Court sends med pot case back to judge

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Supreme Court says a Grand Rapids man who gave people free space to grow medical marijuana is not immune to prosecution but could try to raise other defenses to drug charges.

Ryan Bylsma was charged when police counted 88 plants during a raid at a Grand Rapids building. He is a state-approved caregiver who was growing marijuana for two people. He also allowed other caregivers and marijuana users to keep plants in the same locked space.

Kent County authorities say the arrangement was illegal. The Supreme Court unanimously agreed with prosecutors Wednesday, saying the number of plants adds up to illegal possession.

But the justices also sent the case back to a judge to allow Bylsma to try another defense under the 2008 medical-marijuana law.