Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Jody Smedley is proud to be weaned from her former diet of prescription opiates.
It wasn't long ago when she forced herself to swallow Norco to relieve the pain associated with her nerve and muscle wasting disease and Xanax to help her sleep at night. The prescriptions helped, but couldn't prevent episodes where Smedley found herself vomiting nearly every morning, sometimes violently.
Frustration prompted Smedley, 47, to obtain a medical marijuana card and test whether the alternative treatment could help. She learned how certain strains could ease the vomiting and pain.
"I'm really proud to say that I'm not on opiates or Xanax; I'm not on either one," she said. "My doctor is so proud of me and I'm proud of myself.
"I can honestly say that marijuana helped me get off my pain pills and my sleeping pills."
Smedley went to nearby Interlochen Alternative Health more than a year ago to pick up the marijuana strains that provide pain relief and peaceful sleep, but faces a new struggle after the medical marijuana dispensary was forced to close.
Interlochen Alternative Health and seven other Grand Traverse County medical marijuana businesses were raided by law enforcement officials and closed Oct. 4. County Prosecutor Bob Cooney said he authorized the actions after he received a "valid" complaint alleging the dispensaries were operating illegally. Cooney said a Licensing and Regulatory Affairs notice warning existing medical marijuana facilities to close before Dec. 15 – when LARA officials plan to begin accepting applications for licenses to allow facilities approved locally to operate under the new Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act – played into his decision to authorize the law enforcement actions.
So far, no charges have been filed, he said.
LARA officials last week reversed the ruling to allow locally-approved medical marijuana businesses to remain open during the licensing process, a move announced in a press release issued Wednesday.
Cooney said LARA's previous directive was a factor in his decision to allow the raids to occur last month, but argued all of the facilities still were in violation of the law.
Stephen Ezell, Interlochen Alternative Health owner, hopes to apply for a license and reopen, but his application hinges on Green Lake Township officials opting into the new law. According to township officials, no decision has been made.
Officials continue receiving public comments and planning commissioners are reviewing what zoning districts medical marijuana facilities would be allowed to operate out of, said Supervisor Marvin Radtke. He doubts a decision to opt in or out will be made before Dec. 15.
"At this point in time, I would find it unlikely," Radtke said.
Other municipalities have not decided to opt in or out, including Fife Lake, according to village President Dave McGough. Traverse City officials also continue researching the issue, said city Manager Marty Colburn.
Ezell continues attending meetings to urge the township officials to make their decision. The dispensary opened in May 2013 and officials spent the past several months positioning themselves to seek a license, assuming the business would be allowed, he said.
It has been frustrating after closing, Ezell said, especially now that it appears it could be weeks before township officials could authorize any medical marijuana businesses to operate.
"We are very remorseful that we can't help our patients," he said.
The closure likely will force Smedley to get her marijuana elsewhere.
Meanwhile, she continues to fight against returning to Xanax and Norco, but it's becoming a challenge.
"I don't understand why it's so hard to get your medicine, why they're making it so hard," Smedley said. "They definitely don't make it hard to get your opiates."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana patients, caregivers look to municipalities to act on pot law | Local News | record-eagle.com
Author: MARK JOHNSON
Contact: Contact Us | Site | record-eagle.com
Photo Credit: Nextstar Broadcasting
Website: record-eagle.com
It wasn't long ago when she forced herself to swallow Norco to relieve the pain associated with her nerve and muscle wasting disease and Xanax to help her sleep at night. The prescriptions helped, but couldn't prevent episodes where Smedley found herself vomiting nearly every morning, sometimes violently.
Frustration prompted Smedley, 47, to obtain a medical marijuana card and test whether the alternative treatment could help. She learned how certain strains could ease the vomiting and pain.
"I'm really proud to say that I'm not on opiates or Xanax; I'm not on either one," she said. "My doctor is so proud of me and I'm proud of myself.
"I can honestly say that marijuana helped me get off my pain pills and my sleeping pills."
Smedley went to nearby Interlochen Alternative Health more than a year ago to pick up the marijuana strains that provide pain relief and peaceful sleep, but faces a new struggle after the medical marijuana dispensary was forced to close.
Interlochen Alternative Health and seven other Grand Traverse County medical marijuana businesses were raided by law enforcement officials and closed Oct. 4. County Prosecutor Bob Cooney said he authorized the actions after he received a "valid" complaint alleging the dispensaries were operating illegally. Cooney said a Licensing and Regulatory Affairs notice warning existing medical marijuana facilities to close before Dec. 15 – when LARA officials plan to begin accepting applications for licenses to allow facilities approved locally to operate under the new Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act – played into his decision to authorize the law enforcement actions.
So far, no charges have been filed, he said.
LARA officials last week reversed the ruling to allow locally-approved medical marijuana businesses to remain open during the licensing process, a move announced in a press release issued Wednesday.
Cooney said LARA's previous directive was a factor in his decision to allow the raids to occur last month, but argued all of the facilities still were in violation of the law.
Stephen Ezell, Interlochen Alternative Health owner, hopes to apply for a license and reopen, but his application hinges on Green Lake Township officials opting into the new law. According to township officials, no decision has been made.
Officials continue receiving public comments and planning commissioners are reviewing what zoning districts medical marijuana facilities would be allowed to operate out of, said Supervisor Marvin Radtke. He doubts a decision to opt in or out will be made before Dec. 15.
"At this point in time, I would find it unlikely," Radtke said.
Other municipalities have not decided to opt in or out, including Fife Lake, according to village President Dave McGough. Traverse City officials also continue researching the issue, said city Manager Marty Colburn.
Ezell continues attending meetings to urge the township officials to make their decision. The dispensary opened in May 2013 and officials spent the past several months positioning themselves to seek a license, assuming the business would be allowed, he said.
It has been frustrating after closing, Ezell said, especially now that it appears it could be weeks before township officials could authorize any medical marijuana businesses to operate.
"We are very remorseful that we can't help our patients," he said.
The closure likely will force Smedley to get her marijuana elsewhere.
Meanwhile, she continues to fight against returning to Xanax and Norco, but it's becoming a challenge.
"I don't understand why it's so hard to get your medicine, why they're making it so hard," Smedley said. "They definitely don't make it hard to get your opiates."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana patients, caregivers look to municipalities to act on pot law | Local News | record-eagle.com
Author: MARK JOHNSON
Contact: Contact Us | Site | record-eagle.com
Photo Credit: Nextstar Broadcasting
Website: record-eagle.com
