Truth Seeker
New Member
The owner of a medical marijuana collective in Battle Creek has started using a new business model that he believes allows him to operate legally.
Brock Korreck, owner of the Higher Expectations Medical Partnership (HEMP) Compassion Club at 28 S. Edison St., said his collective now charges caregivers a fee to enroll in their membership and requires them to take educational classes on growing and maintaining plants. It also connects patients with caregivers if they are in need of one, Korreck said, but does not encourage members to become caregivers themselves.
He said marijuana is no longer stored on site. The model is meant to provide a safe place for caregiver-to-patient transfers and "options for patients to have new caregivers if their caregivers aren't living up to their expectations," Korreck said.
Caregivers are charged a one-time $100 fee for any new patient they are connected with through the collective and a $100 monthly fee to use the facility as a place of transfer. Patients do not pay any fees. Korreck said the shutdown of dispensaries has left many patients scrambling to find a caregiver. And those who have managed to find one, he said, have still found obtaining their medication more difficult.
"Nobody wants to meet in parking lots," Korreck said. "Nobody wants people at their houses. Nobody wants to go to anybody's house. This is a safe access point."
Medical pot dispensaries across the state shut down after a February ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court ruled patient-to-patient transfers of marijuana illegal. Since then, collectives have tried new business models in hopes of keeping their doors open.
At least two facilities in the state, including The Karmacy in Springfield, require cardholders to register for a private membership. Their current caregivers can also become members or patients can be assigned one within the organization. Members then can become caregivers themselves to have their own patients. Marijuana is stored at the collective in lockers that are rented out to caregivers and a patient must order from their registered caregiver at least 24 hours in advance.
Under state law, registered caregivers are permitted to have up to 15 ounces for their five designated patients only. The model has not been approved in Calhoun County but has been OK'd by officials in other municipalities.
Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert said in March that dispensaries were illegal under the new ruling and that making a profit was not allowed. Early last week, Gilbert declined to comment on whether the Battle Creek collective's new model was legal because he has not seen its operations firsthand. But he criticized new models' charging of fees, saying it goes against the idea behind the law.
"They haven't legalized marijuana," said Gilbert. "They've legalized people that are really sick getting it."
He added, "A lot of people seem to think that this is an upstart for businesses. And if you look at the statute, it's not supposed to be a profit-making situation."
Korreck disagreed. He said lawmakers have left patients with few alternatives. And his business plan may help the county prosecutor find a safer and more accessible way for patients to obtain medication, he said.
"Because if you think about it, we're giving him an option," Korreck said. "Because he's going to shut all these dispensaries down, and there's going to be a lot of mad patients. Well, if he shuts all the dispensaries down he still has an option like, 'Look you can still go there and that is legal.'"
"Because if not," said marketing and promotions employee Brent Fogg, "these patients are going to have to obtain their medication illegally."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: battlecreekenquirer.com
Author: Jennifer Bowman
Website: Battle Creek Enquirer | Battle Creek, MI
Brock Korreck, owner of the Higher Expectations Medical Partnership (HEMP) Compassion Club at 28 S. Edison St., said his collective now charges caregivers a fee to enroll in their membership and requires them to take educational classes on growing and maintaining plants. It also connects patients with caregivers if they are in need of one, Korreck said, but does not encourage members to become caregivers themselves.
He said marijuana is no longer stored on site. The model is meant to provide a safe place for caregiver-to-patient transfers and "options for patients to have new caregivers if their caregivers aren't living up to their expectations," Korreck said.
Caregivers are charged a one-time $100 fee for any new patient they are connected with through the collective and a $100 monthly fee to use the facility as a place of transfer. Patients do not pay any fees. Korreck said the shutdown of dispensaries has left many patients scrambling to find a caregiver. And those who have managed to find one, he said, have still found obtaining their medication more difficult.
"Nobody wants to meet in parking lots," Korreck said. "Nobody wants people at their houses. Nobody wants to go to anybody's house. This is a safe access point."
Medical pot dispensaries across the state shut down after a February ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court ruled patient-to-patient transfers of marijuana illegal. Since then, collectives have tried new business models in hopes of keeping their doors open.
At least two facilities in the state, including The Karmacy in Springfield, require cardholders to register for a private membership. Their current caregivers can also become members or patients can be assigned one within the organization. Members then can become caregivers themselves to have their own patients. Marijuana is stored at the collective in lockers that are rented out to caregivers and a patient must order from their registered caregiver at least 24 hours in advance.
Under state law, registered caregivers are permitted to have up to 15 ounces for their five designated patients only. The model has not been approved in Calhoun County but has been OK'd by officials in other municipalities.
Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert said in March that dispensaries were illegal under the new ruling and that making a profit was not allowed. Early last week, Gilbert declined to comment on whether the Battle Creek collective's new model was legal because he has not seen its operations firsthand. But he criticized new models' charging of fees, saying it goes against the idea behind the law.
"They haven't legalized marijuana," said Gilbert. "They've legalized people that are really sick getting it."
He added, "A lot of people seem to think that this is an upstart for businesses. And if you look at the statute, it's not supposed to be a profit-making situation."
Korreck disagreed. He said lawmakers have left patients with few alternatives. And his business plan may help the county prosecutor find a safer and more accessible way for patients to obtain medication, he said.
"Because if you think about it, we're giving him an option," Korreck said. "Because he's going to shut all these dispensaries down, and there's going to be a lot of mad patients. Well, if he shuts all the dispensaries down he still has an option like, 'Look you can still go there and that is legal.'"
"Because if not," said marketing and promotions employee Brent Fogg, "these patients are going to have to obtain their medication illegally."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: battlecreekenquirer.com
Author: Jennifer Bowman
Website: Battle Creek Enquirer | Battle Creek, MI
