LANSING, Mich. – It has been a difficult time for Maria Green and her husband Steve Green since Sept. 13 when Child Protective Services decided to remove their 6-month-old daughter, Bree, from their home.
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At issue was the marijuana being grown inside the home despite the fact that Maria is licensed to grow it and a caregiver to four cancer patients, as well as her husband. Marijuana is the only thing that controls his debilitating seizures.
After originally saying baby Bree was in harm's way in the home because of the licensed marijuana, Child Protective Services is backing off now. As of Thursday night, all criminal charges against the Greens have been thrown out by a judge, and Bree is going home to her parents.
"We've been able to demonstrate that Steve and Maria are legitimate patients. They are the type of people that this act was created for. They have a legitimate medical condition, legitimate doctors," said the Greens' attorney, Josh Covert.
Their attorney was able to negotiate the deal after it became clear the Greens were operating to the letter of the law and that a trial would not be a success for the state of Michigan.
After nearly two months of fear and heartache, Steve and Maria finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
"I knew it would come eventually. There is no way that it could have ended badly in the long run," said Maria. "We've been doing everything we're supposed to be doing. We're great parents."
The judge wants to see both parties back in court in 30 days to assess how everything is going. The Greens are agreeing to home visits from Child Protective Services.