The first medical marijuana provisioning center in Southwest Michigan, Zen Leaf, opened for sales in Buchanan today.
Medical cannabis has been legal in Michigan since 2008. Buchanan Mayor Patricia Moore says the city just got a provisioning center because officials were trying to make sure it was done right. She says she’s happy with the results.
“We’re really thrilled to have them here in town. We welcome them. They’ve been great to
deal with, very professional,” Moore says.
Zen Leaf sells only medical marijuana. Recreational cannabis is legal in Michigan but the regulations to sell it in the state are still being worked out.
Today’s first purchase was made by Sara Crouse from Sawyer. She uses cannabis to treat
symptoms from her Crohn's Disease. She says she’ll still use her caregiver to get her cannabis
but having a provisioning center nearby means she’ll have more choices for products.
“They’re constantly coming up with new strains and options and it’s unbelievable. We’re
just at the cusp of what’s going to happen in the next couple years,” Crouse says.
More than a dozen communities in Southwest Michigan have opted out of allowing marijuana
retailers to operate within their borders. Under the law, municipalities have to opt in before a
business can open there.
Zen Leaf Buchanan owner, Billy Breen, says he’s glad to provide a service to the community.
“I wish there wasn’t a need for this because that means that everybody would be healthy,
right? But the positive part of the emotion is we can provide them that help,” Breen says.
Zen Leaf is part of a chain of provisioning centers. It’s open six days a week on Front Street in
Buchanan to those who have been prescribed medical marijuana.