MEDICAL MARIJUANA SHOP A LANSING FIRST

City Looks to Regulate New Business

In a storefront in Lansing's Old Town, Darryl Brija waits patiently
in a chair while Rochelle Harris checks his driver's license and
measures out a quarter-ounce of marijuana.

Brija, 52, of Potterville, hands over $90 in cash. Harris hands him
the plastic bag of marijuana, which Brija slips into his jacket pocket.

The transaction is business as usual at Lansing's first official
medical marijuana dispensary, which might test the limits of the
state's medicinal marijuana law.

The business, still unnamed, opened last week as Lansing city
officials work toward drafting a city ordinance to regulate
marijuana-related businesses.

"It gives peace of mind that there is a place where I can go to buy
it," said Brija, who is state-certified to use marijuana for a
degenerative back disease. "It's a good thing for people who can't
grow it themselves."

Danny Trevino, a Lansing man who sells marijuana-growing equipment
at Hydro World in Lansing, opened the dispensary at 407 E. Grand River Ave.

Mid-Michigan marijuana advocates say dispensaries have been
operating informally out of a few Lansing homes for months, but
Trevino's business marks the first official one in the city.

Trevino acknowledges such dispensaries are a "gray area" in the
year-old medicinal marijuana law because state statute does not
expressly allow for their creation. The law states authorized
caregivers can grow up to 12 plants for someone certified to use
marijuana for a medical problem, and a patient can carry only 2.5
ounces of the herb at one time.

Some lawmakers intended that the law would allow users to either
grow the marijuana themselves or buy it from a specific caregiver.

But Trevino contends his business is legal because he "contracts"
with more than 20 caregivers to supply the marijuana for his
business; the patient then signs paperwork authorizing the business
as caregiver. Patients can buy up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana at a time.

Some afternoons, 30 or more customers might visit the dispensary.

"It appears to be operating within the medical marijuana law as we
currently understand it, but the City Council and city attorney are
reviewing this very issue," police Lt. Noel Garcia said. "We hope to
have more guidance soon to make sure they are operating a legal enterprise."

Other Lansing-area communities considering rules related to medical
marijuana include Charlotte and East Lansing.

Trevino said one Old Town business owner already has voiced his
displeasure at the dispensary opening. Officials of the Old Town
Commercial Association were more welcoming.

"Old Town has many different businesses down here," said Brittney
Hoszkiw, executive director of the Old Town Commercial Association.
"It takes a variety of different kinds of businesses to make up a
commercial district, and this is an example of that."

Meanwhile, several customers this week said they are glad to see the
dispensary open because they either can't grow the herb or don't
wish to become the target of home burglars. Trevino adds medicinal
marijuana users often can't rely on a caregiver to provide a steady supply.

Jerry Penrose, 27, of Lansing, said he had a problem getting medical
marijuana regularly from his previous caregiver. He was in the
dispensary this week buying marijuana to help him treat his hemophilia.

"I won't grow it myself because I have kids in the house," Penrose said.