The FBI and a federal grand jury have been investigating former Michigan House speaker Rick Johnson R for more than two years for suspicion of accepting bribes in return for awarding medical marijuana licenses, reports The Detroit News.
Three sources familiar with the matter said that the investigation covers nearly two years from May 2017 to April 2019 of Johnson's tenure as chairman of the Medical Marijuana Licensing Board. The federal investigation is underway and Johnson hasn't been charged yet, according to court records, United States of America vs Johnson. Johnson hasn't responded to questions for comment, the outlet said.
In May 2017, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder appointed Johnson to be chairman of the licensing board, even though Johnson had previously been a marijuana lobbyist. The Snyder controversy started back in the day.
At the time, Brandon Dillon was called the chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party. It just smacks of corruption. The licensing board had the authority to decide which businesses could get into the cannabis space first, so Johnson, as chairman, had a say on the board's decisions.
Gretchen Whitmer stepped in and issued an executive order removing the Medical Marijuana Licensing Board in 2019, establishing a new state agency.
Whitmer said that the executive order will eliminate inefficiencies that have made it difficult to meet the needs of medical marijuana patients in Michigan.
Johnson was the speaker of the House from 2001 to 2004. Before joining the marijuana licensing board he worked as a lobbyist with Dodak Johnson in Lansing with former House Speaker Lewis Dodak.
After the board was eliminated, Johnson registered as a lobbyist in 2020.