Rick Johnson, who was also the former chairman of the Michigan Marijuana Licensing Board, was federally charged along with three others by Mark Totten, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan, on Thursday.Johnson, 70, is charged with one felony count of accepting a bribe, which is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the attorney's office.
During his time as chairman from May 2017 to April 2019, Johnson provided"valuable non-public information about the anticipated rules and operation of the MMLB and assistance with license application matters to Dalaly, Pierce, Brown, and others that paid money to Johnson while he was Chairperson of the MMLB."
Totten said the marijuana industry was an"equalizing opportunity" dispelled by Johnson and the three other men's crimes. Totten said during the press conference that Johnson was"at the heart of this corrupt scheme," detailing the cash payments and private chartered flights through Dalaly's companies.
Not surprised
And so it begins…ripe with graft and bribes. You can legalize dope but can you really legalize the dope trading system?
Leave it to the government to fuck up something as simple as legalized weed.