TRAVERSE CITY -- It's a sign that has people in Traverse City taking notice, a store front with a sign "Collective" with a marijuana logo.
The store is on the 200 block of State Street in downtown Traverse City.
City planner Russ Soyring tells 7&4 News it's the first formal marijuana collective. The sign says the store will open November 1.
Soyring says the business owner requested a sign permit from the city and it was approved. The marijuana collective did not need any other city permission to open because it meets the zoning requirements.
Those requirements include: not being within 1000 feet of any school and the operator can't be a convicted felon.
Only qualified patients and registered caregivers can make purchases at this marijuana collective. While some collectives grow their own marijuana to sell, others purchase it and sell to others, often with what opponents consider to be a considerable mark up.
According to Bob Cameron who helped draft the city's policy on medical marijuana -- this is not the only collective in the area, but the first for downtown Traverse City. He says there is already one called "Bay Area Medical Collective" on Garfield Avenue.
Cameron says another is going in at 8th and Cass and a fourth one could possibly open up in Building 50, but we are told no plan is finalized.
Do you think it's a good idea to put a marijuana collective in downtown Traverse City? Tell us "Your Point of View" by taking part in the poll below and leave your comments on the issue.
