Cops: Owner of pot-lacing food factory gives up

updated 9:56 p.m. ET Oct. 5, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO - The founder of an Oakland food factory that laces everything from cookies to barbecue sauce with marijuana surrendered Thursday to face a federal drug charge.

Michael Martin, 33, was freed on $300,000 bond on the charge of conspiring to manufacture and distribute marijuana.

Federal drug agents last week raided Tainted Inc. in Oakland and arrested three of Martin's employees on drug charges for allegedly producing such marijuana-laced products as honey, soda and other snacks.

Federal officials couldn't find Martin and considered him a fugitive. Martin said he was on vacation and arranged to turn himself in once he heard of the raids, according to his supporters.

Martin's supporters with the nonprofit Safe Access Now organization said he was making the products for medical marijuana clubs in California. Martin's attorney Sara Zalkin didn't return a telephone call to her office.

California law has legalized marijuana use to treat medical conditions, but federal law bans the plant's use for all purposes. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that federal law trumps state law when it comes to medical marijuana.

According to the search warrants, Tainted Inc.'s products first came to the attention of investigators in April 2004 when an internal Drug Enforcement Administration publication reported that agents had recently seized marijuana-laced candy bars called Buddafingas and Stoners that were wrapped in packages mimicking the popular brands Butterfingers and Snickers.

The three others charged along with Martin are Jessica Sanders, Michael Anderson, and Diallo McLinn. All are free on bond. None have entered a plea.

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