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45 days in jail for ex-lawmaker who grew marijuana

Posted at 4:31 PM, Apr 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-05 16:31:25-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) – A former state lawmaker from Grand Rapids has been sentenced to 45 days in jail for growing marijuana.

Roy Schmidt apologized Tuesday but also asked Kent County Judge Donald Johnston to consider his many years in office. He says, “I’ve served the people in the best possible way.”

Schmidt pleaded no contest in January, months after police seized 3 pounds of marijuana and 71 plants. Earlier, he had claimed protection under Michigan’s medical marijuana law.

Schmidt was a public official, first on the Grand Rapids City Commission and then in the Michigan House. He was defeated in 2012 after a surprising switch to the Republican Party.

Schmidt changed parties just before an election filing deadline and tried to have a 22-year-old political novice run against him.