Pubdate: Fri, 16 Apr 2010
Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle (MI)
Copyright: 2010 The Traverse City Record-Eagle
Contact: http://www.record-eagle.com/opinion/local_story_128175513.html
Website: http://www.record-eagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1336
Author: Art Bukowski

MEDICAL POT OUTLET HOPEFUL HAS CRIMINAL PAST

TRAVERSE CITY -- A man who wants to open a medical  marijuana outlet 
in Traverse City's warehouse district  has a lengthy criminal record 
that includes multiple  drug arrests.

But Michael E. Thue contends he doesn't "hide from his past."

Thue, 28, recently approached city officials with plans  for a 
marijuana dispensing outlet in a building along  Grandview Parkway 
near the Traverse City Convention and  Visitors Bureau.

Thue, a certified patient under the Michigan Medical  Marijuana Act, 
wants to provide a "safe haven" for  other patients to learn about 
medical marijuana use,  sample different strains, learn how to grow 
plants and  connect with state-licensed suppliers.

Court and prison records show Thue has at least three  arrests in 
Grand Traverse County dating back to 1999,  and he spent a combined 
total of about 3.5 years in  prison on breaking and entering and 
fleeing and eluding  convictions.

He also has convictions for marijuana use, weapons  possession, theft 
and other offenses.

"There are a couple things in my past I wish weren't  there; I've 
made a couple of bad decisions ... but  people who know me know I 
have a really big heart, and  I mean well," he said.

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, approved by voters  in 2008, 
allows patients to possess up to 2.5 ounces of  marijuana and 12 plants.

It also allows designated caregivers to grow and  distribute plants 
to up to five patients. As of April  2, the Michigan Department of 
Community Health issued  about 12,300 patient registrations and more 
than 5,000  caregiver licenses from nearly 24,000 applications.

City commissioners on Monday are expected to vote to  enact a 
four-month moratorium on the issuance of  permits or licenses for the 
sale or dispensation of  medical marijuana.

Commissioners at a study session this week said they'd  need some 
time to formulate regulations for land-use  issues related to medical 
marijuana. City Attorney  Karrie Zeits told commissioners the issue 
is starting  to pop up in cities across the state, and suggested the 
city take time to diligently craft zoning and licensing  plans.

Thue, who runs a group called Grand Traverse  Compassionate 
Connection, said his operation will be  restricted to "legal, 
card-holding" patients and  caregivers, though patients would be able 
to obtain  marijuana from caregivers at the site.

"We're not going to open up a full dispensary ... the  main issue is 
education and information," he said.

Zeits said the city could decide to take applicants'  criminal 
history into account.

"That's not something that I've considered ... but it's  definitely 
something we should take a look at," she  said.
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