Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson Jr. is still trying to start a medical marijuana business in Michigan.

Thursday the state’s licensing board granted Johnson preliminary approval for a provisioning center license.

Johnson plans to launch a chain of premiere medical marijuana provisioning centers in Michigan under his brand name, “Primitive," according to his lawyer, Michael D. Stein.

Two months ago, a separate medical marijuana business Johnson was trying to start with former Detroit Lion Robert Sims was denied preliminary approval from the same board.

The Medical Marihuana Licensing Board said Johnson's outstanding traffic tickets in Georgia were the issue. A spokesman for Johnson said the tickets had been resolved prior to the board's December 2018 vote.

Now Johnson is starting a business with his wife, Brittney Johnson, according to spokesman John Truscott. They applied for the license as Michigan Community Collective, but in the future will be launching provisioning centers under the brand name “Primitive,” Stein said. The couple plans to have a fully integrated medical marijuana business, controlling all aspects from growing to process to distribution, Stein said.

Thursday, the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board voted 4-0 to grant preliminary approval for a provisioning center license without making any comments on Johnson’s past traffic tickets. Board member David LaMontaine was absent.

Their business is registered to Johnson’s lawyer at his office at1668 South Telegraph Road, Suite 120, in Bloomfield Hills -- but that’s not where the provisioning center will be located, Stein said. Several locations are under consideration, Stein said.

Also Thursday, the state’s licensing board considered preliminary approval for 84 prospective medical marijuana companies, and considered final approval for 17 medical marijuana business licenses.

-- Amy Biolchini is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact her with questions, tips or comments at abiolch1@mlive.com. Read more from MLive about medical marijuana.