MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWERS HAVE ACCESS TO MSU AGRICULTURAL ADVICE

Holland, MI - Greener pastures are in sight for medical marijuana
growers wanting expert advice on how to raise healthy plants.

Inquiries on how to cultivate the plant have increased slightly in
the past few years, Michigan State University Extension experts say.

MSU-E, which is mainly involved in more traditional agricultural
endeavors, is a resource for some medical marijuana suppliers who
want accurate information on how to grow the plants effectively.

Having received about seven calls since medical marijuana became
legal in Michigan, MSU-E senior educator Thomas Dudek said he tries
to relay basic information on plant physiology to first-time growers.

"People need to have a fairly good knowledge of fertilizer,
irrigation and growing media," said Dudek, a horticulture and
marketing expert based in Ottawa County.

He takes existing information about growing other indoor plants and
adapts it to the situation when answering such calls.

"Obviously, we're a land grant university that creates knowledge for
people in businesses. If we have a business for growing plants, then
you tend to look at MSU as a resource for that type of information," he said.

Jeanne Himmelein, an Extension educator based in Kalamazoo, works
with state greenhouses and nurseries on production and environmental
quality. She said she has received only five marijuana-related calls
in the past two years.

"The people that call me are very educated in regards to growing
this. They are not hobbyists. They are licensed to produce their own
medical marijuana. Strictly the calls I get are production issues,
from people who are licensed growers," she said.

Both Holland and Holland Township are working on ordinances to ban
medical marijuana dispensaries or co-ops. Douglas is working on
language to regulate such businesses.

The primary questions that concern Himmelein's callers are about
insect and disease control. For answers, she directs them to
biological control suppliers.

"If this is a business and a medical thing, I am comfortable with
giving them as much information as possible on insect control and
nutritional advice," she said. "I just want them to do it the safest way.

"I'm impressed with the people asking about insect and disease
control instead of going to a local nursery and grabbing something
off the shelf," she said.

An upcoming bulletin from MSU-E, "Growing Indoor Plants," will
educate readers on techniques for keeping house plants, such as
optimal light conditions and basics of nutrition.

The bulletin, Himmelein said, will not specifically be for medical
marijuana growers but "would be a decent guide for anyone growing any
type of indoor plant."

That procedure is more open than the one Colorado State University
Extension employs. It prohibits staff and volunteers from providing
any advice or assistance about marijuana cultivation, although
medical marijuana is legal in Colorado.

Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, a critic of marijuana legalization,
said he has no problem with MSU-E providing advice, but would like it
also to provide information on the possible hazards from mold and chemicals.

"They should be giving advice on dangers. Many growers in this new
agricultural industry see dollar signs, but don't realize it is a
product for patients with damaged immune systems," he said.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Executive
Director Allen St. Pierre said many entrepreneurs starting medical
marijuana businesses are senior citizens going into retirement.

That's true in Michigan, said Michigan NORML Executive Director Steve
Thompson, who is based in Eastpointe.

He said today's retirees grew up in the 1960s and 1970s and many of
these entrepreneurs have had experience with cannabis.

"A lot of senior citizens are like myself - they're hippies. We
started this so it's time we finish it," he said.