The green report: Meet Mr. Green

I´m a happily married, 36-year-old father of four amazing, healthy children. I´m also a medical marijuana user and activist who was unwittingly thrown into the public’s eye.

My primary qualifying condition is epilepsy, but medical marijuana also helps with secondary ailments. I was working as a mechanic when, in 2006, I was struck with my first seizure. Over the next few years I experienced over 300 extreme grand mal STEVE GREEN seizures. I explored all traditional medications and methods — at one point I was taking over 28 pills a day — but a normal lifestyle was still out of reach as I continued to have seizures. My doctors presented me with three options, none of which were guaranteed to work: brain surgery to remove scar tissue, brain surgery to implant a vagus nerve stimulator or medical marijuana. It seemed obvious to me that medical marijuana was the safest option; I knew from a young age that marijuana couldn’t kill me.

Starting this process was a very daunting task for me. Do I select a caregiver?

Do I grow for myself? What about a marijuana shop?

Gardening is a dangerous hobby for someone who has seizures, so I elected to have a caregiver: my wife. We studied everything we could find on the topic, and I kept a journal with all the variables and effects. Joints led to edibles then to oils. Through trial and error, and with help from testing labs, we found what works best for me: a capsule of CBD (cannabidiol) oil in the morning and a capsule of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) oil at night. I went 18 full months without having a single seizure, while eliminating every prescription from my medicine cabinet. I felt blessed. Then the story took a turn.

In 2013, I was swept up in a hurricane of legal problems. First, my wife and I were arrested for manufacturing marijuana. Even though it was legal for her to grow for me, the prosecutor refused to acknowledge our registry cards and the case moved forward. In a second wave of legal assault, that criminal case was used as an opportunity for personal revenge. My wife’s ex-husband called Child Protective Services with allegations against us relating to marijuana use. In a knee-jerk reaction based on the fear of “Reefer Madness,” our 6-month-old Bree was removed from our care in an emergency hearing before the allegations were even properly investigated. Following a large press conference and the overwhelming support of the “Free Bree” campaign, our daughter was returned after her six-week capture. The criminal charges were ultimately dismissed.

One thing that has come of my relentless research into cannabis treatment is that I have become an authority on marijuana, edibles, patients, caregivers and dispensaries. I co-founded one of Michigan’s leading edible-producing companies. I’ve spent hours in courtrooms advocating for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program, testifying about my knowledge and experiences. I´ve been lucky enough to sample some of the best marijuana in the world in every delivery form.

Now, I’m honored to bring this experience and knowledge to you in this column.

If you’ve ever wondered what it´s like in those pot shops, my thorough descriptions will help everyone from first-time visitors to seasoned shoppers know what to expect. My experiences can help you avoid the uncomfortable situations I had at the beginning. From accessories, to marijuana varieties, to technology, you will have a better idea of what will help from the start. The stories may be comical at times, but they will always be honest. My focus is to provide accountability so that shops can improve and meet the needs of the patients.

Limited options

Pure Options Dispensary delivers quality, but selection is limited

Having visited nearly every dispensary in Lansing since late 2011, I was thrilled to hear of the long-awaited reopening of Pure Options Dispensary. After a two-anda-half year hiatus, they are back in business in the same location, tucked back into a small plaza on the corner of Miller Road

and Pennsylvania Avenue. The store blends right in, two doors down from Sparrow Laboratories, without any huge pot leaves on the building or the sign. The plaza had plentiful parking that was well lit and handicap accessible.

As soon as I entered the front door I noticed a subtle distinction that set Pure Options apart from many other stores. The front door opens into a sizable lobby with a secondary door and a transaction window. It was immaculately clean, with a rare upscale feeling. In the waiting room, I quickly noticed a surprising smell: not of marijuana, but vanilla air freshener. At the window, I pressed the buzzer and a young man came over to check my medical marijuana card and state ID. He buzzed me through the door, which had a metal detector on the other side. I shuffled into the large, posh backroom where I waited my turn in a leather recliner, browsing through a marijuana-themed magazine.

The budtender called me up to a large counter with barstools. I saw pre-rolled joints from $5 to $8. The display samples of nearly 30 different varieties of marijuana were color coded by price, ranging from $10 to $20 per gram, with the majority being $12 to $15. Each one looked well-handled and of superior quality. The assortment of strains available ranged from high CBD (cannabidiol) strains like Cannatonic #4, which I use to curb my seizures, to high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) strains with names like Green Crack and Gorilla Glue. After popping the tops of a few sample bottles and smelling the contents, my interest was piqued.

Some of the display jars were labeled with the potency of THC and CBD in the strain. Cannatonic #4 was labeled as being 17 percent CBD, which seemed curiously high despite its impressive scent. When I asked to see the lab report to confirm the claim on the jar, I was disappointed to learn that the strain had not yet been sent to a lab.

A second disappointment came when I was informed that I wouldn’t find any topicals, oils or edibles at Pure Options, despite the fact that the mission statement on their website states that they “(provide) the most effective cannabis products for patients in need." But not all patients, it would seem, since a large number of them, myself included, rely on the benefits of oils as a way to prevent disruptive seizures.

I decided to get two pre-rolled joints, one of the Monster Cookies strain and the other of the Bubblegum strain. My selection was paid for and delivered through a box built into the wall, another example of this store’s truly unique structure. Both joints were prepared in a cone-shaped, premium quality paper with a cardboard tip on one end. The Monster Cookies joint burned evenly with a delightful flavor that reminded me of my favorite mango berry drink. The effect left me completely relaxed, exactly what I was looking for after experiencing some anxiety fits earlier in the day.

On the other hand, the Bubblegum strain burned unevenly (or “canoed,” in marijuana terminology) and left a dark grayish-black ash. The taste left something to be desired as well. It could have used a better flush at the end of its flowering cycle. On the upside, I did experience an uplifting high that had me laughing and in overall good spirits.

Pure Options Dispensary

6030 S. Pennsylvania Ave. #8, Lansing (517) 721-1439 pureoptions.com