Motown meds

As a medical marijuana advocate, I tour the state of Michigan looking for the best products and services available at stores, provisioning centers, safe access points — or whatever other name they prefer to go by. Currently, the highest concentration of shops is in Detroit, with just over 220 in the city limits. From what I’ve seen, the city also has the most diversity of stores in the state.

I've visited shops that were so gross that I didn’t even sit in the chairs, while others that were so great that I wanted to spend the day in there. I've walked through metal detectors, been asked to raise my shirt above my belt line and even been fingerprinted to get marijuana. I've been in shops that made me feel safe and shops that increased my anxiety.

One dispensary where I always feel safe is PÜR, which doesn't look out of the ordinary until you enter the building. As I walked through the doors, I was greeted by a security guard. It was very professional. I noticed he was monitoring cameras and watching the cars in the parking lot. Later I learned that he also offers to walk patients to their cars at the end of the visit.

The décor has a modern vibe, and I immediately noticed the shiny, sleek lines and neon blue lights. I walked past a decorative built-in glass wall panel with water peacefully streaming down and came to a seating area with a service counter where checked in.

Once in the queue, I had a chance to check out the amenities of the waiting room, a large, clean area that was inviting and peaceful. It was very comfortable and featured a well-stocked snack area with a few of my favorite munchies: hot dogs, chips, popcorn and fountain drinks. While waiting for my turn, I was able to scan the shop’s marijuana menu.

Once my paperwork was verified, I was escorted through a locked door into the green room — which, in this case, was actually blue. It was large enough for four budtenders behind the counter, each with enough space to provide a reasonable level of privacy.

The trendy décor carried through the back room as well, and everything had clean, sleek lines and blue lights. It reminded me of a popular smartphone store. Even though PÜR is large and looked commercialized on the surface, I was pleasantly surprised to find that several patients were greeted by their first name — a personalized touch I don’t see often.

Although the edible selection was a little weak, it was conveniently displayed on shelves that were accessible by both the patient and the budtender. From the shop's selection of 20 herb strains, I decided on three: Maui, Headband and White Fire OG.

I enjoyed all three strains, but my top choice was the Maui, which was every bit as delightful as its namesake island. The distinct tropical smell and hint of pineapple flavor had me feeling like I was in Hawaii — minus the ocean breeze. This sativa strain surprised me with its great flavor and smell despite its $10 per gram price point.

Considering such a pleasant experience, I was surprised I hadn’t heard more about PÜR before. This is definitely a great shop for medical marijuana users in the Detroit area.

Steve Green, who writes this column every two weeks, uses marijuana to prevent seizures. He has no business ties to any dispensaries or products.

PÜR

10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday 16738 E. Warren Ave., Detroit (844) 478-7842