AREA MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES ORDER TO CEASE ACTIVITIES

TRAVERSE CITY -- Several private medical marijuana dispensaries in
northwest lower Michigan have been ordered to cease their operations
as a result of a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling Wednesday.

The court's ruling called for all privately owned and operated
marijuana dispensaries within the state to stop selling marijuana to
their clientele, which affects several businesses in the Traverse City area.

Sun Compassion, located at 5690 U.S. 131 North in Acme, just outside
Traverse City, considers themselves "consultants," making no verbal
reference to their operation as a collective or dispensary.

Marijuana can be found on their premises, however.

A member of Sun Compassion, who would not provide his name, said the
ruling simply meant Sun Compassion would no longer accept new
members. Their operations will continue for existing members.

"Sun Compassion is open to its members and not accepting new
membership," he said. "Here we offer medical marijuana consultation
services, whether that'd be somebody may need to buy some variety in
particular that might work for their condition."

The man only referred to Sun Compassion as an information resource
for medicinal marijuana users.

"There are no other agencies or places you can go out there and find
information," he said.

Sun Compassion can no longer conduct any patient-to-patient
transfers, however, stated within the court's ruling.

Asked if Sun Compassion was considered a dispensary, the man said it
was not, but stated there is no legal definition for a dispensary,
collective, co-operative or a compassion club.

When asked if marijuana was found on their premises, he chose not to answer.

Sun Compassion's website states: "Sun Compassion is a premier
dispensary in Acme founded to assist our members in safely and
securely obtaining medical cannabis in accordance with the Michigan
Marijuana Act of 2008 aE& We provide a warm and comfortable
environment in which members can securely obtain a wide variety of
medical cannabis products."

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said he would notify all 83
county prosecutors as a result of the ruling, as law-enforcement
authorities can now immediately shut down dispensaries.

"This ruling is a huge victory for public safety and Michigan
communities struggling with an invasion of pot shops near their
schools, homes and churches," Schuette said in a statement.

The 2008 medical marijuana law states people are able to possess up
to 2.5 ounces of "usable" pot and keep up to 12 plants in a locked
place. No mention of dispensaries was made in the law, on which the
Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals.

"If I operate a compassion club, where is the law? It's simply stated
that patient-to-patient transfers of all sorts are now illegal,
nothing else, nothing further," he said.

NOTE: As part of a statewide publication initiative through Journal
Register Company, papers under their ownership -- including The
Leader -- will be running various articles related to medicinal
marijuana and all of its aspects, currently slated to begin Oct. 2.