Campaign Update From Michigan’s Coalition To Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol
NCIA recently spoke with two key figures in the state of Michigan to get an update from the boots on the ground about the efforts to legalize cannabis for adults this year. Mark Passerini is the founder of a medical dispensary based in Ann Arbor, Om of Medicine, and was also recently elected to serve on NCIA’s Board of Directors. Josh Hovey is the spokesperson for Michigan’s Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.
Mark, how will adult-use legalization in Michigan affect your business and your community?
For the past eight years, we attempted to make all our decisions from the experience and perspective of a new patient that has never used cannabis previously. This translates to individual consultation rooms so patients may feel free to discuss their medical conditions, symptoms, and concerns in a private space rather than standing shoulder to shoulder at a retail counter.
We believe that when legalization is passed there will be many adults that may want to try cannabis but won’t know where to start, may be afraid, or unsure of the options and our unique consultation process may help them as much as it has helped our medical patients make the best choices for their health and their life. When cannabis is legalized, we plan to continue serving as a resource and education hub with a focus on scientific research.
What are the positive impacts of legalization in Michigan?
Positive change starts with one individual who shares with another who in turn shares with another and so on. Our communities have garnered a better understanding of cannabis, its history, medicinal use, and are actively rejecting the failed policies surrounding its use.
Locking people up for growing or consuming a plant is simply not the best use of critical and limited tax dollars. Many municipalities and states across the country have recognized this fact and passed decriminalization ordinances in order to use law enforcement resources on serious crimes. Communities and states that embraced legalization have also witnessed economic development through the creation of new jobs and much needed tax revenues.
Our research with the University of Michigan showed a 64% decrease in opioid use amongst patient participants. Continued research into the medical efficacy of cannabis will benefit not only the existing patient base, but the community at large.
By creating a whole new type of industry that operates in a responsible way and holds itself accountable to its community, everyone benefits.
Josh, how have you achieved success so far in the Coalition’s Michigan campaign?
True success will come when we pass legalization in November, but we’ve achieved some significant milestones. The first was creating a unified coalition of cannabis reform and social justice advocates to develop ballot language that borrows from the best practices used by the states that have legalized before us as well as Michigan’s medical marijuana licensing law. We also collected more than 360,000 signatures to place the issue on the November ballot. We’re proud of what we achieved so far, but the “vote yes” campaign has only just begun and there a lot more to do to make sure our initiative passes.
What do the prospects look like for the initiative passing this November?
Multiple opinion polls have shown that 60 percent of Michigan voters want to end cannabis prohibition and create a legalized and regulated system, so that’s a very strong starting position as we head into the campaign season. However, we know we can’t just rely on polls and we know the prohibitionists will continue to spread “Reefer Madness” era misinformation about the initiative.
That’s why we’re working hard to raise every dollar we can to make sure we can get the facts to voters across the state. We want to make sure voters know Michigan is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on the failed policy of prohibition and that creating a legal and well-regulated marijuana market can raise hundreds of millions for three of our state’s most underfunded areas: roads, schools, and local governments.
Anything specific we should know about the program?
Full details of the proposal are available on our website at www.RegulateMI.org. But in short, our initiative learns from the best practices from other states that have gone before us while also borrowing licensing language established under Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act. That law was passed with bipartisan support in 2016 and the first medical marijuana businesses are just starting to be licensed under that program. We believe our very reasonable and well-thought out business regulations combined with sensible personal possession limits will make Michigan’s adult-use law the new model for the country.
What is needed to ensure Michigan passes adult-use legalization?
We need people to get out and vote, plain and simple. Beyond that, there are a few other things people can do to support the campaign:
Make sure your friends and family are registered to vote and, of course, make sure they VOTE YES in November.
Share the facts about the initiative and about the need for legalization on your personable social media pages. You can find the campaign has pages set up on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Don’t allow prohibitionist misinformation to spread. Correct your friends and family (politely) by giving them the facts on the issue.
Donate to the campaign at RegulateMI.org/donate. We need to get our message out every way possible, including television, mail and social media. All of those things costs money and we can’t win without your support.
The Michigan Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol will host a fundraiser on October 17, 2018 in Ann Arbor, MI. For more information, please contact Robin Schneider, Finance Director.
Phone: 517-974-2265
Email: Robin@RegulateMI.org
NCIA Member Profile: The Om of Medicine
NCIA recently had a chat with Mark Passerini, co-founder of Om of Medicine, a provisioning center and non-profit organization in Ann Arbor, Michigan, founded to assist their members in safely and securely obtaining medical cannabis in accordance with the Michigan Marihuana Act of 2008.
Mark Passerini, co-founder of Om of Medicine
Cannabis Industry Sector:
Medical Cannabis Provider
NCIA Member Since:
2013
How do you uniquely serve the cannabis industry?
The Om of Medicine uniquely serves the cannabis industry by offering a state-of-the-art members-only facility that provides an unparalleled experience of service, amenities, and information/education pertaining to all things cannabis. Located in downtown Ann Arbor, Om is where the art is, providing a place for local artists to display and make their work available for purchase. Om is a major participant in the Michigan medical cannabis movement by following and supporting local and state political issues affecting cannabis laws, lobbying on behalf of patients, as well as educating through social media. In a broader sense, the Om of Medicine is a cannabis headquarters for the community by staying up-to-date on new research, informing patients on political issues that require action, and by offering seminars from leading experts in the field. We offer a safe, enjoyable, and inspiring experience for our patients supplemented by free comedy shows, cultivation classes, political activism workshops, guest lectures, and much much more. The Om of Medicine is deeply committed to environmental responsibility and has implemented a robust sustainability action plan for the past four years of the facility’s operation. This commitment has included dedicating funds to energy efficient investments throughout the facility, as well as investments in off-site renewable energy generation to produce the state’s first and only carbon-neutral dispensary.
Why should patients looking for medical cannabis services go to Om of Medicine?
The Om of Medicine is not just an entity, it represents an ideal. Om was founded in 2010 in order to provide the safest and most secure access to the highest quality medicinal cannabis for qualified patients. Both founders and all employees subscribe to the underlying principle of compassion coupled with excellence.
The Om of Medicine. Ann Arbor, MI
We provide the optimal visiting experience for patients that are either familiar or new to cannabis by personalizing each visit to fit the individual’s medical needs. We offer a private, one-on-one consultation that ensures each patient gets the time and attention they deserve. Our selection of medicine is unparalleled and the variety of delivery mechanisms we offer are wide-ranging and ever-changing. Our knowledgeable staff welcomes and assists patients with any questions and provides aid with the state’s patient registration process. Our commitment to individualized healing combines lab-tested therapeutic remedies with patient-based research to achieve holistic lifestyle wellness. Our member lounge is enhanced by local art. Cannabis can inspire creativity and the Om of Medicine is a testament to this. There truly is no place like Om.
What is the medical marijuana community like in Michigan?
There are more patients in Michigan than in any other state besides California. Michigan was the 13th state to pass MMJ laws and now there are 23. Every state after Michigan has implemented some type of distribution/dispensary model yet Michigan State Legislature has been slow to act on this issue which leaves many patients without a safe place to acquire their medicine. The past six years have been difficult on the community due to some unfortunate court decisions as well as reductions in protections for patients. Despite several setbacks, the medical cannabis community in Michigan is a persistent bunch and we’re confident that the more we engage in the political process and educate and advocate for transparent, reasonable and accountable laws, the quicker patients will have permanently secure and safe access to their medicine.
Where do you see it going?
Over the past couple of years, with the help of several advocacy groups and our full time lobbyist in Lansing, there has been much progress. There are two bills awaiting passage in the State Senate. The first, HB 4271, will allow a local option for licensed dispensaries. The second bill, HB 5104, will provide alternative delivery methods other than smoking. Both bills overwhelmingly passed the State House 95-14 and 100-9, respectively. We have no doubt that the State Senate and Governor will do the right thing and pass these two important pieces of legislation.
You recently began helping to form the Illinois Cannabis Industry Association (ILCIA), a state-affiliate of NCIA. What led you to step up your involvement in this way across state lines?
Our experience in Michigan has made it clear that political involvement and education early on is key to moving this issue forward. The law narrowly passed in Illinois with 78 House and Senate members voting “NO” on HB 1 with the House only passing the bill by a marginal 4 votes. There is clearly much work to be done! In terms of state population, Illinois is the second largest [medical marijuana state] after California and has a chance to lead on this issue. The state has touted its medical cannabis law as the most restrictive and closely monitored law in the country. We want to make sure that the rights of the patients are not infringed upon and that the 4-year ‘pilot program’ becomes a permanent option for the patients of Illinois. As the state’s affiliate to NCIA, ILCIA will provide a voice for businesses, patients, and other key stakeholders by advocating for laws, regulations, and public policies that foster a healthy, professional, and accountable medical cannabis industry in our state.
Why did you join NCIA?
We joined NCIA because we realize that there is power in numbers. NCIA has been the country’s only industry-led organization engaging in legislative efforts to expand and further legitimize the legal cannabis market in the United States. The members we have met through NCIA and its leadership are second to none and we are confident that they will push this issue over the finish line. The work they are doing to reform tax laws and allow access to banking is of the utmost importance for our industry to survive. It is difficult work but in order to succeed, we must work together!
If you are a member of NCIA and would like to contribute to the NCIA blog, please contact Development Officer Bethany Moore by emailing bethany@thecannabisindustry.org.
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For the past eight years, we attempted to make all our decisions from the experience and perspective of a new patient that has never used cannabis previously. This translates to individual consultation rooms so patients may feel free to discuss their medical conditions, symptoms, and concerns in a private space rather than standing shoulder to shoulder at a retail counter. 
True success will come when we pass legalization in November, but we’ve achieved some significant milestones. The first was creating a unified coalition of cannabis reform and social justice advocates to develop ballot language that borrows from the best practices used by the states that have legalized before us as well as Michigan’s medical marijuana licensing law. We also collected more than 360,000 signatures to place the issue on the November ballot. We’re proud of what we achieved so far, but the “vote yes” campaign has only just begun and there a lot more to do to make sure our initiative passes. 
