An association that believes marijuana prohibition is a failed policy in Missouri has sued the MUSTANG Drug Task force saying it has failed to obey state laws regarding open public meetings and records.
Show-Me Cannabis has already sued three other drug task forces in the state for what they claim are similar violations.
More than one month ago, the groups' attorney, Dave Roland, said he sent a letter to Callaway County Sheriff Dennis Crane, the task force's custodian of records, reminding him of the legal decisions affirming his responsibility under the Sunshine Law and warning that his continued refusal to comply with Show-Me Cannabis' requests could result in litigation.
Roland said despite this letter, Crane has refused to respond to at least three requests for open public records that Show-Me Cannabis made between Dec. 29, 2014, and April 1.
"It would be one thing if the Task Force had claimed either that it had no records matching the requests or that the law prohibited it from producing the requested records - but the Sunshine Law does not give MUSTANG the option of flatly refusing to respond to citizens' lawful requests for open public records," Roland added.
Crane said they have given the group everything they could give them.
"We've given them records about financial matters and grant funding, but what they are asking for deals with open investigations, Crane said. "I don't think any undercover operation would give out information about open cases or ongoing investigations."