UPDATE: Michigan medical marijuana shops can reopen unlicensed

Medical marijuana shops forced to close their doors Jan. 1 may be able to re-open temporarily as Michigan officials respond to a medical marijuana shortage.

Wednesday the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board will consider a resolution put forward by regulators to allow 72 unlicensed provisioning centers to reopen, and for licensed facilities to buy medical marijuana from caregivers without fear of retribution.

“We have heard from Michiganders closely affected by the ongoing transition to licensed marijuana facilities,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a statement. “It is important that we ensure that patients have access to their medicine while the medical marijuana industry continues to develop.”

The announcement comes as medical marijuana patients are struggling to find their medicine this month, as the industry faces its first true test.

State officials shut down 72 unlicensed provisioning centers Jan. 1 at the same time they restricted the ability of caregivers to further supply the industry. The result: medical marijuana prices have risen, supply has dropped and the variety of medicinal products has plummeted.

Patients and industry insiders are now appealing to the new Democratic administration for help.

A phone call to Cannaseur, a newly licensed provisioning center in Lansing, returns a voicemail message with news that it is closed.

“We are unable to find licensed products for our patients,” the voice message says, urging patients to contact their state representative, Gov. Whitmer or the Bureau of Marijuana Regulation.

Ida Chinonis took her young daughter, Bella, to Lansing in 2016 to watch a bill become law that would reform and regulate the state’s medical marijuana program. The mother and daughter from Grand Blanc had advocated for its passage, as Bella relies on medical marijuana to treat her daily seizures.

Tuesday, Ida and Bella Chinonis were back in Lansing, with a different message.

"Two long years later, patient access to medicine is worse than it's ever been and there's no relief in sight," Ida Chinonis said, speaking at the launch of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association.

The association announced that addressing the supply shortage for medical marijuana patients as its top priority.

“With almost no access left to medicine for patients and empty shelves in our member’s facilities, solutions need to be put in place immediately that allow patients to obtain their medicine,” said Robin Schneider, the association's executive director. “We look forward to working with state regulators and Governor Whitmer’s administration to ensure a successful medical marijuana program and to develop long term strategies that will improve and expedite the business licensing process moving forward.”

Monday, some of the cannabis advocacy groups behind marijuana legalization in Michigan sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, urging them to take action to address "this crisis for patient access."

The letter urges Whitmer to extend emergency rules to allow provisioning centers to remain open until they receive a license, and to allow them to continue to purchase marijuana from caregivers.

As of Jan. 15, there are 50 medical marijuana provisioning centers in Michigan. For the newly licensed shops, finding marijuana to buy is a problem.

Aim High Meds, a brand new provisioning center in Tekonsha, was licensed in December. But owner Steve Roberts said the store will stay closed until he can buy reasonably priced product -- which he believes might not be until April.

“The product that we have found -- they’re taking bids on February product. It’s twice the price of anything going on the black market,” Roberts said of growers. “For a few of them that have product, they’re doing it on a list. If you don’t already have that connection built in, and that relationship, you’re going to have issues.”

Rick Thompson, a board member of Michigan NORML and MILegalize, said medical marijuana from licensed growers has been more expensive and of lesser quality than what caregivers have been growing.

“The supply chain is certainly broken,” Thompson said. “It’s limited in two aspects: limited in selection and limited in quantity. For patients who are used to a broad assortment of different solutions for their ailments, to be reduced to a few choices it means many people have had their treatments interrupted.”

To bridge the gap in patient access, Thompson said it was critical for caregivers to continue to have a role in supplying licensed medical marijuana provisioning centers.

The Medical Marihuana Licensing Board meets 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16.

-- 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.