Police say medical marijuana distributors not playing by the rules

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Police in Grand Rapids have busted a man for running a medical marijuana operation they say is in violation of the law.

Police got a tip that Randolph Oom was selling pot out of his house in Grand Rapids. Oom claims he's legally authorized to grow medical marijuana, but officers say he was in violation of a state law requiring the drugs to be in a locked facility.

Oom claims he's licensed to grow, but admits he also sold to people not authorized to buy.

The Mid-Michigan Compassion Club in Grand Rapids doesn't sell marijuana, but they say those that do, should do it legally. However, narcotics agents say in most cases, that's just not happening.

Oom claims he's being picked on by authorities after they raided his home and found him to be in violation of Michigan's medical marijuana law.

The Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team says the problem is that Oom is not alone, they say four out of the five marijuana operations they've investigated have been in violation of the law.

“Of the five, there's only been one that the individuals were in compliance with the law,” said Chuck Dewitt of the Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, “they had the proper number of plants for the cards that they had, the proper allotment of usable marijuana, and they were in fact not selling to individuals they were not allowed to.”

In order to be in compliance with the law, providers can only have twelve plants per patient, and those plants must be in an enclosed, locked facility.

“It's frustrating to me,” said Amy Lovejoy of the Mid-Michigan Compassion Club.

Lovejoy and others at the Compassion Club get help to eligible people who have qualified with the state for medical marijuana. She says dispensers who break the law hurt their reputation.

“When you've got somebody that is going about doing it the wrong way, it brings us down,” said Lovejoy. “It puts a bad name when we're trying to make a good name.”

Lovejoy says they are trying to educate people to do things the right way.

“We really want everybody who is illegal to be legal,” said Lovejoy.

Authorities say Oom wasn't even looking to be legal.

“This individual was definitely taking advantage of the situation and selling it,” said Dewitt.

For more information on the bust of Oom, click here.