SO FAR, SO GOOD FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY IN REMOTE FOREST TOWNSHIP

FOREST TWP., Michigan -- At a time when some cities and townships are
going to war with marijuana dispensaries, the smallest township in
Genesee County is taking a laissez-faire approach to cannabis commerce.

"My oath of office requires I uphold the laws of Forest Township and
the state of Michigan," said township Supervisor Valerie Pace. "The
voters approved (the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act in 2008). I'm not
spending township dollars trying to fight it."

Owner Tony Butler opened The Green Oasis on North State Road Monday,
vowing to be a good neighbor in the rural area, in part by helping to
take marijuana out of the shadows and using it as the basis of a
legitimate business. He's one of at least six such operations that are
up and running in the county.

So far, so good -- "no negative feedback," Butler said from his
converted donut shop, 10001 N. State Road, Suite B.

Butler said he hasn't run into vocal opposition to his dispensary and
hopes to open a private club in the same building where people can
"responsibly medicate" by May.

"I'm fully invested in this ... It was a hell hole when I got it,"
Butler said. "I've put a lot of time and effort" into doing it right.

Butler, 26, grew up in Otter Lake and still has friends and family in
the immediate area. As a licensed caregiver, he's allowed to dispense
marijuana but has seen others in this fledgling industry shut down or
stopped before they can open in other parts of the county.

Pace said she was won over because Butler showed he was serious about
doing things the right way but it didn't happen quickly and she hasn't
been the only one with doubts.

"My grandma didn't think it was the smartest idea," he said. "It's new
to everybody (but) I'm going to stay within Michigan laws (and) I
think I will put (drug dealers) out of business."

Carlo Yasee, a partner in Sam's Korners, a party store that operates
in a different suite in the same building as Green Oasis, said he's
glad to see someone put the commercial building to use.

"My mother had cancer ... she had all this pain medicine she went
through so this, I'm for," Yasee said. "He's an entrepreneur. He knows
his product. There's people who grow weed. He grows medical marijuana."

Michigan State Police Lt. Phil Hart said the Flint MSP post has no
plans to interfere with Green Oasis such as the Lapeer County
Sheriff's Department raids of a Dryden dispensary in 2010.

Forest Township has no police department so request for police help
are handled by the state police.

"In most townships and cities we're relying on them for any type of
licensing or permits ... no different from any other business," Hart
said. "If they find anything awry they could call us."

While Michigan voters approved medical marijuana two years ago, the
federal government still considers use of marijuana illegal. U.S.
Department of Justice officials have said they will not prosecute
medical marijuana usage in states that have passed laws permitting its
use.

Butler said his business has no other employees yet but he envisions
it becoming a destination for an area bigger than the township, which
has fewer than 5,000 people. In addition to a private club, he's
interested in adding services like massage and stone therapies as he
grows.

"A lot of these people opened quietly" elsewhere, Butler said. "I
tried to bring my ideas .. to the township (and say), 'Here I am.' "