Michigan Marijuana Business Group Focusing On Medical Reform, Not Full Legalization

[bobandtorey]

LANSING, MI — Michigan should license medical marijuana businesses and allow for storefront sales to qualifying patients, according to a new industry group that is considering a potential ballot proposal.

The Michigan Responsibility Council, a non-profit established earlier this year, is urging the state Legislature to approve a licensing system for large-scale medical marijuana growers, distributors, processors, testers and sellers.

"If that's not possible — as it hasn't been in the past — then we're prepared to move forward with a ballot initiative starting next year," said Paul Welday, former chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party.

MRC had been considering a petition drive for full legalization. Two other groups are currently collecting signatures for initiated legislation to legalize recreational use for adults.

While internal polling suggested 57 percent of residents would support legalization, Welday said those numbers were politically "deceiving," because they reflected big support from younger voters who are less likely to turn out on election day.

"We've come to the conclusion that we have to walk before we run," said Welday, who chairs the MRC. "We have to fix what's broken before we start to add on to a system that needs our help. And that's what we're going to go."

Michigan's 2008 medical marijuana law, approved by 63 percent of voters that year, allows licensed caregivers to grow up to 12 plants each for a maximum of five patients. 

The law does not address dispensaries — storefronts that sell to registered patients — and a 2013 Michigan Supreme Court ruling empowered county prosecutors to shut them down as a public nuisance.

The Michigan House approved dispensary legislation in late 2013, but the measure stalled in the Senate after law enforcement officials raised concerns.

A new version of the "provisioning centers" bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, would create a tiered license system for businesses operating at various points of the medical marijuana supply chain.

The legislation is "a very good start," according to Welday, but "there still is a way to go" in order to establish a solid regulatory framework in Michigan.

The MRC is working with lawmakers on what it's calling the Responsible Medical Marihuana Distribution Act, which could provide the framework for a petition drive if the Legislature does not act this year.

The group wants to establish "narrow criteria" for who can obtain a medical marijuana business license and points to the current system for alcohol distribution as a potential regulatory model.

"The system of beer, wine and spirits in Michigan is something people know, they understand and they like," said Welday. "And so we think that kind of specificity needs to be included in the bill."

The MRC, calling itself "Michigan's premier cannabis association," is currently offering membership packages to businesses and entrepreneurs already working in or interested in the marijuana industry. 

"Founding members" include eight large-scale cultivators, who will get a seat on the 11-member board of directors, according to the group's new website. 

MRC President and CEO Suzie Mitchell, a political fundraiser and public relations expert, declined to name those investors. 

Asked if the cultivators could directly benefit from a potential petition drive, she said creating a regulated medical marijuana system would benefit patients such as her mother, who she described as an 82-year-old cancer patient.

"We can't find constituent products. We can't find tested products. We don't know what's in it," Mitchell said. "It's very disturbing for somebody that is trying to use a product and doesn't know anything about it. We need to fix this for people that need their medicine."

The MRC still has plenty of time to consider whether it will launch a medical marijuana petition drive. The group would have until July to turn in enough signatures to make the 2016 ballot.

Robin Schneider, legislative liaison for the National Patients Rights Association, said she is concerned that the MRC could end up facilitating "a money grab" for growers willing to fund a petition drive in exchange for special treatment written into the law.

"I don't view that as a good reason to do a ballot initiative," Schneider said Monday. "I would prefer to see the Legislature step up and pass Callton's bill."

Her group generally supports Callton's medical marijuana legislation, which remains before the House Judiciary Committee, but Schneider said she has some concerns that over-regulation could lead to higher prices for patients.

Welday said the MRC is committed to working with the Legislature before deciding whether to go to the ballot. A strong regulatory framework could ultimately benefit medical marijuana patients and businesses, he said.

"We're on the cusp of starting an industry in Michigan, whether's it's medical marijuana or if down the road there is full legalization for personal use," said Welday. "But in order to do so, there has to be a structure in place. And if that structure is in place, it's going to benefit a lot of people."

 

http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/08/responsible_medical_marihuana.html

 

[Wild Bill]

I see our old pal Tim Beck is their senior adviser, . . . what a surprise.

[bobandtorey]

I agree and some have called him the Godfather of medical marihuana i feel like he needs a new name like the Godfather of $$$$ or control 

[semicaregiver]

This is the same story I posted yesterday.   

 

I believe their goal is to put a regulatory/wholesale production/distribution system that they own in place for medical so that when the MCC ballot initiative passes, they will own the recreational market as well as the medical market.   

 

That said, predicting who will and will not make the ballot and what Lansing will or will not do is like throwing darts at a target while blindfolded.

[bobandtorey]

This is the same story I posted yesterday.   

 

I believe their goal is to put a regulatory/wholesale production/distribution system that they own in place for medical so that when the MCC ballot initiative passes, they will own the recreational market as well as the medical market.   

 

That said, predicting who will and will not make the ballot and what Lansing will or will not do is like throwing darts at a target while blindfolded.

Sorry i missed it yesterday  or i wouldn't have posted it 

 

I agree with what you said also

[JDS]

My question is who are the large scale growers?  Don't you need to be a patient or caregiver to grow?  I'm a caregiver with five patients so guess I should apply for a position on this board.

[semicaregiver]

My question is who are the large scale growers?  Don't you need to be a patient or caregiver to grow?  I'm a caregiver with five patients so guess I should apply for a position on this board.

You might want to attach a check with at least three zeros before the decimal point to your application along with your 5 million dollar bond that you will need for that large scale grow license.

[ozzrokk]

I see our old pal Tim Beck is their senior adviser, . . . what a surprise.

 

 

Shocker................

[t-pain]

My question is who are the large scale growers?  Don't you need to be a patient or caregiver to grow?  I'm a caregiver with five patients so guess I should apply for a position on this board.

which is why when prarie plant systems from canada tried this , it was made for when the feds rescheduled marijuana. so they could get a federal license.

 

if you go at it like a medicine, you have to then deal with the fda and dea.

if you go at it like an herb, you dont need that bunny muffin.

 

this aint rocket science.

 

MRC basically wants what canada has, licensed producers. except the canadian national govt licenses medical licensed producers, not the provinces.

 

you cant buy insurance, you cant get bank loan, you cant deduct employees.

marijuana is illegal. at the state level and at the federal level.

 

who the hell would invest in this scheme?

[Wild Bill]

you cant buy insurance, you cant get bank loan, you cant deduct employees.

marijuana is illegal. at the state level and at the federal level.

 

who the hell would invest in this scheme?

 

People who own their own Federal and Sate officials?

[bobandtorey]

We do have some large grow's around the State  72 plants limit i call the plants Tree's grown and the City have given them a  license to do so there are some Bakeries also things here in

 

Michigan are moving faster then any other State 

 

with all that being said its up to you city i guess and up too someone that wants to take a chance of $$$ or Jail i have seen both 

[trichcycler]

... predicting who will and will not make the ballot and what Lansing will or will not do is like throwing darts at a target while blindfolded.

 

 

unless of course the dart thrower has little holes in the blindfold.

[bobandtorey]

I agre but Imo Roads are on the top of the list

 

I hope

 

One thing is for sure any thing that's done in Lansing will cost us money in taxes and maybe even Court cost

[beourbud]

I agre but Imo Roads are on the top of the list

 

I hope

Roads, Right  LOL      This is the MRC map of The Highway to Hell

legalize =  legal lies

 

Decriminalize

[bobandtorey]

Lansing — The leaders of a marijuana advocacy group say they’re prepared to sponsor a ballot proposal reforming Michigan’s medical marijuana law in 2016 if lawmakers don’t approve legislation this year allowing provisioning centers and edible forms of cannabis.

The Michigan Responsibility Council has decided “to set aside efforts for full legalization” of marijuana use and focus on helping lawmakers shape pending House legislation, council board Chairman Paul Welday said Thursday.

Welday said two bills in a House committee headed by Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, seem to be “moving in a positive direction” toward legalizing centers where various forms of medical cannabis could be purchased, as well as a state regulatory regime to oversee growing and distribution of marijuana.

The Responsibility Council has drawn up a draft plan it would prefer but also supports efforts by Callton to craft reform legislation. Welday said the council would have to finalize its own plan and begin circulating petitions toward a ballot measure early next year if lawmakers are unable to act.

Callton’s committee drew up legislation that passed the House late last year but was stymied in the Senate in December by a late blitz of criticism from law enforcement agencies, as well as opposition from key lawmakers.

The prospects for such reforms remain uncertain this year. Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, is among majority Republicans in the Senate who’ve expressed little enthusiasm for expanding provisions in the medical marijuana act voters approved in 2008.

The law has been troubled by wrangling over the legality of marijuana dispensaries and questions about whether it restricts the use of cannabis to smoking or allows the use of other forms. Advocates say edible forms, such as droplets, are the only appropriate way to use it for treating children who suffer from seizures, autism or other disorders.

If the Responsibility Council ends up pushing a medical marijuana ballot measure in 2016, it could result in three proposals involving the drug. Two groups are circulating petitions for proposed votes on legalization of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use.

Tim Beck, senior adviser to the organization, said the regulatory regime proposed by the group also would provide a good format for oversight of recreational marijuana use if voters approved a ballot measure allowing that.

The Responsibility Council still is not revealing its financial backers, but Beck said it would be able fund a ballot campaign if necessary.

“Make no mistake, we have the resources to do this,” he said.

 

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/08/27/medical-marijuana-law/32481411/

[bobandtorey]

http://michrc.org/memberships/

 

You can remove this if you want i wasn't sure if it's OK to show people their statement