BLACKMAN TOWNSHIP, MI – A new medical-marijuana facility operating in Blackman Township next door to a day-care center has one parent determined to have it moved or closed.

Albion resident Wendy Block, whose 4-year-old son, Owen, attends ABC Academy at 800 Laurence Ave., is unhappy that Kaya Provision Center has been allowed to open next door at 740 Laurence Ave.

She is also frustrated with township officials, saying they are not taking any action on the facility.

“I think it’s completely unacceptable that they are passing the buck and saying that there’s nothing they can do,” Block said. “It’s making me reconsider where I have my child all day long.”

Kaya Provision Center, which opened June 22, according to the business' Facebook page, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.



Some of the posts on Kaya Provision Center’s Facebook page include “open daily with the best meds in town!!” and “wide variety of medicine, including flower, tinctures, suckers, hash, keif, medibles, etc.”

“They (Kaya Provision Center) are selling cookies and suckers and have a vapor room on sight,” Block said. “That leads me to believe that people are ingesting these products in the facility or parking lot and driving or walking around.”

Although she believes most of the patients at the center will be peaceful, “people do crazy things when they are high,” she said. “I’m not prepared to take that chance. I’m going to do everything I can to work to see this place shut down or relocated.”

Last week, Kathy Hoszkiw of ABC Academy sent out a letter to parents, saying that she had concerns about the medical-marijuana facility being so close to the center.

“It has been brought to my attention that Kaya Provision Center is a Medical Marijuana Wellness Center,” the letter states. “While I have noticed little at their building, I have concerns with the decision made by Blackman Township to allow this type of business to locate next to a child care center.”

Hoszkiw said in the letter that she plans to attend the next Blackman Township board meeting on July 16 to share her concerns. She invited parents to join her at the meeting to learn more about the company and to voice any concerns they may have.

ABC Academy has three locations: 800 Laurence Ave., 3210 Lansing Ave., and 2111 Emmons Road.

Hoszkiw could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Blackman Township Supervisor Dan Hawkins said Tuesday it is the township’s current understanding that Kaya Provision Center is permitted for use in that zoning area. However, the township is going to take another look at the zoning stipulations, he said.

Block has scheduled a meeting with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office to talk more about her concerns and also plans to reach out to the Attorney General’s office.

She plans to attend the next Blackman Township Board meeting to express her concerns.