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Sabrina Collins says she thinks Monroe has a pain problem.
"I believe Monroe has a pain-pill epidemic," says the Monroe resident and co-owner of Chronic ReLeaf, a medical marijuana certification center that opened recently at 606 N. Telegraph Rd.
The clinic-like setting with Spartan decor and green-painted walls is where persons with various ailments can get a doctor's certification that they have a medical reason for using marijuana.
"It's a safer alternative to any pain pill out there," Ms. Collins says of the hallucinogenic plant.
For a fee of about $150, a physician will see a patient, review their medical records and assess whether their condition warrants the use of medical marijuana.
After certification, they will be able to apply for a Medical Marijuana Registration Card through the State of Michigan, which prevents them from being prosecuted for marijuana use or possession.
But getting the medical marijuana still might be a problem. Last month, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the state's medical marijuana law does not permit "dispensaries" where people are allowed to buy the substance.
Chronic ReLeaf is a certification center. It is not a place that sells marijuana, but that misconception that has brought a lot of people to its doors, its operators say.
"A lot of people come here because of chronic pain," Ms. Collins says. "I was surprised to see all the people. There is a wide range of patients."
She said senior citizens, cancer patients and others with chronic illnesses representing a range of ages are resorting to marijuana to ease their conditions.
Patients can come in on a walk-in or appointment basis. They are asked to fill out medical history sheets much like at other clinics and are seen by one of Chronic ReLeaf's doctors. A doctor sees patients between 2 and 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Doctors rotate among two other Chronic ReLeaf clinics – one in Southgate and another in north Detroit.
The Monroe location was started because a competing certification center Downriver was drawing a number of Monroe area patients, Ms. Collins said.
Besides, southeast Michigan so far has the greatest concentration of medical marijuana users, she said.
Voters approved a state ballot initiative in 2008 to allow the use of marijuana for the relief of pain and symptoms related to various ailments, ranging from chronic pain and muscle spasms to depression and anxiety, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, AIDS, Alzheimer's and other ailments, including nail patella – nail irregularities often associated with abnormalities of the kneecaps, elbows and hips.
One recent afternoon, the Monroe office had appointments with 15 patients seeking certification.
After a patient is certified, they get a certification sheet which he or she can use to obtain a state medical marijuana card. Basically, the certification is much like a prescription while the medical marijuana card prevents a medical marijuana user from being prosecuted for use or possession.
Ms. Collins says some who come to the certification centers "just want to get high," but many never have used marijuana before and are looking for an alternative to powerful, dangerous and often-addicting prescription drugs.
Those who are certified might end up smoking marijuana or taking it via oils or in cookies or other baked goods, she said.
She said one medical marijuana patient she knows was taking 15 OxyContin pills a day before finding medical marijuana would ease her pain. However, insurers have not yet covered the costs of certifications or medical marijuana.
Once a patient is certified, he can grow his own marijuana in small amounts or have it supplied by a registered caregiver.
Dan Swallow, director of economic and community development for the City of Monroe, said the certification center is permitted in a commercial district and can operate as long as no dispensing takes place.
That would violate both a city moratorium on marijuana dispensaries and conflict with the recent Supreme Court ruling, "Therefore, the city will be watching to make sure they do not violate state and federal laws, as well as the city moratorium," he said.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: monroenews.com
Author: Charles Slat
Contact: About Us | MonroeNews.com
Website: Medical marijuana certification center opens in Monroe | MonroeNews.com
"I believe Monroe has a pain-pill epidemic," says the Monroe resident and co-owner of Chronic ReLeaf, a medical marijuana certification center that opened recently at 606 N. Telegraph Rd.
The clinic-like setting with Spartan decor and green-painted walls is where persons with various ailments can get a doctor's certification that they have a medical reason for using marijuana.
"It's a safer alternative to any pain pill out there," Ms. Collins says of the hallucinogenic plant.
For a fee of about $150, a physician will see a patient, review their medical records and assess whether their condition warrants the use of medical marijuana.
After certification, they will be able to apply for a Medical Marijuana Registration Card through the State of Michigan, which prevents them from being prosecuted for marijuana use or possession.
But getting the medical marijuana still might be a problem. Last month, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the state's medical marijuana law does not permit "dispensaries" where people are allowed to buy the substance.
Chronic ReLeaf is a certification center. It is not a place that sells marijuana, but that misconception that has brought a lot of people to its doors, its operators say.
"A lot of people come here because of chronic pain," Ms. Collins says. "I was surprised to see all the people. There is a wide range of patients."
She said senior citizens, cancer patients and others with chronic illnesses representing a range of ages are resorting to marijuana to ease their conditions.
Patients can come in on a walk-in or appointment basis. They are asked to fill out medical history sheets much like at other clinics and are seen by one of Chronic ReLeaf's doctors. A doctor sees patients between 2 and 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Doctors rotate among two other Chronic ReLeaf clinics – one in Southgate and another in north Detroit.
The Monroe location was started because a competing certification center Downriver was drawing a number of Monroe area patients, Ms. Collins said.
Besides, southeast Michigan so far has the greatest concentration of medical marijuana users, she said.
Voters approved a state ballot initiative in 2008 to allow the use of marijuana for the relief of pain and symptoms related to various ailments, ranging from chronic pain and muscle spasms to depression and anxiety, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, AIDS, Alzheimer's and other ailments, including nail patella – nail irregularities often associated with abnormalities of the kneecaps, elbows and hips.
One recent afternoon, the Monroe office had appointments with 15 patients seeking certification.
After a patient is certified, they get a certification sheet which he or she can use to obtain a state medical marijuana card. Basically, the certification is much like a prescription while the medical marijuana card prevents a medical marijuana user from being prosecuted for use or possession.
Ms. Collins says some who come to the certification centers "just want to get high," but many never have used marijuana before and are looking for an alternative to powerful, dangerous and often-addicting prescription drugs.
Those who are certified might end up smoking marijuana or taking it via oils or in cookies or other baked goods, she said.
She said one medical marijuana patient she knows was taking 15 OxyContin pills a day before finding medical marijuana would ease her pain. However, insurers have not yet covered the costs of certifications or medical marijuana.
Once a patient is certified, he can grow his own marijuana in small amounts or have it supplied by a registered caregiver.
Dan Swallow, director of economic and community development for the City of Monroe, said the certification center is permitted in a commercial district and can operate as long as no dispensing takes place.
That would violate both a city moratorium on marijuana dispensaries and conflict with the recent Supreme Court ruling, "Therefore, the city will be watching to make sure they do not violate state and federal laws, as well as the city moratorium," he said.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: monroenews.com
Author: Charles Slat
Contact: About Us | MonroeNews.com
Website: Medical marijuana certification center opens in Monroe | MonroeNews.com
