MEDICAL POT PUSH CREATES FERNDALE BUZZ

Darlene F. Krisel smokes medical marijuana in her home when chronic
pain confines her to bed.

On the days she feels better and yearns to move around, the
53-year-old West Bloomfield woman and her son drive to Big Daddy's
Compassionate Care Club in Oak Park, where she lights up with other
state-certified patients inside a designated smoke room.

"It feels good to talk to other people about my pain. We all know
each other here," said Krisel, who wears support braces on her
elbows, knees and one wrist.

Medical marijuana entrepreneurs -- seeking to tap demand by patients
like Krisel and their caregivers for "safe" spots to smoke and talk
about one of the state's fastest growing industries -- want to set up
shop in Ferndale, a progressive suburb with a "cannabis friendly" reputation.

In turn, Ferndale appears poised to embrace medical marijuana
commerce -- as long as there are rules.

With six applications for medical marijuana businesses pending,
Ferndale enacted a 90-day moratorium this month so officials can
study how to best regulate such facilities, City Manager Robert
Bruner Jr. said.

"This is a not an attempt to delay the inevitable, but a good-faith
effort to give the staff some time to prepare some options consistent
with other communities across Michigan. Think of it as moderate
regulation like any other business," Bruner said.

Still, the standstill comes as other cities across the region --
Berkley, Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak and West Bloomfield -- have
enacted similar moratoriums and cities including Livonia, Roseville,
Garden City and Huntington Woods have approved restrictions or
outright bans on medical marijuana business.

Ferndale Mayor Craig Covey said the city has had plenty of time to
craft an ordinance for businesses since Michigan voters approved a
statewide medical marijuana law in 2008. Ferndale voters approved an
ordinance allowing individuals to use medical marijuana in 2005.

"We had two years to do it and we didn't show political will and
courage. We dithered. And other cities have taken these strident
reactionary positions," Covey said. "My feeling is people still think
of college students smoking bongs. This is really about people who
have illnesses using this as effective medicine."

One medical marijuana business -- which set up shop before the
moratorium -- is already serving customers out of its Ferndale
location. It's the only legal medical marijuana business in the city.

Ryan Richmond, co-owner of Clinical Relief, operates a medical
marijuana consultation business where certified patients can pick
from among 15 to 20 varieties of pot to take elsewhere for use.
Richmond's company also sells edibles: products that contain
cannabis, including sodas, suckers and baked goods.

"We want to make certain people follow the rules. We look at state ID
cards, we verify with doctors. We've been operational for a month. We
do good business -- about 500 customers so far," said Richmond, 33,
whose background is in commercial real estate.

Susan Ferris, owner of Big Daddy's, hopes her application in Ferndale
to set up a second shop will be approved. Her company specializes in
workshops for medical marijuana users and caregivers, offers
demonstrations of growing systems and publishes a specialty magazine
about marijuana. Caregivers meet patients at the club to provide
medical marijuana to be smoked or ingested on site.

"We are a compassionate care center where patients come in and talk
to us. It's not just about smoking pot. It's educating people on what
works," Ferris said.

Businessman Phillip Ben-Ezra wants to open a clinic at a property he
owns on Woodward in Ferndale. Multiple requests to rent out his space
for a medical marijuana shop persuaded Ben-Ezra to give it a try himself.

"I feel like that is where business is going ... and there is demand.
You see the billboards everywhere for this," he said.

Jerome Raska, owner of Blumz ... by JR Designs on Nine Mile in
Ferndale, said he hopes to rent out a small space on his property to
a merchant who wants to open a medical consultation shop. Plans call
for providing seminars and workshops on medical marijuana issues.

Raska, a business owner in Ferndale for more than 10 years, credits
city leaders for taking the time to work out a thoughtful policy on
the issue. The applicant he is working with did not return a call
from The Detroit News.

"I think it's great. It's a new thing to everyone. As opposed to some
cities, which ruled against it, Ferndale has taken a more logical
stand," Raska said.

Joseph Brennan a 30-year-old entrepreneur from Ray Township, is
asking the city to let him open a wellness facility to cater to
state-certified patients.

"It would be a one-stop shop for patients to get medicine and acquire
the knowledge to be safely medicated. We would also offer gardening
and hydroponic designs," Brennan said.

For patients with extreme illness, he wants to offer house calls and
other in-home services.

"This was designed to help people in need and a way to generate money
in an economy that isn't doing the greatest," said Brennan, a U.S.
military veteran and previous small business owner. Brennan said he
sympathizes with cities grappling with medical marijuana policies,
saying the industry has hit the state by storm.

He thinks Ferndale is the right place to build the trade. "We've
tried other cities but we just fell in love with Ferndale and the
area and how they are trendy. We are holding out for the city," he said.

Ferndale is expected to make a decision later this summer.

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ADDITIONAL FACTS

Communities Limit Medical Marijuana

Moratoriums:

Ferndale, Berkley, Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak, West Bloomfield
and Brighton Township

Restrictions or Bans:

Livonia, Roseville, Garden City, Huntington Woods and Howell

Source: Detroit News research