In Mecosta County, Michigan, Sheriff Brian Miller has raised alarm over a growing trend of black market marijuana operations, linked to international networks, that have emerged following the legalization of cannabis in Michigan.
Miller's investigation into this issue began after noticing a peculiar pattern in traffic stops involving individuals with Hispanic surnames and out-of-state Florida driver’s licenses.
"I had heard about some Chinese involvement in the marijuana black market, particularly after legalization opened new opportunities," Miller told Federal Newswire. "Initially, I expected these issues to be more local, but what caught my eye were reports from one of our townships where people with Hispanic last names were being stopped with Florida driver’s licenses. It seemed unusual, so I reached out to our state police intelligence analysts for clarity."
Miller's inquiries led him to collaborate with a detective sergeant from the Michigan State Police’s Marijuana Tobacco Investigation Section, who provided insight into a troubling trend.
"The growing trend in our region, including nearby Isabella County, seems to be driven by the lower property costs in our more rural areas," Miller said. "I began to delve deeper, not as an expert, but to better understand and educate the public on what was happening."
One concerning discovery was the involvement of Cuban nationals in the marijuana trade.
"Cubans arriving in Florida may obtain some form of citizenship or residency and then relocate to our rural areas," Miller said. "Many of the black market marijuana operations here are linked to these Cuban individuals, who then send the product back to Florida, while Chinese operatives target the East Coast."
The sheriff highlighted the challenges faced by local law enforcement, noting that many properties involved in the black market are owned by individuals from Florida.
"We've seen numerous properties purchased or owned by Cubans in the rural parts of our county," he said. "Our agency, being rural and resource-constrained, relies heavily on state police for surveillance and investigations. After discussions with them, it’s clear they’re also overwhelmed by the scale of this issue."
Miller expressed his concern about the potential for increased violence due to the proliferation of illegal operations.
"As these black market activities persist, there’s a real risk of violence," he said. "The state police mentioned that prolonged exposure to these operations might lead to conflicts among the different parties involved, turning the situation into a sort of 'Wild West.'"
The sheriff also pointed out the unintended consequences of marijuana legalization.
"Legalizing marijuana has brought in outside elements and created vulnerabilities," Miller said. "We didn’t foresee the full scope of these issues. The legal dispensaries are regulated and we haven’t seen the problems there, but the black market operations are a different story. They often lack proper security and can lead to robberies and other criminal activities."
Miller believes that legislative action is needed to address these concerns.
"The issues we've encountered highlight a gap in how legalization impacts rural communities," he said. "We need to raise awareness with our legislators to address these challenges effectively. The current system has inadvertently opened the door for these black market operations, and it’s crucial to address this before it escalates further."
In a March opinion piece published in Pioneer, Miller raised concerns about rising illegal black-market marijuana cultivation in Mecosta County, which he attributed to an influx of Cubans exploiting Michigan’s legal marijuana framework.
These operations, often set up in rural areas to avoid detection, are linked to violence and human trafficking, with workers being, effectively, indentured servants.
The marijuana grown is shipped to states where it sells for significantly higher prices, exasperating the issues.
The Michigan State Police's Marijuana and Tobacco Investigation Section warns that unregulated black-market marijuana poses significant risks, including unreported violent crimes and unsafe, illegal growing practices.
Robberies have been reported at black market marijuana growing operations.
In 2023, attempts to rob marijuana grow houses in Midland and Gladwin counties raised alarm among law enforcement about a potential surge in violent break-ins linked to black-market cannabis operations.
In March 2024, the Michigan State Police dismantled one of the state's largest illegal marijuana growing operations, seizing over 6,000 plants, 2,500 pounds of psilocybin mushroom bars and 700 pounds of marijuana flower from four commercial buildings in Livonia.
The operation, which lacked any legal marijuana licenses, highlights a growing problem of illicit marijuana activities, despite the state's legal market's $3 billion sales last year.
