Medical marijuana growers accused of dealing drugs

WOONSOCKET, R.I.—Two medical marijuana growers in Rhode Island are accused of being big-time drug dealers.

Edward Thimas and his brother, Raymond Thimas Jr., were arrested Wednesday night. Woonsocket police said the men were distributing marijuana from Edward Thimas’s home on Upland Road.

Raymond Thimas was authorized to grow medical marijuana.

“This is drug dealing at a big level. This isn’t soothing some medical ailment,“ Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch said

Lynch said having an authorized medical marijuana grower’s card has nothing to do with drug dealing.

“The legislature has neatly designed parameters. This is so outside the parameters that any suggestion that a card or some excuse like that is going to be acceptable in a case of this magnitude is ridiculous,“ Lynch said.

In an unrelated case, police obtained a search warrant for a home at 149 Earle St. in Woonsocket, where they found more marijuana.

“A search warrant was obtained, as a result police seized at the house a total of 118 grams of powder cocaine, a 12 gauge shotgun, $3,201 in cash, 10 pounds of marijuana and 33 marijuana plants,“ said Woonsocket police Lt. Edward Lee.

Austin Murningham, his brother and his father were charged with manufacturing drugs. Murningham was also an authorized medical marijuana grower.