FLINT TOWNSHIP COMES ONE VOTE SHY OF SUSPENDING LICENSE FOR MEDICAL
MARIJUANA-BASED MICHIGAN WELLNESS CENTER

FLINT TWP., Michigan - A new business that teaches customers how to
get and use medical marijuana nearly lost its license this week
because of a temporary township moratorium on marijuana-based enterprises.

The Flint Township Board of Trustees came one vote shy of putting the
brakes on the Michigan Wellness Center, which opened only last month.

"Primarily what we do is we're an education center," said Nick
Panessidi, owner of the business at 3095 S. Dye Rd., Suite A. "We
don't have medical marijuana on site. We never have, we never will."

Last week, the township sent Panessidi a letter informing him his
business license would be suspended because of a local moratorium on
medical marijuana uses.

The township announced the moratorium in February, saying it needed
more time to study and define the parameters of the state's medical
marijuana law that went into effect last year.

The new law allows people to use marijuana if they have a doctor's
recommendation and a state-issued registration card.

Panessidi's business aims to profit off this popularity by charging
people $25 for consulting sessions on obtaining medical marijuana
cards from the state. It also offers classes on topics like growing
marijuana and cooking with it.

"We're trying to put a legitimate face on this medical marijuana
thing that 63 percent of the state voted for," he said.

As of July 9, the state had issued 22,611 patient cards and 9,645
cards for caregivers authorized to grow and provide marijuana for cardholders.

The state has already expressed concerns over such businesses with a
Michigan Department of Community Health official recently equating it
to "going to a drive-in" to get permission to use medical marijuana.

A MDCH spokesman told the Journal the center can legally retrieve
patient medical records with a consent form but expressed concerns
about patients being paired with physicians for quick evaluations to
get a medical marijuana recommendation.

Flint Township officials say they are working on an ordinance that
would state its official position on medical marijuana before the
moratorium expires in November.

The board was split on the language of township's moratorium and how
it applied to the Michigan Wellness Center.

"I don't see where the violation is, at this point," said trustee
Belenda Parker.

Tracey Tucker, the township's economic enhancement director, said the
moratorium applies to any marijuana-based enterprise and is not
limited to literally using the drug.

"So it's a matter of interpretation at this point," said supervisor
Karyn Miller, who joined Parker and Trustee Barb Vert in voting
against the suspension.

Treasurer Sandra Wright, Clerk Kim Courts and Trustee George Menoutes
voted for the suspension - resulting in a tie after Trustee Franklin
Kasle left the meeting early to attend a religious and family event.

Kasle could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

Without a majority, the suspension attempt failed but Miller asked
Panessidi to educate the board more about his business.