GREAT LAKES HOLISTIC FINDS A NEW LOCATION IN IONIA
TWP.

IONIA TWP., Mich. - Helping those in need in the area, Great Lakes
Holistic found a new home in Ionia Township opening its doors to
patients on Tuesday.

Owners Todd Prior, Wendy Ingalls and Kim Loren are glad to be in Ionia
County. Great Lakes Holistic in Ionia Township is their second
location, with the other in St. Louis, Mich.

Ingalls explained that there are not many dispensaries in the area,
and the closest ones are in Lansing. One of the focuses of Great Lakes
Holistic is to educate community members on the medical benefits of
medical marijuana, and offer patients a safe, comfortable atmosphere
for their medication.

"I felt there was a real need for it in this area," said Ingalls. "Our
direction is about the patients' health, safety and education. Those
are the biggest points. We want to explain what it is, what we do and
how it helps."

Prior explained that they are respectful of the community, and that is
why they closed down their location on M-66, just south of the city of
Ionia.

"We're here to help people," said Prior. "That is why we left after
the first signs of confrontation. We came to help people who need it,
and we went through the Ionia Township Board (when choosing the
current location.)"

The owners made the decision to close the first location after
learning it was within a school zone in April.

With the focus of ensuring their patients have safe medicine, Great
Lakes Holistic offers different strands of natural medical marijuana,
a variety of medibles which are ingested, salves for topical illnesses
and oils.

Medibles come in different varieties, including cookies, hard candies,
brownies and marshmallow squares. To ensure the patients receive the
proper strain and dosage, each package is professionally made by a
pastry chef and labeled with the strain of medicine and the dosage.

"Everything is labeled so the patients know what they are getting,"
said Ingalls. "We will do whatever the patients need to make sure they
are medicating safely, and make sure (we do) whatever we can to get
that for them."

Great Lakes Holistic also receives medical marijuana from local
farmers, who are susceptible to testing of their medicine. The group
tests the medicine to make sure that it is all natural and does not
have pesticides, natural pesticides, molds or mildew that could
potentially be harmful.

The design of the Great Lakes Holistic's locations include a waiting
area with the dispensary behind closed doors so people who have
questions can have a comfortable area to receive education on what
medical marijuana is and does. The owners also wanted a warm,
welcoming feeling when they decided colors and the decor.

Ingalls is a caregiver as well as a patient, and explained that after
she experienced the fears of entering a dispensary for the first time,
she wanted to provide a service that made the patients feel
comfortable and welcome.

"To try and get legal medication the first time was scary," said
Ingalls. "I was creeped out. I felt like I was entering a drug house,
and you shouldn't feel like that when you are in need. Patients should
feel welcome and receive the proper education."

Prior explained that not everyone agrees with medical marijuana, but
that if people educate themselves they will see that it offers a safe
alternative to prescription medication that often times has harmful
side-effects.

"It's amazing when you understand what cannabis does," said Prior.
"Like any other drug, like prescriptions, there are some forms of
miss-use. This isn't any different. People abuse handicap plates,
prescription drugs. Why would you assume that will not happen with
medical marijuana? We want to make sure that patients understand what
they are getting and how to use it properly and safely."

Prior explained that a caregiver is a provider, and can also be a
patient. Caregivers that are patients can have up to five patients,
and grow 12 plants per patient.

To become a patient, the person has to get recommended for medical
marijuana by a medical doctor and file through the state.

Ingalls explained that the owners and staff are there to help people
understand the law, how to properly file for a medical marijuana card
and answer any questions that the patients may have.

Prior and Ingalls explained that medical marijuana can help treat pain
and other symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Crohn's
Disease, Alzheimer's, chronic pain and also is an anti-inflammatory.

"It helps people get a little part of their life back," said Ingalls.
"This is for patients that are severely ill. That's what this is for."

Great Lakes Holistic is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7
p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is located at 1276
N. State Road. To contact Great Lakes Holistic, call 616-523-6666.