That is frigging crazy. How in the world are they getting away with crap like this. People like this, the cigarette seller in New York and countless others are destroyed over what would appeared at best to be petty crimes and the looters in Furgeson get to destroy with no repercussions. Disgusting!

I don't think we live in the USA anymore.
Authorities stealing stealing stuff from people without due process is a disturbing growing trend. (Without due process, I call such deplorable acts stealing--not confiscation).
Lately I've become aware that. if the IRS merely suspects that you may have obtained income illegally, those federal level thieves can seize your savings.
There is no criminal charge. Just a written tough luck notice. And this is happening repeatedly.
I recently read an opinion that Big Brother is desperate to keep up with its gargantuan spending. Such is how I'd opine.

If I was KING (and my reign would probably last less than a day before my untimely demise), I would get rid of all crony capitalistic laws, such as the illegality of all drugs (including medical prescriptions), illegality of alcohol, and many others. I dont know whether it would be the cartels or the government who would kill me, but undoubtedly one or the other

This is clearly a denial of due process, and if the courts don't overturn it, it may be time for "When in the course..."

"almost zero legal recourse" -- Aww, come on! There's a well defined, totally corrupt procedure where you beg the ones who stole your property to recognize that it's innocent of any crime and that they should return it to you.

Since we all have so much common sense you ought to be able to leave the hearing with your property in you hands, eh?

once again we have a law that is being interpreted by those who are the enforcers of the law even though their interpretation is wrong it is not easy to correct them. so we have police officers who have 3rd grade intelligence. and they are the ones we have to be concerned with.

The Michigan seizure laws are just flat unconstitutional. In this case he claims he was growing pot legally. But, the police can seize any property they "think" might have been acquired with funds from any illegal drug activity. They do not have to prove it or even convince a judge they had reasonable evidence to suspect it. AND, they never have to return anything seize under the belief that it was associated with any illegal drug activity. All they have to say is they thought it was so.

In a truly free society police would have no reason to enforce drug laws. What citizens choose to put in there own bodies is not the governments concern.

With incidents like this going on, you have to wonder how soon real police cars will say "to punish and enslave," like Decepticon Barricade does in his Police car form.

I understand seizing the assets and property of major criminals but when someone is never charged for a crime, everything should be returned!!!