Rhode Island Swim Coach Arrested after Police Find $500,000 in Marijuana Plants

39-year old Marshall Muir, the owner of Envious Swimming in Warwick, Rhode Island, was arrested this week on allegations that he was operating an illegal marijuana grow. Police estimated that the street value of the marijuana being grown would have netted over $500,000 at time of harvest based on street values.

Muir was arrested after police found 143 marijuana plants growing inside rented buildings in Attleboro, Massachusetts and charged with possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Muir told police that he lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but according to police also has business addresses in Warwick (the swim club) and is affiliated with 2 bars in East Greenwich, Rhode Island: Foreign Events hookah bar and the Kai bar.

Muir was released on $2,500 bail.

Massachusetts in 2013 became the 18th state in the United States to allow medical marijuana usage. Not long after, in December of 2016, the state began allowing recreational usage, with the state market for recreational marijuana officially beginning sales on November 20th, 2018 for adults 21 years of age or older. That update to the law, known as “Question 4,” also allowed adults 21 years of age or older to grow up to 6 plants in their residence, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. The 143 plants found at the rented property violated both that maximum, and the “at their residence” provisions of the law.

Attleboro, where the plants were found, is very close to the border with Rhode Island, where marijuana is technically illegal, but where possession of small amounts has been decriminalized (up to a $150 fine with no jail time and no criminal record for those 18 & over). Rhode Island does have allowances for medical marijuana.

As recently as July 13th, Muir was listed as the “CEO/Director of Coaching/Owner” of the club, though his bio has since been removed from the website. According to that bio, he swam at Florida Atlantic University, and after college moved back home to his native Australia where he led his team to their first NSW Australian State title in the club’s 25-year history.

The club’s website says that Muir founded the club in May of 2007, with the goal to “to redifine “Swimming programs” and (incorporate) all areas of aquatics into the program from Swim Teams, learn to swim, private coaching, pool management, swimming equipment and branding. This unique approch [sic] to “Swimming is one business” has set the foundation of redifining [sic] swimming in New England and across the US.”

Possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance is a misdemeanor in Massachusetts,

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Billy
4 years ago

$500,000.00 divided by 143 plants = $3,496.00 per plant. I don’t know much about growing weed, but I’m in the wrong bidness!

Daddy
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

This just in: Braden burns

Daddy
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

If that’s the case then Braden needs to burn

Philip Johnson
4 years ago

Good, I’m glad marijuana is off the street since it kills 80,000 people a year. Oh wait, that’s alcohol never mind.

Swimdude
4 years ago

*Vergani has entered the chat*

Bearly Breathing
4 years ago

Sounds like this coach may have set high goals for his swimmers

Dudeman
Reply to  Bearly Breathing
4 years ago

i heard his practices were dope

Karma
Reply to  Dudeman
4 years ago

They need to do a better job at weeding out the bad coaches…

marleycorn
Reply to  Karma
4 years ago

10×300 on the 4:20.

Betty
Reply to  marleycorn
4 years ago

I understand how everybody wants to hash this out, but this whole thread has gone to pot.

Cromo
Reply to  Betty
4 years ago

They blazed thru practice

WV Swammer
4 years ago

Nice

DMacNCheez
Reply to  WV Swammer
4 years ago

Nice

ACC fan
4 years ago

Only a Misdemeanor charge.

Umar
Reply to  ACC fan
4 years ago

Was it worth $10 million in property damages?

Karma
Reply to  ACC fan
4 years ago

Up to 3 years I believe.

Mr Piano
4 years ago

Laaaaaaaaand of the “freeeeeeeeeeeeeeee”

Knows Nothing
Reply to  Mr Piano
4 years ago

He was certainly brave!

Dudeman
Reply to  Knows Nothing
4 years ago

home of the blazed

Bright Side
4 years ago

At least it’s not for inappropriate relations with a swimmer?!?

Bearly Breathing
Reply to  Bright Side
4 years ago

I can’t believe how much I agree with this comment, as well as how sad that is.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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