Crime & Safety

Pot Charges Could Land Ferndale Marijuana Advocate, State Rep Hopeful in the Joint

Ferndale residents voted to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in Nov. 5 election, but authorities allege charges against the measure's chief backer are criminal.

A candidate for state representative whose grassroots organizing put a marijuana decriminalization measure on Ferndale’s Nov. 5 general election ballot was bound over for trial Thursday on criminal charges stemming from an undercover drug operation.

The measure decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana passed overwhelmingly with 60.25 percent of the vote, but what happens in Oakland County Circuit Court could affect Andrew Robert Cissell’s chances in another election.

The Oak Park Democrat, who is seeking the Michigan House of Representatives District 27 seat, was charged in September with allegedly manufacturing, delivering and selling marijuana to an undercover police officer, all felonies punishable by up to four years in prison.

Find out what's happening in Huntington Woods-Berkleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Oak Park District Judge David Gubow found probable cause to continue the charges against Cissell after hearing testimony from two police officers and an informant during a two-hour exam Thursday, The Detroit News reports.

The Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team reportedly recovered about four ounces of marijuana and $405 from Cissell’s vehicle during the sting operation last summer. He reportedly was in possession of four medical marijuana caregiver cards and another card that identified him as a medical marijuana patient.

Find out what's happening in Huntington Woods-Berkleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the sting operation, authorities also served search warrants at what was believed to be Cissell’s residence in Oak Park, where they allegedly recovered 47 marijuana plants, growing equipment, two small safes containing 838 grams of high-grade marijuana, and other items related to the distribution and use of marijuana.

At another address in Oak Park allegedly associated with Cissell, police reportedly seized 58 more marijuana plants, growing equipment and related paraphernalia.

Cissell’s attorney said in court Thursday that the items seized from his vehicle were legal for him to possess under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, which allows residents to register with the state to use marijuana for medical purposes with the approval of a physician, and registered users can grow and sell marijuana to four cardholders.

However, the informant who testified against Cissell was not a cardholder, assistant prosecutor Shannon O’Brien asserted in Thursday. The informant, who works as a busboy, alleged in his testimony that Cissell encouraged him to apply for a card to manage chronic back pain associated with the job because “it would be safer for both of us,” the newspaper said.

Meanwhile, Cissell is set to appear in Ferndale District Court next week on voter fraud charges. Officers visited the address on West Drayton that Cissell listed it as his legal address on the petition he submitted to Ferndale city officials requesting that the decriminalization measure on the ballot earlier this month. Cissell’s father reportedly told authorities that his son hasn’t lived there in three years.

Voter fraud is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail.



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Huntington Woods-Berkley