Weed bribery case unlikely to be the end

Michigan’s early cannabis landscape spurred temptation

BY DUSTIN WALSH

e federal corruption charges announced ursday against former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson and three others likely signal a beginning, not an end.

e charges levied against the defendants, who have all accepted plea deals, highlight the early troubles of launching the state’s legal marijuana industry — when eager cannabis startups looking for quick licensure were pitted against a new, overwhelmed state agency with a political board.

Matthew Schneider, former U.S. attorney and partner at Detroit law rm Honigman LLP, told Crain’s the case, which is still ongoing, is likely to lead to more indictments.

“ is is just the start,” Schneider said. “While normally this threshold of a bribe isn’t brought to charges, the circumstances make this an interesting case. e head of this board held power, and even though the threshold was low, they will and should still get scrutiny.” e indictments are a side e ect of a sometimes chaotic, sometimes political beginning to Michigan’s legal cannabis industry.

“ e way this industry started, it felt like a gold rush,” said Denise Pollicella, founder and managing partner of Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan, which got its start well before cannabis sales occurred in the state.