In September, Gov. Rick Snyder singed into law three public acts creating a new structure and regulations for businesses in the medical marijuana industry, including growing, selling, testing, processing and transporting legal medical marijuana. Entrepreneurs are lining up to participate in the new industry, but the requirements are difficult to understand- and, in some cases, not even determined yet.
Two conferences were planned by the Michigan Cannabis Business Development Group to bring state businesspersons up to speed on the new opportunities. The first was held on October 16 at the Holiday Inn near Flint, where more than 300 attended.
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LINK: NBC News coverage of October 16 Conference http://nbc25news.com/news/local/conference-provides-legal-development-information-about-medical-marijuana
The second conference is guaranteed to set the standard for elegance and professionalism, according to event host Jamie Lowell of the MICBD Group. All four ballrooms at the wonderful Radisson Hotel in downtown Lansing have been reserved for the conference.
As in the October event, the conference will bring entrepreneurs up-to-date regarding the new statewide business laws, but this event will also feature a look at how the pending ordinance in Lansing which will change the nature of medical marijuana cultivation, testing and distribution in the state’s capital.
The full list of conference presenters and sponsors are still being finalized but they include Rep. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor; Mike Nichols, lead attorney, Nichols Law; Mary Chartier, partner, Alane & Chartier PLLC; lobbyist Justin Dinaskiss, who delivers an in-depth look at the language of the new business laws; and Paul Samways, Certified Public Accountant and small business accounting specialist.
The new medical marijuana industry has the potential to generate an estimated $63 million annually. “The state has issued no guidelines, no FAQ’s, no Help Desk to assist entrepreneurs in deciphering the new business opportunities created by the three Public Acts,” said Flint native Rick Thompson of the MICBD Group. “The two Conferences were created to fill that knowledge gap with everything we currently know. The Lansing conference is the last business seminar before the December 20 start date for the new state laws, and probably the last before Lansing puts their new ordinance in place, too.”
On October 4th, the Lansing city attorney sent a letter to the city asking for a 60-day period in which to adapt the draft ordinance to conform with new state laws, and to draft a companion ordinance to address cultivating medical marijuana in residential areas (LINK). That period expires near the date of the Lansing conference.
“So many patients and businesses co-exist in Lansing, and they all deserve access to the best information we can get to them,” Thompson said. “This could be a best-case scenario for the state’s municipalities to follow- or it could be the exact opposite.”
The event will begin with registration on December 4th at noon and the formal program starting at 1:00 pm. There is a cost to attend, and pre-registration is required. Visit www.micbd.com for full details and to purchase tickets.
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