Grower faces felony for too many plants
A registered marijuana caregiver from Marion is facing a felony charge after he was arrested Sept. 23 on suspicion of having more marijuana plants than allowed by state law.
The Flathead County Attorney’s Office charged William Clinton Blue with felony criminal manufacture of dangerous drugs.
Blue was booked into the Flathead County Adult Detention Center after his arrest and is being held there on $41,500 bail.
Officials with the Northwest Drug Task Force, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and the Kalispell Police Department seized 84 plants from his rental property in the 11000 block of U.S. 2 West, according to court documents.
An investigation revealed that Blue, a registered caregiver, was entitled to 24 of the marijuana plants because he provides marijuana to four patients, according to court documents.
Montana’s medicinal marijuana law, passed in 2004, allows certain patients and caregivers to grow or possess a restricted number of plants after registering with the Department of Public Health and Human Services.
The law limits the number of plants a patient or caregiver may possess at six, or one ounce of dried marijuana.
Blue told detectives that two other caregivers also were using the property to grow marijuana. A check with the state confirmed that one man owned two of the plants and the other was entitled to up to 24.
Those plants were left behind following the seizure, according to court documents.
If convicted, Blue could be sentenced to as much as 10 years in state prison and receive a fine of up to $50,000.
He’s scheduled to be arraigned in District Court Oct. 7.
Blue is also facing allegations of partner/family member assault, disorderly conduct and violating privacy in communications.
According to court documents, Blue displayed violent behavior in the two days prior to his arrest. He allegedly threatened to kill his parents and pregnant girlfriend and also made threats to burn down a house.
His family told investigators his behavior was attributable to his heavy drug use, according to court documents.