Spokane police say marijuana growers didn’t have permit

Two men authorities describe as “hiding behind the medical marijuana law” were arrested early Thursday during a raid at a home in north Spokane.

Robert P. Thompson, 24, and Eric G. Franklin, 31, had four forged medical marijuana provider forms posted near 105 marijuana plants when detectives raided the home Thursday, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Those plants were seized, along with several hundred dollars in cash.

The growing operation had been at the home at 1527 E. Rockwell Ave. for two years but wasn’t discovered until March 1, when someone smelled marijuana wafting from the home, according to a news release.

Thompson and Franklin were selling the marijuana in the Everett area, detectives said. The men were booked into Spokane County Jail on one count each of manufacturing a controlled substance.