Ex-head of Michigan marijuana board admits he took bribes

The former head of a Michigan medical marijuana licensing board has agreed to plead responsible to accepting $110,000 in bribes when he led the panel over a two-year interval, authorities stated Thursday.

Rick Johnson acknowledged in a signed court docket submitting that he acted “corruptly” when he accepted money and different advantages to assist companies get licenses.

Charges in opposition to Johnson and three different males had been introduced by U.S. Attorney Mark Totten at a press convention close to the Capitol in Lansing.

Johnson, 70, was chairman of the marijuana board for 2 years till spring 2019. The Republican years earlier additionally was a robust lawmaker, serving as House speaker from 2001 by 2004.

“Public corruption is a poison to any democracy. … That poison is especially toxic here,” Totten stated. “The marijuana industry has been likened to a modern-day gold rush, a new frontier where participants can stake their claim and just maybe return big rewards.”

The marijuana board reviewed and permitted purposes to develop and promote marijuana for medical functions.

A message searching for remark from Johnson’s lawyer wasn’t instantly returned.

Agreements with Johnson and others to plead responsible had been filed concurrently with fees in federal court docket in Grand Rapids.

Johnson accepted $110,200 in money and advantages from not less than two firms whereas voting in favor of granting them marijuana licenses, in line with the bribery cost.

Johnson “provided valuable non-public information about the anticipated rules and operation of the board and assistance with license application matters,” the court docket submitting states.

John Dalaly, who obtained a marijuana enterprise license, has agreed to plead responsible to offering not less than $68,200 in money and different advantages to Johnson, together with two personal flights to Canada, in line with court docket paperwork.

Two lobbyists, Brian Pierce and Vincent Brown, have agreed to plead responsible to conspiring to go bribes to Johnson, filings present.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer abolished the medical marijuana board in 2019, a couple of months after taking workplace, and put oversight of the trade inside a state company.