Macomb Judge Dismisses Marijuana Charges Against Ex-Fitzgerald Officials

A Macomb County judge dismissed marijuana possession charges against former Fitzgerald Public Schools officials Hollie Lyn Stange and Amanda Gail Carroll, ruling that the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA) supersedes the older Public Health Code's 1,000-foot school zone restriction. Judge John Chmura found that the MRTMA, which legalizes adult cannabis use, only prohibits possession on school grounds, not within the broader 1,000-foot zone, leading to the dismissal of the marijuana charges. While Carroll is now free of all charges, Stange still faces a misdemeanor for possessing a weapon in a weapons-free zone, with a pretrial hearing scheduled. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido criticized the ruling, expressing concern that legalizing marijuana removed important safeguards protecting school zones and indicated his office is reviewing the decision for a possible appeal. The case highlights legislative ambiguities regarding marijuana use near schools, with calls for lawmakers to clarify or amend the MRTMA to reinstate protections. The controversy underlines ongoing tensions between cannabis legalization and public safety concerns around children and educational environments.