Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The first meeting of Michigan's Medical Marijuana Licensing Board drew a huge crowd as attorneys, entrepreneurs, patients and caregivers try to position themselves to obtain licenses that start to become available in December.
But there were far more questions than answers in an auditorium designed to seat about 200 people, which was filled to capacity. A similar number either waited outside and strained to hear or went home because they couldn't get in.
During the public comment period, citizens interested in involvement in what could be a $700-million-a-year industry wanted to know how much licenses would cost, when regulations would be handed down, how an expected crush of applications for growers, transporters, testers and retailers would be handled, and whether different type of operations would be allowed to operate on a single site.
But Chairman Rick Johnson and his four fellow board members said they were only there to listen and take note of questions, and answers would come later.
"We're really just at the start," and "there's a lot of work ahead," but "we want to figure out the best way" to issue licenses," Johnson said.
Nichole Cover, a Mattawan pharmacist, health care supervisor for Walgreens and chairwoman of the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, asked those in attendance not to prejudge anyone based on their occupation or biography.
"We will work for you," she said. "We are moving forward. We are all in this together."
More than one speaker complained about alleged bias by board member Donald Bailey, a retired Michigan State Police sergeant from Traverse City who was involved in many marijuana busts during his career.
"That man raided us ... and took me to jail," said Chad Morrow of Otsego County, who alleged Bailey has a bias against marijuana and medical marijuana.
Bailey said later to the audience and in a separate interview with the Free Press that marijuana must be a law-enforcement issue because the content of THC – the most active mind-altering ingredient in marijuana – is much higher today than it was years ago and Michigan residents are being killed in drug deals and in explosions at labs that produce hash oil, a marijuana product.
All Michigan medical marijuana dispensaries are operating illegally under current law, but licenses the board will issue will make operations legal in Michigan, he said.
Board members and employees must submit detailed financial disclosure forms under legislation passed late last year.
But it wasn't clear Monday how much of that information would be made public, or when.
Some of the disclosures are only required to be made to the office of Gov. Rick Snyder, which is exempt from the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: First medical marijuana licensing meeting draws huge crowd
Author: Paul Egan
Contact: Contact Us | Detroit Free Press
Photo Credit: Paul Egan
Website: Detroit Free Press - Breaking news, sports, business, entertainment
But there were far more questions than answers in an auditorium designed to seat about 200 people, which was filled to capacity. A similar number either waited outside and strained to hear or went home because they couldn't get in.
During the public comment period, citizens interested in involvement in what could be a $700-million-a-year industry wanted to know how much licenses would cost, when regulations would be handed down, how an expected crush of applications for growers, transporters, testers and retailers would be handled, and whether different type of operations would be allowed to operate on a single site.
But Chairman Rick Johnson and his four fellow board members said they were only there to listen and take note of questions, and answers would come later.
"We're really just at the start," and "there's a lot of work ahead," but "we want to figure out the best way" to issue licenses," Johnson said.
Nichole Cover, a Mattawan pharmacist, health care supervisor for Walgreens and chairwoman of the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, asked those in attendance not to prejudge anyone based on their occupation or biography.
"We will work for you," she said. "We are moving forward. We are all in this together."
More than one speaker complained about alleged bias by board member Donald Bailey, a retired Michigan State Police sergeant from Traverse City who was involved in many marijuana busts during his career.
"That man raided us ... and took me to jail," said Chad Morrow of Otsego County, who alleged Bailey has a bias against marijuana and medical marijuana.
Bailey said later to the audience and in a separate interview with the Free Press that marijuana must be a law-enforcement issue because the content of THC – the most active mind-altering ingredient in marijuana – is much higher today than it was years ago and Michigan residents are being killed in drug deals and in explosions at labs that produce hash oil, a marijuana product.
All Michigan medical marijuana dispensaries are operating illegally under current law, but licenses the board will issue will make operations legal in Michigan, he said.
Board members and employees must submit detailed financial disclosure forms under legislation passed late last year.
But it wasn't clear Monday how much of that information would be made public, or when.
Some of the disclosures are only required to be made to the office of Gov. Rick Snyder, which is exempt from the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: First medical marijuana licensing meeting draws huge crowd
Author: Paul Egan
Contact: Contact Us | Detroit Free Press
Photo Credit: Paul Egan
Website: Detroit Free Press - Breaking news, sports, business, entertainment
