© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Feds taking Michigan to court to get access to some medical marijuana records

Neeta Lind
/
Creative Commons

Michigan’s Department of Community Health is refusing to voluntarily turn over the records of 7 medical marijuana patients to the federal government. The federal government is now taking the state to court to get them.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrationwants the medical marijuana records of 7 individuals from the Lansing area. Court documents show special agents with the DEA say the records are relevant to an ongoing drug case.

Michigan’s Department of Community Health does keep a list of qualifying patients and their caregivers, but under Michigan’s medical marijuana law, it’s a crime to disclose it. The department ignored a DEA subpoena to turn over the information last June. Now the DEA is asking a federal judge to force the state to turn over the records. Officials with both the federal and state governments declined requests for an interview, citing the pending court case.

A hearing in the case is scheduled in federal court in Grand Rapids next week.

Lindsey Smith helps lead the station'sAmplify Team. She previously served as Michigan Public's Morning News Editor, Investigative Reporter and West Michigan Reporter.
Related Content