by Jessica Luther

On November 4, 2008, Michigan voters passed the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act into law.  This act legalized the state-regulated use of medical marijuana for those suffering from medical conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV and AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases.  The Michigan Medical Marihuana Program is a state registry under the Michigan Department of Community Health and is responsible for upholding the tenants of the law.  This law includes the issuing of ID cards for patients registered to receive medical marijuana, registering those who grow the medical marijuana (known as “caregivers”), and regulating the amount and conditions of the marijuana being grown.  However, the state of Michigan does not aid patients in finding caregivers to grow for them.  This is where Geoff Scott became involved.

“Michigan adopted the law in a way that made dispensaries illegal,” he described of the catch-22 in the medical marijuana law.  “It is not legal to sell marijuana; you are actually selling your services as a grower.  Caregivers have to get started illegally.”

Geoff is a retired police officer, registered nurse and experienced business owner in the healthcare field.  When patients came to him asking where and how to find medical marijuana that had been prescribed for them, Geoff decided to look into the process.  Any physician can prescribe medical marijuana, he explained, but then patients are on their own to try to find where to fill their prescriptions.  After attending a seminar about medical marijuana laws, Geoff saw a business opportunity and a way to educate people.

Michigan Caregivers Alliance will hold weekend seminars and weekly classes to educate caregivers, patients, doctors and others about the opportunities medical marijuana presents to Michigan entrepreneurs.  As Geoff explained, he hopes to provide the knowledge to aid those looking to become caregivers in a responsible and profitable manner.  Geoff’s classes will teach about the law, the cultivation, the history, the growing of marijuana, and even how to cook with the plant. The classes will be once a week for eight weeks, at a cost of $500.  For those with less time to commit, a weekend seminar consisting of a basic class on Saturday and an advanced class on Sunday is available for $150/session.

“Not just anyone should be a caregiver,” Geoff cautioned.  “He or she needs to know the right information.”  He points out that important regulations are involved, including the restriction that a grower can only work with five patients and grow up to 12 plants for each one.  That means, as Geoff puts it, “if you grow 61 plants instead of 60, you can go to jail.”

Though the law states that it protects patients and caregivers from prosecution, the caregivers’ position can be a tenuous one.  Geoff points out that those just looking for a legal way to grow marijuana might not be the best candidates for this kind of work.  He hopes to educate those looking for a professional endeavor that is an important part of the healthcare system and also important to Michigan’s economy.

“There are approximately 6,000 medical marijuana ID cards issued right now,” Geoff explained.  “We needed to bring this money back to Michigan.  This is huge for tax dollars.  All of these jobs are being created by ‘canna-business,’ as it’s called, and it is big business.”

Geoff believes in the opportunities that will be created by ‘canna-business’ and plans in the future to expand Michigan Caregivers Alliance into a full-time school.  By mid-2010, he hopes to have his own building, offering classes five days per week to anyone who wants to learn more.  He hopes his experience with both the law (as a former police officer) and in healthcare (as a nurse) will set the courses he is offering apart.

“There are lots of people trying to cash in on this, but they don’t really know what they’re talking about,” he offered.  “We want to educate caregivers, patients, doctors, law enforcement, health care professionals, as well as business owners about how to do this and about how to do it legally.”

If you have found this story interesting, informative or inspiring, please let Geoff know!
Michigan Caregivers Alliance, (734)645-0608, www.formedicaluse.com or info@formedicaluse.com.