MEDICAL POT OUTLET HOPEFUL HAS CRIMINAL PAST

TRAVERSE CITY -- A man who wants to open a medical marijuana outlet
in Traverse City's warehouse district has a lengthy criminal record
that includes multiple drug arrests.

But Michael E. Thue contends he doesn't "hide from his past."

Thue, 28, recently approached city officials with plans for a
marijuana dispensing outlet in a building along Grandview Parkway
near the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Thue, a certified patient under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act,
wants to provide a "safe haven" for other patients to learn about
medical marijuana use, sample different strains, learn how to grow
plants and connect with state-licensed suppliers.

Court and prison records show Thue has at least three arrests in
Grand Traverse County dating back to 1999, and he spent a combined
total of about 3.5 years in prison on breaking and entering and
fleeing and eluding convictions.

He also has convictions for marijuana use, weapons possession, theft
and other offenses.

"There are a couple things in my past I wish weren't there; I've
made a couple of bad decisions ... but people who know me know I
have a really big heart, and I mean well," he said.

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, approved by voters in 2008,
allows patients to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 12 plants.

It also allows designated caregivers to grow and distribute plants
to up to five patients. As of April 2, the Michigan Department of
Community Health issued about 12,300 patient registrations and more
than 5,000 caregiver licenses from nearly 24,000 applications.

City commissioners on Monday are expected to vote to enact a
four-month moratorium on the issuance of permits or licenses for the
sale or dispensation of medical marijuana.

Commissioners at a study session this week said they'd need some
time to formulate regulations for land-use issues related to medical
marijuana. City Attorney Karrie Zeits told commissioners the issue
is starting to pop up in cities across the state, and suggested the
city take time to diligently craft zoning and licensing plans.

Thue, who runs a group called Grand Traverse Compassionate
Connection, said his operation will be restricted to "legal,
card-holding" patients and caregivers, though patients would be able
to obtain marijuana from caregivers at the site.

"We're not going to open up a full dispensary ... the main issue is
education and information," he said.

Zeits said the city could decide to take applicants' criminal
history into account.

"That's not something that I've considered ... but it's definitely
something we should take a look at," she said.