A NEW KIND OF GREEN

OWOSSO -- A new area office is working to try and connect people with
diseases covered by the Michigan Marijuana Program with participating
doctors -- and defeat the negative stereotypes associated marijuana use.

Christina Sheerin, of Lansing, has opened Green Today Cannabis
Certification Services, 428 Corunna Ave., an office that provides
medical marijuana certifications and renewals, patient-caregiver
referrals and education classes on how to grow your own marijuana.

Many family doctors do not participate in the medical marijuana
program, and therefore they do not write certifications for their
patients to get marijuana. Sheerin said her business seeks to
connect these patients with a doctor that is willing to write a certification.

"Not all patients can qualify through their own doctor," Sheerin said.

However, Sheerin said her business is not like others that simply
write a medical marijuana certification in exchange for money. Green
Today Cannabis Certification Services brings in a board-certified
Lansing-area doctor who reviews a patient's medical files and works
to determine if medical marijuana is a good fit for the patient.

Sheerin said first-time certifications cost $200, while renewals are
$150. Although Sheerin said the prices might be higher than those of
similar businesses, she said her office offers a safe secure location
for patients -- a promise other businesses can't make.

Apart from certifying patients, Green Today Cannabis Certification
Services also help match patients with potential caregivers.

According to state law, state certified caregivers can legally grow
up to 12 marijuana plants each for up to five certified patients.

Sheerin, who is a patient and caregiver herself, said this could be a
beneficial activity for people that have been affected by the sour economy.

"I want to help bring jobs to the city," Sheerin said.

Sheerin said the business also helps refer patients to growing
suppliers and paraphernalia suppliers, as well as offer help on how
to grow their own personal medical marijuana.

She also said she is trying to bring in a guest speaker, Danny
Trevino, to teach patients and caregivers how to grow marijuana.

Trevino is a medical marijuana instructor at the Lansing-based
Hydrocollege, an organization that teaches people how to successfully
grow marijuana and navigate the laws laid out by the Medical Marijuana Program.

Sheerin said she is trying to find roughly 40 people to participate
in the class.

The Corunna Avenue office does not currently supply or store any
marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia, but Sheerin said it could be
something she might be interested in once the courts finalize rules
on marijuana dispensaries.

Green Today Cannabis Certification Services is now accepting
patients. To make an appointment or to enroll in a class call 725-6256.