After
the
legalization
After
the
legalization
of
adult-use
recreational
of
adult-use
recreational
marijuana in 2018 and the first
marijuana in 2018 and the first
day of sales last month, both
day of sales last month, both
students and the Ann Arbor
students and the Ann Arbor
community have demonstrated
community have demonstrated
high
demand
for
cannabis
high
demand
for
cannabis
products.
products.
On the first day of sales post-
On the first day of sales post-
legalization, many businesses
legalization, many businesses
experienced mass interest and
experienced mass interest and
ran out of various products.
ran out of various products.
Many stores reported long lines
Many stores reported long lines
prior to opening, with some
prior to opening, with some
customers coming from out-
customers coming from out-
of-state. In Ann Arbor, stores
of-state. In Ann Arbor, stores
with licenses include Om of
with licenses include Om of
Medicine, Bloom City Club,
Medicine, Bloom City Club,
Exclusive Brands, Greenstone
Exclusive Brands, Greenstone
Provisions, Ann Arbor Healing
Provisions, Ann Arbor Healing
LLC,
Arbors
Wellness
and
LLC,
Arbors
Wellness
and
Skymint.
Skymint.
Mark Passerini, co-founder
Mark Passerini, co-founder
of Om of Medicine, discussed
of Om of Medicine, discussed
how legalization has impacted
how legalization has impacted
his store, both in the first days
his store, both in the first days
of sales and more recently.
of sales and more recently.
“We were slammed for the
“We were slammed for the
first few days,” Passerini said.
first few days,” Passerini said.
“That was until we started
“That was until we started
running out of product. We are
running out of product. We are
still seeing hundreds of people
still seeing hundreds of people
a day, but our supply is very
a day, but our supply is very
limited.”
limited.”
According to the Department
According to the Department
of Licensing and Regulatory
of Licensing and Regulatory
Affairs (LARA), there were
Affairs (LARA), there were
$1.63 million of recreational
$1.63 million of recreational
marijuana
sales
throughout
marijuana
sales
throughout
Michigan in the first week,
Michigan in the first week,
generating more than a quarter
generating more than a quarter
of a million dollars of tax
of a million dollars of tax
revenue. This revenue is drawn
revenue. This revenue is drawn
both from sales and excise
both from sales and excise
taxes. The first $20 million of
taxes. The first $20 million of
tax revenue collected will be
tax revenue collected will be
spent on medical marijuana
spent on medical marijuana
research while the remainder
research while the remainder
will be distributed to various
will be distributed to various
cities and counties to use
cities and counties to use
for public schools, roads and
for public schools, roads and
infrastructure.
infrastructure.
Ann Arbor has had the most
Ann Arbor has had the most
businesses
with
approved
businesses
with
approved
licenses of any Michigan city.
licenses of any Michigan city.
It is also home to Hash Bash,
It is also home to Hash Bash,
an annual festival celebrating
an annual festival celebrating
marijuana, which had one of
marijuana, which had one of
its most attended events last
its most attended events last
spring.
spring.
David
Harns,
spokesman
David
Harns,
spokesman
of
Marijuana
Regulatory
of
Marijuana
Regulatory
Agency (MRA), said they are
Agency (MRA), said they are
continuing to grant licenses..
continuing to grant licenses..
Many businesses do not yet
Many businesses do not yet
have licenses but have passed
have licenses but have passed
prequalification, including a
prequalification, including a
background check and paying
background check and paying
a
$6,000
non-refundable
a
$6,000
non-refundable
application fee.
application fee.
“We
are
approving
“We
are
approving
businesses on a rolling basis,”
businesses on a rolling basis,”
Harns said. “As people are
Harns said. “As people are
turning in their licenses, we
turning in their licenses, we
are getting them through the
are getting them through the
process. We have prequalified
process. We have prequalified
100 business already and given
100 business already and given
out licenses to about 54 to 57
out licenses to about 54 to 57
right now.”
right now.”
This
change
follows
the
This
change
follows
the
approval of Michigan Proposal
approval of Michigan Proposal
1,
a
ballot
initiative
that
1,
a
ballot
initiative
that
legalized the recreational use
legalized the recreational use
and possession of marijuana for
and possession of marijuana for
adults over the age of 21. The
adults over the age of 21. The
proposal passed with up to 57
proposal passed with up to 57
percent of the vote in December
percent of the vote in December
2018. The initiative allowed
2018. The initiative allowed
one year for LARA to begin
one year for LARA to begin
accepting applications.
accepting applications.
Kinesiology senior Laurence
Kinesiology senior Laurence
Horowitz
is
the
president
Horowitz
is
the
president
of
Green
Wolverine,
an
of
Green
Wolverine,
an
organization
dedicated
to
organization
dedicated
to
providing
education
and
providing
education
and
networking
opportunities
networking
opportunities
to students interested in the
to students interested in the
cannabis business.
cannabis business.
According to Horowitz, the
According to Horowitz, the
University has been more open
University has been more open
to their work since the approval
to their work since the approval
of Proposal 1.
of Proposal 1.
“They
are
definitely
“They
are
definitely
more
interested
in
our
more
interested
in
our
activities
now
that
activities
now
that
donors
are
interested
donors
are
interested
in getting involved and
in getting involved and
in
contributing
to
the
in
contributing
to
the
University, as opposed to
University, as opposed to
when we were first getting
when we were first getting
off the ground and they
off the ground and they
didn’t really treat us with
didn’t really treat us with
any
respect,”
Horowitz
any
respect,”
Horowitz
said.
said.
However, Horowitz said
However, Horowitz said
his organization still faces
his organization still faces
challenges in establishing
challenges in establishing
marijuana’s legitimacy.
marijuana’s legitimacy.
“Getting people to move
“Getting people to move
past the stigma of cannabis
past the stigma of cannabis
use, that’s probably our
use, that’s probably our
biggest problem,” Horowitz
biggest problem,” Horowitz
said. “Convincing people
said. “Convincing people
this is a real thing and
this is a real thing and
not just some drug, that is
not just some drug, that is
really our main difficulty.”
really our main difficulty.”
Passerini
echoed
Passerini
echoed
Horowitz’s
comments,
Horowitz’s
comments,
adding that the legalization
adding that the legalization
of recreational marijuana
of recreational marijuana
was an achievement for the
was an achievement for the
state of Michigan.
state of Michigan.
“This is a huge step in
“This is a huge step in
making our free country
making our free country
even more free,” Passerini said.
even more free,” Passerini said.
“We are now free to consume a
“We are now free to consume a
plant that is objectively one of
plant that is objectively one of
the most non-toxic substances
the most non-toxic substances
known to man.”
known to man.”
According to the new law,
According to the new law,
a person will now be legally
a person will now be legally
allowed to have up to 2.5 ounces
allowed to have up to 2.5 ounces
on them at a time. A person can
on them at a time. A person can
keep up to 10 ounces in their
keep up to 10 ounces in their
house if the extra product is
house if the extra product is
locked or secured. The MRA
locked or secured. The MRA
also
announced
businesses
also
announced
businesses
are
currently
allowed
to
are
currently
allowed
to
transfer 50 percent of medical
transfer 50 percent of medical
marijuana product to be sold
marijuana product to be sold
for recreational use.
for recreational use.
In
an
interview
with
In
an
interview
with
The Daily, Harns discussed
The Daily, Harns discussed
the
decision
to
allow
the
the
decision
to
allow
the
transfer of product previously
transfer of product previously
marketed as medical to be sold
marketed as medical to be sold
recreationally.
recreationally.
“If they have a license on
“If they have a license on
both sides of the industry, at
both sides of the industry, at
that point you can only transfer
that point you can only transfer
50 percent of the product if it
50 percent of the product if it
has been on your shelves for
has been on your shelves for
at least 30 days,” Harns said.
at least 30 days,” Harns said.
“We wanted to make sure that
“We wanted to make sure that
businesses that had products
businesses that had products
that were languishing on the
that were languishing on the
shelves could move those over
shelves could move those over
and sell them in the adult-
and sell them in the adult-
use market to help supply the
use market to help supply the
demand that was there and also
demand that was there and also
to move out the product that
to move out the product that
they have.”
they have.”
Passerini
said
Om
of
Passerini
said
Om
of
Medicine’s primary focus will
Medicine’s primary focus will
be on supplying marijuana to
be on supplying marijuana to
clients using it for medical
clients using it for medical
reasons. In order to increase
reasons. In order to increase
the supply for recreational
the supply for recreational
users, he said the state needs to
users, he said the state needs to
provide more licenses.
provide more licenses.
“Our focus is on our medical
“Our focus is on our medical
patients that we have been
patients that we have been
serving for the past 10 years,”
serving for the past 10 years,”
Passerini said. “We will not risk
Passerini said. “We will not risk
running out of medical product
running out of medical product
to
serve
the
recreational
to
serve
the
recreational
market. We need the state to
market. We need the state to
license more cultivators and
license more cultivators and
processors so that supply can
processors so that supply can
catch up with demand.”
catch up with demand.”
Harns also commented on
Harns also commented on
the state’s desire to ensure
the state’s desire to ensure
consumers
are
using
safe
consumers
are
using
safe
products from stores licensed
products from stores licensed
to sell recreational marijuana.
to sell recreational marijuana.
“We want to make sure we
“We want to make sure we
start moving people away from
start moving people away from
the black market,” Harns said.
the black market,” Harns said.
“We want to move them into a
“We want to move them into a
regulated market where they
regulated market where they
can consume products that
can consume products that
have been safety tested through
have been safety tested through
state tests.”
state tests.”
In
addition
to
retailers,
In
addition
to
retailers,
LARA is also approving licenses
LARA is also approving licenses
for growers, transporters, event
for growers, transporters, event
organizers, safety compliance
organizers, safety compliance
facilities and processors. Before
facilities and processors. Before
receiving a license, businesses
receiving a license, businesses
must pass both prequalification
must pass both prequalification
and licensing.
and licensing.
If
a
business
passes
If
a
business
passes
prequalification,
they
are
prequalification,
they
are
then vetted by the Marijuana
then vetted by the Marijuana
Regulatory
Agency.
If
an
Regulatory
Agency.
If
an
applicant passes this step —
applicant passes this step —
there are 17 distinct reasons
there are 17 distinct reasons
why an application may be
why an application may be
denied — they must pay an
denied — they must pay an
additional fee for each license.
additional fee for each license.
2 — Thursday, January 9, 2020
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
“Getting people to move past
the stigma of cannabis use,
that’s probably our biggest
problem. Convincing people
this is a real thing and not
just some drug, that is
really our main difficulty.”
- Laurence Horowitz,
President of
Green Wolverine
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@PeschMegan
Within the last week we’ve
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If you want Michigan to
recruit like a big-time
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Waking up thinking about all
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