Compassionate Apothecary wants to be a model business that dispenses medicinal marijuana to registered patients and provides a place where licensed caregivers can vend their crops.
Located in downtown Mt. Pleasant at 311 W. Michigan St, it opened on May 1.
Co-owners Brandon McQueen and Matt Taylor said their customers appreciate the feeling of safety they have being members of the private club.
Model business that dispenses medicinal marijuana to registered patients and provides a place where licensed caregivers can vend their crops.
"We wanted to do it professionally and clinically," said McQueen. "It's safe and it's available to card holding patients."
McQueen has a patient card, which he received from the state after completing an application with a doctor's recommendation and paying a $200 fee.
"The problem is, (the state of Michigan) is up to six months behind (in providing the cards to qualified applicants)," McQueen said. "So, the law states that after 20 days, after your paperwork has been sent in, your paperwork is considered your card.
"The problem is the paperwork can be totally forged with no way to prove it."
McQueen said that they will only dispense marijuana to people who have their card in hand "with the registry number."
"That's how we know you because everything's (anonymous)," said McQueen.
According to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act of 2008, the law allows a Michigan resident with a "debilitating medical condition" who is registered with the state's Department of Community Health "to possess, cultivate, and use marijuana for medicinal purposes."
"I want to explain some of the rules we've put into place to keep the community's safety in mind," said Taylor. "One of which is no smoking on site because we really don't want people driving away inebriated in any way.
"And we also package everything with a 'for patient only, home use' sticker which seals the package."
Vendors rent lockers at the dispensary and set their own price.
"What we've created is the only place like it in the U.S.," said McQueen. "Every day our farmers call and ask if they need to restock.
"There's never ever enough supply."
The price of the cannabis is about $560 an ounce, said McQueen.
"But on the black market, it's between $400 and $450 an ounce," he said.
According to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, a "qualifying patient can possess an amount of useable marijuana not to exceed 2.5 ounces and 12 marijuana plants."
Licensed caregivers can possess 2.5 ounces of "useable marijuana" and "12 marijuana plants per qualifying patient, up to a maximum of five patients."
All plants must be "kept in an enclosed, locked facility."
McQueen and Taylor are in the process of creating a place to farm marijuana.
"We have two or three ideas not implemented yet for people who need the medicine, but can't afford to pay for it," said McQueen. "We're thinking about asking caregivers to donate to a pool."
Taylor said that they limit the amount patients can purchase in a two-week period.
The act does not permit any person to do any of the following:
Undertake any task under the influence of marijuana.
Posses marijuana, or otherwise engage in the medical use of marijuana:. in a school bus; on the grounds of any preschool or primary or secondary school; in a correctional facility.
Smoke marijuana on any form of public transportation or in any public place.
Operate, navigate, or be in actual physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft, or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana.
Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said the business sent him a letter of its intent to open its doors, but he has had no direct contact with it.
Tony Gomez, director of public safety for the city of Mt. Pleasant, said they are aware of the business.
"We are well versed in the law," said Gomez. "We are also attuned to some of the ambiguous conditions of the law.
"We are aware of this business and caregiver service being operated in our community. We will monitor and assure their compliance with the law," he said.
The business is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
More information can be found at Compassionate Apothecary LLC or by calling 989-317-3106.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Morning Sun
Author: PATRICIA ECKER
Copyright: 2010 The Morning Sun
Located in downtown Mt. Pleasant at 311 W. Michigan St, it opened on May 1.
Co-owners Brandon McQueen and Matt Taylor said their customers appreciate the feeling of safety they have being members of the private club.
Model business that dispenses medicinal marijuana to registered patients and provides a place where licensed caregivers can vend their crops.
"We wanted to do it professionally and clinically," said McQueen. "It's safe and it's available to card holding patients."
McQueen has a patient card, which he received from the state after completing an application with a doctor's recommendation and paying a $200 fee.
"The problem is, (the state of Michigan) is up to six months behind (in providing the cards to qualified applicants)," McQueen said. "So, the law states that after 20 days, after your paperwork has been sent in, your paperwork is considered your card.
"The problem is the paperwork can be totally forged with no way to prove it."
McQueen said that they will only dispense marijuana to people who have their card in hand "with the registry number."
"That's how we know you because everything's (anonymous)," said McQueen.
According to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act of 2008, the law allows a Michigan resident with a "debilitating medical condition" who is registered with the state's Department of Community Health "to possess, cultivate, and use marijuana for medicinal purposes."
"I want to explain some of the rules we've put into place to keep the community's safety in mind," said Taylor. "One of which is no smoking on site because we really don't want people driving away inebriated in any way.
"And we also package everything with a 'for patient only, home use' sticker which seals the package."
Vendors rent lockers at the dispensary and set their own price.
"What we've created is the only place like it in the U.S.," said McQueen. "Every day our farmers call and ask if they need to restock.
"There's never ever enough supply."
The price of the cannabis is about $560 an ounce, said McQueen.
"But on the black market, it's between $400 and $450 an ounce," he said.
According to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, a "qualifying patient can possess an amount of useable marijuana not to exceed 2.5 ounces and 12 marijuana plants."
Licensed caregivers can possess 2.5 ounces of "useable marijuana" and "12 marijuana plants per qualifying patient, up to a maximum of five patients."
All plants must be "kept in an enclosed, locked facility."
McQueen and Taylor are in the process of creating a place to farm marijuana.
"We have two or three ideas not implemented yet for people who need the medicine, but can't afford to pay for it," said McQueen. "We're thinking about asking caregivers to donate to a pool."
Taylor said that they limit the amount patients can purchase in a two-week period.
The act does not permit any person to do any of the following:
Undertake any task under the influence of marijuana.
Posses marijuana, or otherwise engage in the medical use of marijuana:. in a school bus; on the grounds of any preschool or primary or secondary school; in a correctional facility.
Smoke marijuana on any form of public transportation or in any public place.
Operate, navigate, or be in actual physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft, or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana.
Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said the business sent him a letter of its intent to open its doors, but he has had no direct contact with it.
Tony Gomez, director of public safety for the city of Mt. Pleasant, said they are aware of the business.
"We are well versed in the law," said Gomez. "We are also attuned to some of the ambiguous conditions of the law.
"We are aware of this business and caregiver service being operated in our community. We will monitor and assure their compliance with the law," he said.
The business is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
More information can be found at Compassionate Apothecary LLC or by calling 989-317-3106.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Morning Sun
Author: PATRICIA ECKER
Copyright: 2010 The Morning Sun
