Law Michigan MMJ

[momofthegoons]

Ypsilanti proposal to ban cannabis consumption sites fails
YPSILANTI, MI – An attempt to ban marijuana consumption facilities in Ypsilanti was shot down at City Council on Tuesday night.

© Nicole Hester/Nicole Hester/Mlive.com/mlive.com/TNS An employee at Exclusive Brands holds up their cell phone up to take a photograph as Exclusive Brands receives the first recreational marijuana license in the state of Michigan during a Marijuana Regulatory Agency press briefing on Tuesday Nov. 19, 2019 at 3820 Varsity Drive. Exclusive Brand will have their grand opening Friday and Saturday.


Ypsilanti’s recently approved recreational marijuana regulations included a line that permits the businesses, where customers 21 and older can consume cannabis products onsite. As City Council attempted to do some “housekeeping” on several parts of the city code addressing cannabis Nov. 19, Councilwoman Jennifer Symanns said she wanted to bar consumption sites for now, but was open to permitting them in the future.

© Nicole Hester/Nicole Hester/Mlive.com/mlive.com/TNS Andrew Thomas shows products offered at Exclusive Brands while they are issued the first recreational marijuana license in the state of Michigan during a Marijuana Regulatory Agency press briefing on Tuesday Nov. 19, 2019 at 3820 Varsity Drive. Exclusive Brands will have their grand opening Friday and Saturday.

The measure failed 2-5, with Symanns and Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson in favor of the ban. Symanns said she heard from constituents that wanted to limit the businesses and she hoped to get more clarity on state regulations.

But Councilwoman Annie Somerville said she supported consumption sites for people like renters, who may not be permitted to smoke in their homes, but also can’t smoke in public because it’s against state law.

“They have nowhere to safely consume,” Somerville said. “You could go in an alley. And for me to go in an alley and smoke a joint, it would be kind of dangerous. That’s the only option and again I’m breaking the law if I choose to do that.”

© Nicole Hester/Nicole Hester/Mlive.com/mlive.com/TNS Containers of marijuana flowers sit on display as Exclusive Brands receives the first recreational marijuana license in the state of Michigan during a Marijuana Regulatory Agency press briefing on Tuesday Nov. 19, 2019 at 3820 Varsity Drive. Exclusive Brand will have their grand opening Friday and Saturday.

Ypsilanti’s marijuana ordinance also allows permits for consumption sites at special events “in limited areas for a limited time.” The ordinance, which was first approved Sept. 24, has no maximum for consumption establishments. Any proposed business still must meet the zoning requirements.

© Nicole Hester/Nicole Hester/Mlive.com/mlive.com/TNS Co-owner of Exclusive Brands, Omar Hishmeh and Narmin Jarrous, executive vice president of business development and director of social equity program, hold the first recreational marijuana license in the state of Michigan issued to Exclusive Brands during a Marijuana Regulatory Agency press briefing on Tuesday Nov. 19, 2019 at 3820 Varsity Drive. Exclusive Brands will have their grand opening Friday and Saturday and will begin selling for commercial purposes beginning Dec 1.

About 82% of Ypsilanti voters approved statewide legalization of recreational marijuana on the 2018 ballot.


Ypsilanti resident Charles Cameron told City Council he was filing a social equity application and wants to open a consumption establishment in the city. He said concerns over unsafe or minor usage will be combated with security measures like ID scanners.

“I’m not trying to convert anybody,” Cameron said. “But what I want is a safe place for people who do want to consume, that it’s their choice to consume.”

The city has yet to establish a point system for awarding cannabis business permits.

City Council also defined “safety-sensitive” jobs at Tuesday’s meeting. Under the ordinance, city employees will not be drug-tested for marijuana if their position is not considered safety-sensitive.

The amended ordinance says a safety sensitive job involves “a higher safety risk," and includes "police officer, dispatcher, firefighter, emergency medical personnel, a job that includes operating an automobile or other vehicle or airplane on the job, operating any heavy equipment such as truck, tractor, front end loader, chipper, snow plow, chain saw, high-lift, or any job that involves the construction trades.”

© Nicole Hester/Nicole Hester/Mlive.com/mlive.com/TNS Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency Director Andrew Brisbo, shakes hands with co-owner of Exclusive Brands, Omar Hishmeh standing next to Narmin Jarrous, executive vice president of business development and director of social equity program as they receive the first recreational marijuana license in the state of Michigan during a Marijuana Regulatory Agency press briefing on Tuesday Nov. 19, 2019 at 3820 Varsity Drive.

The city has 74 positions that are considered safety-sensitive, City Manager Frances McMullan said Thursday.

© Nicole Hester/Nicole Hester/Mlive.com/mlive.com/TNS A display of marijuana flowers sits on a shelf at Exclusive Brands as Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency Director Andrew Brisbo, hands owner of Exclusive Brands, Omar Hishmeh the first recreational marijuana license in the state of Michigan on Tuesday Nov. 19, 2019 at 3820 Varsity Drive. Exclusive Brands will have their grand opening Friday and Saturday and will begin selling for commercial purposes beginning Dec 1.

City officials also amended the number of permits to be granted in the first year. Ypsilanti will only permit seven recreational cannabis stores until Jan. 1, 2021, saving three remaining retail permits allocated for social equity applicants.

Under state law, only medical marijuana provisioning centers can apply for recreational sale permits for the first two years. Somerville said the intent of this amendment was to ensure provisioning centers already established in Ypsilanti would not apply for the social equity permits.

 

[momofthegoons]

Follow the link to see the video of the news report with Whitmer.

Michigan orders more tests, temporary halt on sale of licensed marijuana vapes

In what could cause a delay to the start of Michigan's recreational marijuana market, the state is mandating a temporary halt in the sale of marijuana vapes and ordering that a portion of existing cannabis-infused vape cartridges get retested to ensure they don't contain an additive that has been tagged as the likely cause of serious lung illnesses in more than 2,000 people.

The marijuana-infused vape cartridges in licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, which could be as many as 1 million cartridges, have already gone through testing at state-licensed labs.

But the state is mandating that a sample of each batch of vapes from every dispensary — about 1.5% of existing vapes — get retested. And the state also is requiring that the sale of vape cartridges be suspended until all the testing is completed.

The order comes at a time when the state is sensitive to ensuring that public health is protected, but also just a week before the medical marijuana industry, which services nearly 300,000 people, is transitioning to the recreational market, which could increase fivefold to about 1.5 million people, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.


The vast majority of the vaping related injuries, including 42 deaths, have come from black market vapes that contained THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive element in cannabis that produces a “high" in a person’s system. Even though those vapes came from illicit sources, the state decided to mandate retesting of the licensed vapes as well.

Most of the black market vapes associated with the illnesses, dubbed EVALI by health officials, also contain Vitamin E acetate, which testing has shown isn't harmful when it's ingested as a dietary supplement or applied to the skin, but can interfere with normal lung function when inhaled.

Benjamin Rosman, CEO of the Ann Arbor-based marijuana testing facility PSI labs, said earlier this week that they have found Vitamin E acetate in black market vapes, but not in the vapes they've tested that have been produced by state-licensed processors.

Rosman said Friday the announcement set off a rush of phone calls and visits from anxious clients worried that a big part of their business is going to be shut down for an undetermined amount of time.

"Everyone is pretty shaken up. On our end, we’ve started the process of testing for vitamin E acetate, so we’re quite a bit ahead of the curve," he said, noting the state still has to approve the testing methods used by the lab. "We can dedicate a machine to vitamin E acetate testing. I don’t anticipate it slowing us down too much."

State health and marijuana regulatory officials said the retesting was mandated out of an abundance of caution to prevent more cases of EVALI.

“As always, our primary goal is to protect the public’s health,” said Marijuana Regulatory Agency Executive Director Andrew Brisbo. “The collaboration with our public health partners over the last several months has resulted in the issuance of these rules, which will increase consumer confidence in the regulated supply of marijuana products intended for inhalation.”

The rules announced by the state also prohibit the Vitamin E acetate additive from being used in the future production of vapes and mandate that clearly defined labels listing all ingredients be placed on all vape products. The state will be keeping a closer eye on processing facilities that make vape products to ensure that the additive isn't being used.

“Prohibiting additives that could cause harm to human health is a step forward in efforts to protect the public during this outbreak of lung injury cases,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

While dispensary owners said they understand the desire to safeguard the public health, they're also frustrated at yet another roadblock.

"I don’t disagree that the state felt like it needed to take some sort of safety precaution to make sure the public is comfortable with vaping products, but I don’t think there have been any instances of any licensed products causing illness," said attorney Denise Pollicella, who has several cannabis clients. "It’s a bit of an extreme measure. Ceasing the sale of everything already in the stores is going to be pretty devastating to an industry that’s not self sustaining yet."

The mandate, however, is a setback for medical marijuana dispensary owners who are hoping to begin transitioning to the recreational market.

The state's Marijuana Regulatory Agency just awarded the first five recreational licenses on Tuesday and is allowing business owners to transfer up to 50% of their inventory from the medical to the recreational market once they receive a state license.

Dispensary owners have been stocking up on supplies of marijuana flower, concentrates and vapes in order to accommodate an expected surge in sales once they're approved for a state license.

And now, a portion of their inventory is going to have to go back to testing facilities, which are already dealing with a backlog ranging from seven to 30 days. And they won't be able to sell vapes in either the medical or recreational market until that testing is done. It's unclear how much the testing and repackaging of those products will cost and who will have to bear that burden.

Mike Elias, the owner of the Common Citizen line of dispensaries in Battle Creek and Flint and plans for five more, has been a proponent of additive-free vapes, but feels the latest state mandate is only going to push marijuana users back to the black market.

"Commercial operators won’t risk their licenses by adding cutting agents to their products, yet we are now adding more tests that do nothing but create more disruption to a space that is already choked with delay, constant changes in regulations, and what seems to be favoritism toward black and gray market activities," he said.

Stuart Carter, owner of the Utopia Gardens marijuana dispensary in Detroit, said the mandate will have a cascade effect that will cause some businesses to have to shut their doors.

"It's 30% of my business," he said. "So a customer will come in looking for a vape pen and we don't have it, so they'll buy flower and there's a massive shortage already of flower.

"This is a knee-jerk reaction by the state because most of the THC issues are from the black market, not by the tested market."

Omar Hishmeh, who received three of the first five recreational marijuana licenses awarded by the state on Tuesday, said the halt in sales will provide a challenge to his plans to open the Exclusive Brands dispensary in Ann Arbor on Dec. 1.

"Whatever the state requires, we’re going to go ahead and do. There’s nothing we can do about a halt in sales other than get the testing behind us," he said. "But I still believe we will be on track to be the first shop to open.".

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 42 deaths and more than 2,000 cases of EVALI across 49 states, the District of Columbia and one U.S. territory. All cases have a history of vaping products containing THC, nicotine, or a combination of THC and nicotine. The CDC announced the results of recent testing performed on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples from 29 EVALI patients in 10 states, including Michigan. Vitamin E acetate was identified in 100% of the BAL samples tested.

Michigan has recorded 56 cases of EVALI, including one death and one case of a 17-year-old teenage boy who recently underwent a double lung transplant at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He is believed to be the first person to undergo such a surgery for a vaping-related illness.

“It is absolutely vital that patients and consumers know, with certainty, the ingredients in the products that they are using,” said Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. “These rules require stringent testing and will continue to prioritize the health and safety of Michiganders.”

The rules, which will last six months, come after Michigan became the first of seven states to curtail or outright ban flavored nicotine vapes in an effort to stop an epidemic of teen vaping. That ban only lasted two weeks, however, before a lawsuit was filed and a state Court of Claims judge reversed the ban.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Attorney General are appealing that preliminary injunction.

The administration of President Donald Trump also announced an impending ban on flavored vapes, but has since backed away from such a ban.

 

[Baron23]

Well, this is good but my first though is WTF has it taken this long. I mean, who EVER actually believed that Vit E belongs in a regulated, tested product????

Michigan finally bans vitamin E acetate from cannabis vaping products


Michigan is finally banning marijuana dispensaries from selling cannabis vaping products that contain vitamin E acetate, the chemical additive linked to the deadly lung illness that is believed to have caused the deaths of more than 49 people and sickened more than 2,290 others nationwide.
The state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) announced Friday that all cannabis vaping products must now be tested for vitamin E acetate, a gooey substance predominately used in the black market to "cut" or dilute cannabis oil in vape cartridges to maximize profits. In addition, all marijuana products must contain a label that lists all inactive ingredients.


The MRA also is prohibiting manufacturers from using inactive ingredients that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.


“It is absolutely vital that patients and consumers know, with certainty, the ingredients in the products that they are using,” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist says in a news release. “These rules require stringent testing and will continue to prioritize the health and safety of Michiganders.”


Nearly two months ago, Metro Times published a cover story warning about the dangers of vitamin E acetate and the state’s failure to protect consumers from the chemical. In early September, FDA investigators began finding vitamin E acetate in samples collected from lung illness patients across the country. The same compound was found in nearly all cannabis samples from New York patients who have fallen ill in recent weeks, according to that state's health department. But Michigan officials were slow to take action.






New York investigators subpoenaed three of the biggest thickener manufacturers, including Ypsilanti-based Floraplex Terpenes, which sold a diluent containing vitamin E called Uber Thick.



On Nov. 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally identified vitamin E acetate as a “very strong culprit” in the lung illness, which has killed one Michigan resident and sickened about 55 others.

To ensure compliance, the MRA pledged to inspect processing facilities twice a month.


“As always, our primary goal is to protect the public’s health,” MRA Executive Director Andrew Brisbo says. “The collaboration with our public health partners over the last several months has resulted in the issuance of these rules which will increase consumer confidence in the regulated supply of marijuana products intended for inhalation.”


It’s unclear how prevalent vitamin E acetate has been in Michigan’s legal market because vape cartridge manufacturers had not been required to test for it or reveal the ingredients, though dispensary operators interviewed by Metro Times said they don’t sell products with additives like vitamin E acetate.


Black-market THC cartridges are easy to find in Michigan, however, because the state has done little to address the illicit delivery services that advertise on websites and apps such as WeedMaps and Craigslist. A black market has proliferated in the interim period between Michigan legalizing recreational marijuana use last year and the start of legal recreational marijuana sales, which are expected to begin next month. A Google search for marijuana delivery services in Michigan lists dozens of websites that illegally sell untested vape cartridges in legit-looking packaging under the names "Chronic Carts," "Dank Vapes," "Fruity Pebbles," "Dr. Zodiak," "Exotic Carts," and "Fwaygo." Many of the brands are fake, and some were used by patients who have become seriously ill.


In the midst of the lung illnesses, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer banned flavored nicotine vaping products, citing the rise of youth vaping. But nicotine vaping products have not been linked to the outbreak, and some health experts have criticized Whitmer’s administration for causing THC and nicotine vaping to be conflated.


A Morning Consult poll in mid-September underscored the public's confusion about the cause of the lung illness. The survey found that 58 percent of Americans believed vaping nicotine had caused deaths from lung illnesses, while only 34 percent thought cannabis cartridges were to blame.


“Prohibiting additives that could cause harm to human health is a step forward in efforts to protect the public during this outbreak of lung injury cases,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, says.

 

[momofthegoons]

Legal sale of marijuana vaping cartridges in Michigan on hold until new testing begins

Michigan regulators took a big step toward protecting cannabis consumers from the vaping-related lung illness that has caused the deaths of at least 49 people and sickened more than 2,290 others nationwide.

Beginning Friday, the state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) began prohibiting dispensaries from selling THC cartridges until they are tested for vitamin E acetate, the chemical additive linked to the lung illnesses.

The only problem: None of the state's six licensed labs has been given the green light to test for vitamin E acetate. For testing to begin, a lab must demonstrate that it has developed an effective method for identifying the chemical additive.

Until that happens, dispensaries won't be able to resume selling the popular vaping products. PSI Labs in Ann Arbor says it has developed a method and expects to soon seek state approval.

Nearly two months ago, Metro Times published a cover story warning about the dangers of vitamin E acetate and the state’s failure to protect consumers from the chemical. In early September, FDA investigators began finding vitamin E acetate in samples collected from lung illness patients across the country. The same compound was found in nearly all cannabis samples from New York patients who have fallen ill in recent weeks, according to that state's health department. But Michigan officials were slow to take action.

It’s unclear how prevalent vitamin E acetate has been in Michigan’s legal market because vape cartridge manufacturers had not been required to test for it or reveal the ingredients, though dispensary operators interviewed by Metro Times maintain that they don’t sell products with additives like vitamin E acetate.

Black-market THC cartridges are easy to find in Michigan, however, because the state has done little to address the illicit delivery services that advertise on websites and apps such as WeedMaps and Craigslist. A black market has proliferated in the interim period between Michigan legalizing recreational marijuana use last year and the start of legal recreational marijuana sales, which are expected to begin next month.

A Google search for marijuana delivery services in Michigan lists dozens of websites that illegally sell untested vape cartridges in legit-looking packaging under the names "Chronic Carts," "Dank Vapes," "Fruity Pebbles," "Dr. Zodiak," "Exotic Carts," and "Fwaygo." Many of the brands are fake. Some were used by patients who have become seriously ill.

 

[Mr Mellish]

This SUUUUUUUUUUCKS! Only three recreational stores as of Dec 1 and all three are in Ann Arbor.

Michigan retail cannabis sales start Dec. 1: Here's what you need to know

Want to be party of Michigan's historic opening day of cannabis sales? Head to Ann Arbor.

www.leafly.com

 

[Basement Farmer]

I think it's important that recreational activity going forward should be slow and measured. Why? Because perception is everything and I think we need to see legit players doing business in an upfront and professional manner if we expect the public at large to accept pot as a equal to alcohol for responsible use by adults. Sketchy headshop and weed dealers operating out their apartment type business models aren't a good look, so keeping it like a place my 82 YO mother wouldn't be afraid to shop at is very important. Just saying.

I don't think it's the huge thing to law enforcement that press makes it to be either (having spoke to cope regarding the subject) Most of them want to use it anyway. The bigger issue is how to identify impaired drivers....I mean that's not so unreasonable is it?

Anyway, everyone chill the out....who would've imagined that we'd be where we're at a few years ago? It

 

[Shredder]

I think it's important that recreational activity going forward should be slow and measured. Why? Because perception is everything and I think we need to see legit players doing business in an upfront and professional manner if we expect the public at large to accept pot as a equal to alcohol for responsible use by adults. Sketchy headshop and weed dealers operating out their apartment type business models aren't a good look, so keeping it like a place my 82 YO mother wouldn't be afraid to shop at is very important. Just saying.

I don't think it's the huge thing to law enforcement that press makes it to be either (having spoke to cope regarding the subject) Most of them want to use it anyway. The bigger issue is how to identify impaired drivers....I mean that's not so unreasonable is it?

Anyway, everyone chill the out....who would've imagined that we'd be where we're at a few years ago? It

Not sure I agree. For one where I live in MI there are no recreational dispensaries for 200 mi. Slow and measured indeed!

And it's up to the municipality to determine where they can be. Some want dispensaries in the more seedy areas. If the people in charge want them on main Street, that's where they'll be.

And finially, where do we get it now? Out the back door, in a parking lot? Out of a car? Isnt some structure where users can aquire better?

Impaired drivers? That's a worry? Statistics don't really bare that out. It's just a talking point for anti's.

 

[Mr Mellish]

I think it's important that recreational activity going forward should be slow and measured. Why? Because perception is everything and I think we need to see legit players doing business in an upfront and professional manner if we expect the public at large to accept pot as a equal to alcohol for responsible use by adults. Sketchy headshop and weed dealers operating out their apartment type business models aren't a good look, so keeping it like a place my 82 YO mother wouldn't be afraid to shop at is very important. Just saying.

I don't think it's the huge thing to law enforcement that press makes it to be either (having spoke to cope regarding the subject) Most of them want to use it anyway. The bigger issue is how to identify impaired drivers....I mean that's not so unreasonable is it?

Anyway, everyone chill the out....who would've imagined that we'd be where we're at a few years ago? It

It's certainly not life-threatening but "3 in one location in the state" is a far cry from "recreational begins Dec 1." They should have said, "The recreational pilot program will begin in Ann Arbor, with additional locations to follow in the next X months."

 

[Baron23]

The only problem: None of the state's six licensed labs has been given the green light to test for vitamin E acetate. For testing to begin, a lab must demonstrate that it has developed an effective method for identifying the chemical additive.

So what is their frakin problem? MD labs have managed it, the CDC has managed it, NY even has managed it.

I don't get it but I do find MI approach to MJ overall to be a bit baffling.

 

[Baron23]

Michigan's Cannabis Market Might Move Even Slower Than Illinois


Michigan has expedited its timeline for legal cannabis sales to begin on December 1st, 2019. The Wolverine State was previously going to wait until Spring 2020, but the state regulators decided to move forward the timeline to begin a crackdown on a thriving black market.


"We want to make sure we ramp down the illicit market... It's better to have product available through the regulated market than people going through the illicit market," said MRA spokesman David Harns.


The state’s regulatory agency has preapproved 46 applications, but, similar to Illinois’ patchy cannabis market, 1,393 voting townships and districts out of 1,773 have denied hosting recreational cannabis market sales – even though 56% of the state approved the cannabis legalization ordinance. These numbers amount to 80% of communities across the state, but some communities may opt to join, if the roll-out is successful, per a Michigan Radio report.


Lansing, for instance, is allowing pot businesses but has placed a cap on the numbers of growers, dispensaries and microbusinesses. The city hasn’t yet started accepting applications for those coveted spots, which further delays local dispensaries opening their doors to adult-use customers.


Detroit is one of the cities that has opted out in the short term.


At the moment, Ann Arbor is the only city in Michigan with a licensed dispensary. It is feasible an additional 12 will open by commencement, but this still leaves 13 stores across a state with over 230,000 licensed medical cannabis patients and a total adult population somewhere between 7 million people.


“This isn’t going to be a flip of the switch where everybody’s going to be able to” sell recreational marijuana on day one,” Harns added in a local publication.


In short, only a handful of buyers in Michigan will be able to drive to a convenient location and buy cannabis products for the next year or more. Moreover, if folks in Michigan do stumble on a dispensary, this a very good percentage the store may be out of product as the state regulatory arm did not approve growers first, but took applications on a first-come, first-serve basis – meaning that delivery service were approved ahead of cannabis growers, which logically does not make much sense.


Lastly, if a consumer does find some cannabis in-store, it is going to be ridiculously expensive because demand is sky-high. Even the growers who were approved were not prepared for the December launch date, meaning predictions are cannabis that will be going for $4,000 per pound in Michigan. As a comparison, in Colorado, cannabis is a $1,000 per pound.


A more concerning development is that this supply shortage could lead to medical patients not receiving their prescriptions.


Curaleaf is one of the big-name operators set to benefit from the Michigan market, but they are still waiting to finalize their acquisition of privately-owned, Grassroots. Even after the deal is final, Curaleaf will see very little actual revenue coming out of Michigan until late next year.


All told, the state’s cannabis market is expected to be worth $1.7 billion when it fully matures making it the fifth largest in the country, according to the Marijuana Business Factbook.

 

[momofthegoons]

It all just makes me thankful as fuck that I have an amazing caregiver. And that other Michigan medical users have theirs.....

And reminds me I need to re-up my card.

 

[Shredder]

It all just makes me thankful as fuck that I have an amazing caregiver. And that other Michigan medical users have theirs.....

And reminds me I need to re-up my card.

Re-upping is cheaper now. $40 and no more $25 caregiver background check fee.

Fees for a Dr signature are still up to a Dr. I consider that a rip off. $150 for a signature? It's a racket.

In a way I'm surprised, but none of my patients dropped out of the program since legalization. And I still have to turn down patients.

Might be different if there were local dispensaries. IDK

 

[momofthegoons]

You might want to follow the link and check out the video on this... it's sort of entertaining lol.

Special Report: Bud & Breakfast

Last year, Michigan voters legalized recreational marijuana; but the uncertainty around how to handle it has some people getting creative.

One Lake County couple’s approach is attracting people from around the world.

After doctors in Wisconsin wanted to put Bonnie Demos on opiates for her pain, Bonnie and her husband Cliff decided to make the life-changing decision to move to Michigan where she could grow her own medicine.

That led to an interesting business opportunity in Luther.

“Instead of buying a condo in Florida with a golf cart, we bought a farm in Luther, Michigan with a marijuana patch,” says Bonnie Demos, owner of Bud & Breakfast – Manistee Farm CannaVentures. “I think it’s a really surprising experience for people, it’s a way different than what they expect.”

Last year Bonnie and Cliff added on to their medical marijuana farm, bought a couple of RVs, and started offering an experience guests surely won’t forget.

“People come here and stay, and included in their purchase of the nightly rental, they get a package of some of our products,” Cliff says.

With recreational marijuana just beginning, the rules are a little hazy. Right now, people can grow and have marijuana but they cannot sell it.

The way Bonnie and Cliff get around that is by gifting their marijuana products with the purchase of an overnight stay.

At $250 a night, this is James Pickens seventh time visiting with his wife from West Virginia.

“It’s in a total euphoric, free spirit, it’s an inside/out good feeling,” Pickens says. “When I go back to West Virginia, I feel like, wow, that really done me some good.'”

Guests can experience dinner with the locals and even learn how to make some of Bonnie and Cliff’s products.

Cliff says, “People come here, and they just like to enjoy nature part of the Manistee Forest, our farm and being able to see real marijuana plants growing.”

Lake County Sheriff Richard Martin says Bonnie and Cliff’s business is a very controlled mom and pop operation.

“They have a lot of experience and they really put out their heart and soul in everything that they do,” Sheriff Martin says.

A place centered on peace, rest and friendship.

“My better part of this business is when they become a friend,” Bonnie says.

For more information about Bud & Breakfast – Manistee Farm CannaVentures, check out their website here.

 

[momofthegoons]

Everything you need to know about buying legal weed in Ann Arbor when sales start next week

• Courtesy of Exclusive Brands
• Ann Arbor's Exclusive Brands became the first store in Michigan to be granted a license to sell recreational marijuana. It has since been followed with Greenstone and Arbors Wellness, both also in Ann Arbor.

When it comes to marijuana in Michigan, all roads lead to Ann Arbor. The city of trees is maintaining its historic lead position when it comes to cannabis in the state of Michigan.

As legal adult-use marijuana kicks off in the state, the only licensed retail outlets are in the home of the Hash Bash, the same city that made possession a $5 fine back in the 1970s. Arbors Wellness, Greenstone Provisions, and Exclusive Brands will be selling marijuana to adults as soon as they can get the paperwork done after Dec. 1. That's where you have to go if you intend to buy marijuana without a patient certification card.
RELATED The 48th annual Hash Bash was the dawn of a new era for marijuana in Michigan
"This is all highly usual," says Bruce Barcott, a senior editor at Leafly.com and author of Weed the People. "California, America's leading cannabis state, had a very limited number of stores open on it's opening day. It's not a shock or a sign of any huge dysfunction. It's how every other state has done it."

Here are a few other tips for what to expect:

• In order to buy marijuana, adults will need a valid ID and cash money.
• There will be long lines at the few stores that are open. The adult-use market for marijuana is several times larger than the medical market.
• Prices will be high. When sales started in the state of Washington, a gram of average marijuana was priced at $23. Within a year, it dropped to the $6-$7 range.
• Products you should expect to see include marijuana flowers, pre-rolls, tinctures, creams, and edibles. Due to the vaping lung illness, vape cartridges have been banned by the state and are temporarily unavailable until testing is implemented.
A word to the newbie
Leafly's Bruce Barcott says that a lot of people who are cannabis curious want to experience it as an edible, because smoking anything is not looked upon kindly in current culture.

There are a few things to know here. The edible experience is a bit different than the smoking or vaping kind.

First of all, edibles take longer to take effect than smoking. When ingested through the lungs, the effects of cannabis can be instantaneous, or at least within minutes. Edibles can take an hour or more to kick in. The early days of legalization in Colorado was full of stories about people who ate the entire 100 milligram chocolate bar when they should have just broken off a section. The slogan there became "start low, go slow."

"The effect of a 5 milligram dose is about the same as a glass of wine," says Barcott. "That is not a perfect analogy, but it is the easiest way for most people to get a handle on how to dose a cannabis edible."

And remember, no operating heavy machinery.

 

[Baron23]

Detroit Says 'No' To Recreational Marijuana Sales

In a last-minute decision, Detroit leaders have decided to temporarily ban adult-use recreational marijuana sales. When legal marijuana sales start in Michigan, which is expected to happen Dec. 1, residents in the Motor City will have to go elsewhere for cannabis. The decision came in November.
While Detroit is the largest city to ban marijuana sales in the state of Michigan, it is not alone. About 79 percent of municipalities in Michigan have done the same. The long list is available from the state.

The decision to ban marijuana comes in the wake of voters statewide approving a referendum in November 2018 to allow legal recreational marijuana sales.

“Detroit completely dropped the ball,” Rush Hasan, head of operations and business development at the Reef, a medical marijuana business in Detroit that is seeking a recreational sales license, told Metro Times. “Unfortunately, it affects all of the businesses in Detroit.”

City Officials Waited Until The Last Minute To Make A Decision
City officials said that the ban will only last until Jan. 31 while the city creates its own rules and regulations governing marijuana sales. However, some fear that could be extended longer because city officials waited until now to start drafting those rules.

Metro Times reported the city officials offered no reason for why they waited so long to begin creating the new regulations. They also reported that city officials “hoped to” have the regulations drafted by the end of January.

City leaders voted on the ban after the state had already started taking license applications. Because of that, some marijuana businesses have vowed to open despite the ban.

A Big Market Is Still Predicted In Michigan
Once all the regulations get ironed out, Michigan is expected to become a large adult-use marijuana market. The state expected to reach $180.5 million in the first full year of sales. By 2023, that number may reach as high as $287.9 million, according to the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency.

The measure to approve legal adult-use marijuana sales passed by more than 400,000 votes. But local jurisdictions were given the right to ban sales, and an overwhelming majority have done so.

The reasons vary from cities and towns around the state. Some, like Detroit, want to develop their own set of regulations. Others, such as city leaders in Grosse Pointe Shores, did not feel they have enough retail space to allow marijuana dispensaries.

Some city leaders told The Detroit News that there is also confusion about the potency of some types of marijuana, whether pharmacies can distribute cannabis and the safety standards that will be in place to regulate the distribution process.

Of the cities that are allowing sales, most expect Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Ferndale to emerge as hubs for the recreational marijuana industry, according to the Metro Times.

 

[momofthegoons]

Cannabis is legal for adult-use in Michigan but not every existing (medical) dispensary is approved to sell to the recreational market. Below is a list of recreational dispensaries in Michigan that are ready to serve you, tomorrow.

Now the question remains… will there be any inventory?

Recreational Dispensaries in Michigan

Greenstone
338 S. Ashley Street
Ann Arbor MI 48104
(734) 773-3075
https://greenstoneprovisions.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/greenstone
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/greenstone-society
https://www.facebook.com/GreenstoneSociety/
https://www.instagram.com/greenstone_provisions/

Arbors Wellness
321 E. Liberty Street
Ann Arbor MI 48104
(734) 929-2602
https://arborswellness.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/a2wc
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/ann-arbor-wellness-collective
https://www.facebook.com/arborswellness/
https://www.instagram.com/arbors_wellness/

Exclusive Provisioning Centers
3820 Varsity Drive
Ann Arbor MI 48108
(734) 494-0772
https://exclusiveannarbor.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/exclusive-provisioning-center
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/exclusive-provisioning-center
https://www.facebook.com/exclusiveannarbor/
https://www.instagram.com/exclusiveannarbor/

Lume Cannabis Co.
600 West 7th Street Evart, MI 49631
(269) 888-1200
http://www.lume.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/lume-cannabis-co
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/lume-cannabis-co
https://www.instagram.com/lumecanna/

Skymint
1958 South Industrial Highway Suite A and B
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 627-7360
https://www.skymint.com/locations/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/skymint-ann-arbor
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/skymint-ann-arbor
https://www.facebook.com/skymintcanna/
https://www.instagram.com/skymintcannabis/

Michigan Supply and Provisions
1096 E. Main St Suite A
Morenci, MI 49256
(800) 536-0080
http://michigansandp.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/michigan-supply-provisions
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/michigan-supply---provisions---morenci
https://www.instagram.com/michigansandp/
https://www.facebook.com/MSPMorenci/

18 Michigan Cities approved Recreational Dispensaries
While it is an exciting time for the ability to purchase cannabis recreationally, the reality of the situation is less thrilling.

Below is a list of every city in Michigan that has approved the sale of recreational marijuana.

• Niles, MI
• Buchanan, MI
• Village of Quincy, MI
• Battle Creek, MI
• Burton, MI
• Flint, MI
• East Lansing, MI
• Lansing, MI
• Mount Pleasnt, MI
• Parma Township, MI
• Pulaski Township, MI
• Grand Rapids, MI
• Adrian, MI
• Norwich Township, MI
• Petersburg, MI
• Muskegon Charter Township, MI
• Westland, MI
• Ann Arbor, MI

Yes, the state of Michigan has only 18 cities that have approved recreational cannabis dispensaries. Compared to 1,411 cities that have opt-ed out, roughly 1.2% have welcomed recreational cannabis businesses in their geography.

 

[Shredder]

Cannabis is legal for adult-use in Michigan but not every existing (medical) dispensary is approved to sell to the recreational market. Below is a list of recreational dispensaries in Michigan that are ready to serve you, tomorrow.

Now the question remains… will there be any inventory?

Recreational Dispensaries in Michigan

Greenstone
338 S. Ashley Street
Ann Arbor MI 48104
(734) 773-3075
https://greenstoneprovisions.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/greenstone
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/greenstone-society
https://www.facebook.com/GreenstoneSociety/
https://www.instagram.com/greenstone_provisions/

Arbors Wellness
321 E. Liberty Street
Ann Arbor MI 48104
(734) 929-2602
https://arborswellness.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/a2wc
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/ann-arbor-wellness-collective
https://www.facebook.com/arborswellness/
https://www.instagram.com/arbors_wellness/

Exclusive Provisioning Centers
3820 Varsity Drive
Ann Arbor MI 48108
(734) 494-0772
https://exclusiveannarbor.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/exclusive-provisioning-center
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/exclusive-provisioning-center
https://www.facebook.com/exclusiveannarbor/
https://www.instagram.com/exclusiveannarbor/

Lume Cannabis Co.
600 West 7th Street Evart, MI 49631
(269) 888-1200
http://www.lume.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/lume-cannabis-co
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/lume-cannabis-co
https://www.instagram.com/lumecanna/

Skymint
1958 South Industrial Highway Suite A and B
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 627-7360
https://www.skymint.com/locations/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/skymint-ann-arbor
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/skymint-ann-arbor
https://www.facebook.com/skymintcanna/
https://www.instagram.com/skymintcannabis/

Michigan Supply and Provisions
1096 E. Main St Suite A
Morenci, MI 49256
(800) 536-0080
http://michigansandp.com/
https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/michigan-supply-provisions
https://www.leafly.com/dispensary-info/michigan-supply---provisions---morenci
https://www.instagram.com/michigansandp/
https://www.facebook.com/MSPMorenci/

18 Michigan Cities approved Recreational Dispensaries
While it is an exciting time for the ability to purchase cannabis recreationally, the reality of the situation is less thrilling.

Below is a list of every city in Michigan that has approved the sale of recreational marijuana.

• Niles, MI
• Buchanan, MI
• Village of Quincy, MI
• Battle Creek, MI
• Burton, MI
• Flint, MI
• East Lansing, MI
• Lansing, MI
• Mount Pleasnt, MI
• Parma Township, MI
• Pulaski Township, MI
• Grand Rapids, MI
• Adrian, MI
• Norwich Township, MI
• Petersburg, MI
• Muskegon Charter Township, MI
• Westland, MI
• Ann Arbor, MI

Yes, the state of Michigan has only 18 cities that have approved recreational cannabis dispensaries. Compared to 1,411 cities that have opt-ed out, roughly 1.2% have welcomed recreational cannabis businesses in their geography.

I find it hard to feel sorry for the poor dispensaries, since in a month or two, they'll be whining about the black market and home growers.

I do feel sorry for those who could be helped by a local dispensary.

I hope that everyone that can, grows their own. The political obstruction, and price gouging is a hella incentive.

 

[momofthegoons]

Crowds line up for first day of legal marijuana sales
Illinois starts recreational sales in January

Crowds are lining up for the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales in Michigan. Photo: WDIV

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Crowds are lining up for the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales in Michigan. A handful of shops, mostly in Ann Arbor, are approved to start selling Sunday.

The Detroit News reports customers traveled from nearby states including Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Twenty-five-year-old Kelly Savage of Columbus, Ohio arrived the night before to be the first in line at Exclusive Provisioning Center. He says he wants to be a part of history and spent nearly $500.

Michigan officials estimate first-year sales at hundreds of millions of dollars, but recreational marijuana isn’t broadly available yet.

More than 1,400 of Michigan’s nearly 1,800 cities, townships and villages aren’t allowing recreational businesses. Detroit, with Michigan’s most medical marijuana dispensaries, has delayed recreational sales until at least Jan. 31.

Illinois starts recreational sales in January.




And from another group on Facebook, a little video of the line at the recreational shops shown in the article above. The guy adds his own commentary... but it's pretty amazing to see how many people showed up and how long they waited.

 

[Baron23]

More of the same....I remember standing for hours on our first day in MD....just wanted to be part of the liberation, if you know what I mean. haha


In Michigan, hundreds line up for 1st day of recreational marijuana sales
he three Ann Arbor provisioning centers licensed and open for the first day of legal retail sales of recreational marijuana in Michigan saw lines of customers hundreds deep Dec. 1.


Inventory appeared to be holding up well through the first few hours of sales, which began shortly after 10 a.m. At that time, the retailers were legally allowed to legally reclassify existing inventory of medical marijuana to "adult-use" sales.


Ann Arbor's Greenstone Provisions on South Ashley Street, Arbors Wellness on East Liberty and Exclusive Provisioning Centers on Varsity Drive were the only retailers selling recreational marijuana in Southeast Michigan.


And the crowds snaking down sidewalks and around buildings — all day long — indicated that the state's first licensees were benefiting from the brief period of exclusivity.

As many as 200 people were still in line at Greenstone Provisions at 5 p.m. Sunday, said Bartek Kupczyk, part-owner of the dispensary.


"It's been pandemonium," Kupczyk said. "We keep telling them not to waste their time because we won't get to them before we close, but they are holding out hope."


The store is required to close at 8 p.m. in accordance with Ann Arbor regulations.


Kupczyk said the store had served more than 200 customers since opening at 10 a.m. and expects to see high traffic until the shop, ensconced in a former residential home on Ashley Street, runs out of cannabis flower later this week amid a marijuana shortage.


The state allowed all dispensaries to transfer half of their medical marijuana stock to adult-use recreational, but that's not expected to satiate demand.


"At some point, in the next week we're going to end up running out," Kupczyk said. "It's going to be a struggle. There's just limited cultivators and producers right now."


To sustain operations for as long as possible, Greenstone Provisions is limiting customers to seven grams of marijuana per visit.


When the state surprised the industry by moving the date from January 2020 to Dec. 1, it said retailers would be allowed to transfer 50 percent of the product they had held in inventory for at least 30 days from medical marijuana to adult-use recreational marijuana.


That process involved physically swapping out state-issued tags required on each product. It also limits stores' potential inventory to what they had on hand when they started selling.

 

[momofthegoons]

As predicted....... I am hearing the cheapest rec users could find herb for was $28/gram. Some of the herb was selling for $68/gram!!! Unbelievable when you consider the fact that I pay $180/ounce for premium organically grown herb. I haven't heard any reports on concentrate or edibles pricing yet... or if they were even available.

Black market will thrive in Michigan.