Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson have announced that a Lansing marihuana dispensary owner, Shekina Pena, has been charged with violating a Michigan election law.  Michigan Election Law makes it a misdemeanor to "either directly or indirectly, give, lend, or promise valuable consideration, to or for any person, as an inducement to influence the manner of voting by a person relative to a candidate or ballot question, or as a reward for refraining from voting."  MCL 168.931 et seq.

Earlier this year, it was reported that before an election of Lansing City Council members, a Lansing dispensary, Your Healthy Choice Clinic, posted on its website "Vote for us and we'll vote for you.  All dispensaries are doing a voter registration drive.  If you sign up at Your Healthy Choice, we will assist you in filling out the registration form and will mail it out for you.  We believe in power in numbers and everyone taking a stand.  So in appreciation, we will reward legal patients with a .5 gram free or a free medible!"  In addition, the dispensary's website indicated which City Council candidates it supported and which City Council candidates it did not support.

The Attorney General's office indicated that based on its investigation, the owner of Your Healthy Choice Clinic, Shekina Pena had allegedly offered free marihuana in exchange for citizen's registering to vote.  The charge against Pena was filed today in Lansing's 54A District Court.  Pena was arraigned before Judge Frank DeLuca and a personal bond of $3,500 was set.  The misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or $500 fine.  Future court dates have yet to be scheduled.