffoon.

[copobo]

D@mn! Was really hoping TimmyT's name was going to be on that list somewhere.

thats the name I was looking for. wanna buy a dvd?

and I'm not wishing that on even him!

[senorx12562]

"This case counters the contention among marijuana advocates and some public officials that a regulated medical marijuana system will undercut the illicit market for marijuana."[/QUOTE]

A completely unregulated marijuana system would completely undercut the "illicit market for marijuana."

[SoCoMMJ]

A grow that size would require a dispensary and optional grow license. Caregivers can't grow together.

If you are going to lie, at least be good at it.

These clowns had nothing to do with Medical Marijuana. 110 lbs of product would require 176 caregivers each with 5 patients @ 2oz per. I guess a dispensary license with 880 assigned patients would also work.

Black market growers...Looks nothing like medical. Surprised it's not a federal bust.

[senorx12562]

A grow that size would require a dispensary and optional grow license. Caregivers can't grow together.

If you are going to lie, at least be good at it.

These clowns had nothing to do with Medical Marijuana. 110 lbs of product would require 176 caregivers each with 5 patients @ 2oz per. I guess a dispensary license with 880 assigned patients would also work.

Black market growers...Looks nothing like medical. Surprised it's not a federal bust.
You seem almost gleeful.

[copobo]

2oz's is a floor.

NOW because we have dispensaries the state is protecting, you'll see plenty more of this.

SoCoMMJ, we don't want anyone is jail for the plant. it's all medical in this state. EVERY single gram of Colorado grown herb, meant to stay in Colorado, is Medical Marijuana. There is no way to prove it is not bound for patients. (I assume they don't have evidence of pipelining this out of state or these would be fed charges)

what a waste of resources and lives

[SoCoMMJ]

Yep, I agree. Nobody should go up the river for pot. There shouldn't even be a prohibition, but there is.

My point was that the AG and the media are trying to make it sound as if it's marijuana dispensaries shipping out the back door. As in "I told you so".

The reality is that it's black market growers that have a binder full of patient records. I fully expected to see Tipton's picture in the lot as well. That brings up another point.

If the caregiver forms actually have the grower's names on them, then they really were caregivers but selling black market out the back door by exceeding the plant and or patient counts. And the story did indicate that they were shipping to New Mexico.

It will be interesting to see how the details of this shake out...but it sucks for these guys regardless of what the story ends up being.

[MiamiBoy305]

I have a dream of owning a business and being an entrepreneur. I believe selling medical marijuana(learn how to grow aswell) is a great business to start granted you are abiding by ALL the laws. To hear that people used medical marijuana as a cover up to their illegal blackmarket operation really makes me feel afraid of starting this type of business due to the police, public, ect.. but I don't want to give up this opportunity. Does anyone have experience or feels the same way?

[copobo]

let me guess..

[denverbear]

the only thing I am really interested in knowing is what mmc where these patients signed too...I hope they release the name of the mmc soon.

[Jord0713]

what would that matter? Not all patients are registered to an MMC...none of mine are I assure you ;)

[DenverRelief]

I have a dream of owning a business and being an entrepreneur. I believe selling medical marijuana(learn how to grow aswell) is a great business to start granted you are abiding by ALL the laws. To hear that people used medical marijuana as a cover up to their illegal blackmarket operation really makes me feel afraid of starting this type of business due to the police, public, ect.. but I don't want to give up this opportunity. Does anyone have experience or feels the same way?

If you are committed to staying legal and doing everything above the board, that certainly is the first step.

The way these regulations are though, it takes a lot of work, and much of the time being in compliance isn't going to be easy.

The fact is that there are no easy shortcuts like these guys seemed to be trying. Most likely, they knew that they weren't legal, but cracked up the patient binders in an attempt to show some legitimacy.

The fact is that it is expensive to be in compliance in Colorado as a medical marijuana center. The applications alone cost thousands of dollars per owner, and the licenses cost money, and a legal grow operation that is in compliance with electrical, architectural, and plumbing code costs more money, and employees, and rent, and on an on.

Like most successful business plans you can't be in it to get rich quick like these guys. You have to be committed to setting up a business with a good reputation that can last decades. That is where the real money is.

You could risk it and make a bunch of money in a few months, or take the long view and make a solid amount of money after the initial build-up of the company for many years to come.

This has been our view and I am confident that our hard work and dedication will pay good dividends in the future

Denver Relief - Medical Marijuana Center - Denver, Colorado (http://www.denverrelief.com)

[Budbudda]

There are still plenty of smugglers and dealers of black market booze and cigarettes. If they are caught and produce fraudulent paperwork to try to appear legal - then of course this means that selling legal, taxed and regulated cigarettes and alcohol should also be stopped, right?

What a buffoon.

[senorx12562]

I have obviously slipped into the twilight zone. This is absolutely meta x 2 bizzarre. And I'm sober (literally, never figuratively).

[canaguy27]

I have a dream of owning a business and being an entrepreneur. I believe selling medical marijuana(learn how to grow aswell) is a great business to start granted you are abiding by ALL the laws. To hear that people used medical marijuana as a cover up to their illegal blackmarket operation really makes me feel afraid of starting this type of business due to the police, public, ect.. but I don't want to give up this opportunity. Does anyone have experience or feels the same way?

Don't waste your money. The market effect and over regulation will put 60-75% of shops out of business. What is sad is that people are leveraging to the max thinking they will be the ones to make it.

[GratefulMeds]

[url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17035804?source=rss]Officials:

"This case, while disturbing, should come as no surprise to Coloradans who have been concerned that there is a nexus between Colorado's booming medical marijuana industry and illegal distribution of the drug," Suthers said. "This case counters the contention among marijuana advocates and some public officials that a regulated medical marijuana system will undercut the illicit market for marijuana."

Suthers helps create the situation and then stands there saying I told you so, and the bigger point they were breaking the law and got caught and will now have to pay the consequences (quick write 5 new laws although we have laws addressing it, kind of reminds me of 1284). what does that have to do with MMJ? that they were forging mmj recommendations, in every city in this country prescriptions are being forged and cashed in for narcotics, which if any physician or cop would be honest with you has been happening well longer then I have been on the planet. do we shut down Phizer, Merch, Rouche?
:wtf:

[HighPopalorum]

I was worried about more demonizing in the press when I clicked the CNN story "MJ Doc set for criminal trial (http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/11/manslaughter-case-against-jackson-doctor-conrad-murray-will-go-to-trial/)" but it turns out the story had nothing to do with marijuana, but was about a drug-addicted skeleton shuffling off the mortal coil at last.
:pimp:

[MiamiBoy305]

hey thanks so much for your advice!!! It is a little discouraging to know that I have so much red tape to cut through along with money for permits,rent,compliance laws ect.. but I am determined so my starting point I guess would be getting my business plan together. What do you think?

[MiamiBoy305]

let me guess..
No Dude not a caregiver at all not even in business or close to it yet, but when I smell an opportunity I need to start asking questions ya digg. I figured if I'm legal what can the cops say to me but based on the response I was given it seems that I have a mountain of red tape I have to cut through before I can even think of selling (legally).

[copobo]

he's back.

[senorx12562]

Suthers helps create the situation and then stands there saying I told you so, and the bigger point they were breaking the law and got caught and will now have to pay the consequences (quick write 5 new laws although we have laws addressing it, kind of reminds me of 1284). what does that have to do with MMJ? that they were forging mmj recommendations, in every city in this country prescriptions are being forged and cashed in for narcotics, which if any physician or cop would be honest with you has been happening well longer then I have been on the planet. do we shut down Phizer, Merch, Rouche?
:wtf:
No, actually we make prescriptions and "recommendations" superfluous legally, as well as actually, which they already are. Solves the whole problem, oh, wait there isn't a problem but what we've created.

[HarvestHouse]

do we shut down Phizer, Merch, Rouche?
:wtf:

yes