Michigan City man claims he’s licensed to distribute medicinal pot in Michigan
BY Teresa Auch Schultz tauch@post-trib.com November 1, 2012 4:24PM
Updated: December 3, 2012 6:43AM
A Michigan City man claims he received 20 pounds of marijuana because he can legally sell it in Michigan for medicinal use, according to a federal complaint.
Federal attorneys are trying to take $8,694 of what they say is illegal drug sale proceeds from him, however, and filed the complaint against him Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Hammond.
Law enforcement first became aware of Benjamin Strupeck when the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped a car in May and discovered about 26 pounds of marijuana inside. The driver told police that about 20 pounds of the pot was for an address in the 200 block of Chickadee Trail, Michigan City, according to the complaint.
The driver agreed to deliver the marijuana to the address, and law enforcement watched as he delivered it to a man identified as Strupeck.
He at first denied knowing anything about marijuana but allowed the officers to search his house. They discovered about 10 pounds of marijuana inside, along with hallucinogenic mushrooms, hashish and the money.
That’s when Strupeck told them he is licensed to sell marijuana in Michigan to five patients and allowed to possess 15 ounces of the drug or 72 live plants at a time.
Strupeck told police he had paid $15,000 for marijuana for his patients but wouldn’t say how much total marijuana he had bought.
Strupeck is charged in LaPorte County with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a Class B felony; possession with intent to deliver, a Class C felony; possession of marijuana, a Class D felony, and possession of hashish, a Class C felony.
