Pubdate: Thu, 23 Aug 2012
Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle (MI)
Copyright: 2012 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

NEW POT SHOP OPEN ON STATE ST.

Space Previously Was Occupied by Collective Inc.

TRAVERSE CITY - A downtown medical marijuana operation reopened under 
a new name, and its new owner said it offers plenty more than pot.

The shop, 223 E. State St. Boutique & Compassion Center, recently 
opened and has its grand opening today at 5 p.m. It's housed in the 
storefront previously occupied by Collective Inc.

Owner Mike Hedden, who also owns medical marijuana dispensaries on 
Garfield Avenue in Traverse City and M-72 in Acme, said he's excited 
to offer local art at the State Street location. Dozens of pieces 
from several artists are on display, and he expects more to arrive in 
the coming weeks.

"Our main goal was to include all the fine local artists we have here 
in northern Michigan, and to keep the money in northern Michigan," he said.

The shop, which Hedden termed a "provisioning center," also dispenses 
medical marijuana. He wouldn't provide details about that aspect of 
the business but contends it's completely legal.

"We just want to make sure everything is done right," he said. "We 
are working entirely within the boundaries of the law as it is written."

Traverse City Zoning Administrator David Weston said background 
checks were completed for Hedden and his staff. City rules require 
the checks for medical marijuana operations.

Anyone skeptical about what's going on at the shop should come in for 
a look, Hedden said.

"We've got an open door policy," he said. "Come on in and talk with us."

Dispensaries and collectives popped up across Michigan after the 
state's medical marijuana act passed in 2008. The act allows patients 
to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 12 plants, and permits 
designated caregivers to grow and distribute plants to up to five patients.

Many local medical marijuana operations closed last year after a 
Michigan Court of Appeals ruling barred patients from selling 
marijuana to one another. Many operations allowed patients to sell 
marijuana to one another on-site in exchange for a percentage of the 
money. It's still legal for caregivers to charge patients for the drug.

The Michigan Supreme Court could soon decide to weigh in on the matter.

Republican state Rep. Mike Callton, a medical marijuana advocate, 
will be at the shop's grand opening today to answer questions about 
medical marijuana and the law.

"He's going to stay as long as people are asking questions," Hedden said.

Traverse City photographer Lisa Lange, who has several photographs on 
display at Hedden's shop, believes it's good he melds medical 
marijuana with local art.

"I think it's wonderful," she said. "It's going to bring people in 
who will see that a dispensary is not a scary place." 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom