Court Opinion

ID: 3170607
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-19 22:11:56.665099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:01:31.500543
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                     )      No. 70300-5-1
                                                (consolidated w/ No. 70301-3-1)
                    Respondent,          )
                                                DIVISION ONE
             V.                          }

DENNIS M. CROWLEY                        )

                    Appellant.           )

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                     )      UNPUBLISHED OPINION             V.D

                    Respondent,          )                                      CO
             v.                          )                                      en
                                                                                O

JENNIFER M. DETMERING,                   )

                    Appellant.           )      FILED: January 19. 2016

      Spearman, C.J.- Following the investigation and search of a Bellingham

medical marijuana business, the State charged the owners, Jennifer Detmering

and Dennis Crowley, with six counts of delivery of marijuana, one count of

possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, one count of

maintaining a place for controlled substances, and one count of conspiracy to

deliver a controlled substance. Crowley and Detmering moved to suppress the

evidence obtained in the search, arguing that the search warrant was not

supported by probable cause because their medical marijuana business was

lawful under the Medical Use of Cannabis Act (MUCA), chapter 69.51 A RCW.
No. 70300-5-1/2 (Consolid. w/No. 70301-3-1

The superior court denied the motion, ruling there was probable cause to believe

the business was not complying with MUCA.

      The court certified its decision for discretionary review by this court under

RAP 2.3(b)(4). We accepted review and later stayed the appeal pending the

Washington State Supreme Court's decision in State v. Reis, 183 Wn.2d 197,

351 P.3d 127 (2015). Because Reis controls this appeal, we affirm the denial of

the motion to suppress and remand for further proceedings.

                                      FACTS

      Crowley and Detmering own a Bellingham medical marijuana business

called KGB Collective (KGB). In 2011, Bellingham police commenced an

investigation into KGB's sales activities. On March 14, 2012, the State charged

Crowley and Detmering with four counts of unlawful delivery of marijuana and

one count of unlawful possession of marijuana. That same day, police sought

and obtained a search warrant for KGB's premises. A court commissioner

concluded there was probable cause to believe that the business was not

complying with MUCA due to the numerous strains, large quantity, and multiple

sources of marijuana in the store. Officers executing the warrant found 45

marijuana plants, 10.5 pounds of marijuana, and approximately 104 membership

agreements that did not designate a provider.

      The State filed an amended information adding two more counts of

unlawful delivery, one count of maintaining a place for controlled substances, and

one count of conspiracy to deliver marijuana.
No. 70300-5-1/3 (Consolid. w/No. 70301-3-1

      In February 2013, Crowley and Detmering moved to suppress the fruits of

the search. They argued that under 2011 amendments to MUCA, medical

marijuana businesses complying with MUCA were protected from searches or

arrests for violations of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, chapter 69.50

RCW. They maintained that such businesses could be searched only ifthere was

probable cause to believe they were not complying with MUCA. The State

countered that the alleged protection from search and arrest did not exist

because the registry required for such protection had been vetoed by the

governor. As a result, the Act only provided an affirmative defense, and medical

marijuana businesses could be searched based solely on probable cause to

believe they were violating chapter 69.50 RCW.

       The court denied the motion to suppress, ruling that "[t]he search warrant

was supported by probable cause that defendants and the dispensary were

operating in violation of [MUCA]." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 103. We granted

discretionary review, consolidated Crowley's and Detmering's appeals, and

linked them to State v. Reis, Court of Appeals, Division One, No. 69911-3.

       On March 31, 2014, after appellants filed their opening brief, this court

issued its opinion in State v. Reis,1 holding in pertinent part:

       William Reis was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance. . .
       after a search of his residence pursuant to a warrant revealed evidence of
       a marijuana growing operation. The trial court denied his motion to
       suppress the evidence. The issue on discretionary review is whether,
       following the 2011 amendments to the Medical Use of Cannabis Act,

       1180 Wn. App. 438, 322 P.3d 1238. review granted. 336 P.3d 1165 (2014).

                                           -3-
No. 70300-5-1/4 (Consolid. w/No. 70301-3-1

       chapter 69.51 A RCW, a search warrant must be based on probable
       cause of a violation of medical marijuana laws. We conclude that
       "qualifying patients" and "designated providers" under the Act are
       able to assert only an affirmative defense at trial to a charge of
       violation of marijuana laws. The search warrant here was supported
       by probable cause where it was based on evidence of a marijuana
       growing operation.

(Emphasis added). (Footnote omitted). Reis, at 440.

       In May 2014, following this court's decision in Reis, Crowley and

Detmering filed a reply brief in which they conceded that Reis essentially controls

the issues in this appeal. They argued, however, that Reis was wrongly decided.

We then stayed the appeal pending the Supreme Court's review of our decision

in Reis.

       In May 2015, the Supreme Court affirmed our decision in Reis, stating in

part: "We hold that the search was valid because the plain language of the

statute and the legislative intent as expressed in the governor's veto message

lead to the conclusion that a user or possessor of cannabis may raise only an

affirmative defense under MUCA." Reis, 183 Wn.2d at 218. We subsequently

lifted the stay in this case.

                                    DECISION

       A trial court's probable cause determination is a legal question we review

de novo. State v. Neth, 165 Wn.2d 177, 182, 196 P.3d 658 (2008). We may

affirm the trial court on any basis supported by the record and the law. State

v. Kellev, 64 Wn. App. 755, 764, 828 P.2d 1106 (1992).
No. 70300-5-1/5 (Consolid. w/No. 70301-3-1

      The Supreme Court held in Reis that MUCA does not protect complying

medical marijuana businesses from searches or arrests conducted under chapter

69.50 RCW, but rather provides them only with an affirmative defense to assert

at trial. Accordingly, contrary to Crowley and Detmering's assertions, KGB could

be searched for violations of chapter 69.50 RCW provided there was probable

cause to do so. It is undisputed that the search warrant in this case was

supported by probable cause to believe that evidence of an offense under

chapter 69.50 RCW would be found on KGB's premises. The trial court therefore

did not err in denying the motion to suppress.

      We affirm and remand for further proceedings.

                                                             /

WE CONCUR:

     )J*