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."
Region
Related Photos
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Owner Mike Hedden stands inside Boutique & Compassion Center at 223 E. State St. on Wednesday. Record-Eagle/Art Bukowski
New pot shop open on State St.
Space previously was occupied by Collective Inc.
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