JANUARY 2019

we will continue to have unworkable
parts, too many loop holes,” he said.
Each city will have the option of
allowing recreational sales, as they
do now with medicinal sales. “We
are hopeful that those municipalities
who are friendly to cannabis businesses
will opt-in for recreational
sales and allow existing provisioning
centers – commonly referred to as
dispensaries - to also sell recreational
marijuana,” said Bahoura. “For the
Chaldean community members (and
others) who have been approved for
medicinal sales, this expands their
potential customer base from only
those who have a medical marijuana
card to anyone who is 21 years or
older. And so, the economic ramifications
are significant.”
The township of West Bloomfield
has opted out in terms of allowing
businesses to operate Marijuana
shops. “We looked at Colorado and
65 percent of their municipalities
have opted out,” noted Chief Patton.
“Although people can share what
they grow with family and friends,
how do we regulate or know if they
are selling it or bartering it?”
There seems to be a thought
among cities that if they do not optout
of recreational sales, then they
have opted-in by default, however,
that is not accurate. “A cannabis
business cannot simply open up shop
in a city because that city hasn’t officially
opted-out,” said Bahoura.
“There are still potential criminal
issues for selling marijuana without
the proper licensing. Each municipality
has the option to opt-in or
opt-out for medical and recreational
marijuana. For the municipalities
that decide to opt-in, the state has
given them full control over how
many of each type of license.”
Chief Patton warns there is no
quality assurance with the products.
There are no regulations. This is a major
concern considering the drug overdoses
on the rise in the country. “There
is no one regulating what is actually in
the marijuana products,” said Patton.
There have been studies that
show marijuana is a gateway to other
drugs including a study shared by the
National Institute on Drug Abuse.
“Of the 57 overdoes in the last 4 1/2
years, we have had 16 fatalities due
to heroin overdoses in West Bloomfield,”
he noted. “I don’t have 16 homicides
or deaths from car crashes.
Heroin deaths are the second leading
cause of death in West Bloomfield.
I realize a majority of people smoking
Marijuana will not have a negative
affect or major addictions but it
doesn’t discount the problems.”
Law enforcement does expect to
see a spike in traffic accidents due to
impaired driving. “We know it will
spike and perhaps level off but this
will be an issue,” said Patton. “This is
not a green light to light up, get high
and get behind the wheel; It is not
and I suggest you don’t for your own
safety and safety of others.”
Although legal on the state level,
it is still illegal on the federal level.
“There is currently no funding from
the federal government for marijuana
enforcement at the state level,”
said Bahoura. “President Trump has
indicated that he would support removing
marijuana as a Schedule I
narcotic, although time will tell if
that happens with this administration
or the next. It may take some
more time, but it seems inevitable.”
However, businesses can still find
themselves on the wrong side of the
law if, for example, they aren’t paying
their taxes properly or ensuring
they are in strict compliance with
the state marijuana laws. “One of the
major issues with the federal government’s
stance on the issue is that it
prevents traditional Banks from accepting
funds from these businesses
or to provide much needed financing,
as some of these endeavors require
substantial amounts of money
to get started,” said Bahoura.
Even a landlord who is simply
renting space to a marijuana business
cannot accept any rent that is based
on a percentage of sales (as is common
in other lease deals), without
also going through the same rigorous
process. All investors will still
be disclosed, but they would not be
subject to the same scrutiny as the
majority owners.
“I fully support the bill requiring
the disclosure of criminal incidents
only in which the applicant has been
convicted, not simply charged, as is
required now,” said Bahoura. “Being
innocent until proven guilty is one
of the most sacred principles in the
American criminal justice system.
Being arrested or charged but never
convicted should not be held against
anyone in their application process.”
Although it is legal to smoke,
there are still some provisions similar
to alcohol laws. You must smoke
in private or in a business zoned for
smoking, for instance. Don’t expect to
see people lighting up on the streets;
just like alcohol, it will be illegal to
consume marijuana in public.
In addition, landlords, leaseholders,
and business owners can prohibit
smoking pot on their premises but,
they cannot stop you from possessing
marijuana or consuming non-smokable
marijuana products.
College students who are wanting
to light up, slow your roll; don’t
assume you can possess or consume
marijuana in your dorm room. Many
universities have drug-free policies
that can remain in place despite any
change in state law.
If you have a medical marijuana
card and can legally purchase marijuana
products, there is nothing
stopping you from giving pot to your
friends and family. If you want to give
away extra greenery, you can’t collect
payment for it. That would be illegal.
The Business Perspective
Many extremely successful business
people are now investing in cannabis.
“They look at this as an opportunity
to enter into an industry while
it is still in its infancy,” said Bahoura.
“This is appealing for both the experienced
business person as well as the
younger generation looking to get
into their own business for the first
time. They have done their homework
and realize that there are significant
amounts of money they can
legally make. These new laws have
really given this industry a sense of
legitimacy and rightfully so.”
“I truly am happy about the law
being passed by the people,” said
George Brikho. “There are many
good people who have been punished
far too long for this plant, this Godgiven
plant,” he continued quoting
Genesis 1:29. “Where do we draw
the line on what the government can
tell us what to consume and what not
to consume? Many people are overweight;
when is the government going
to intrude on their lives and tell
them that the amount of food they
eat is not good for them and it will
kill them.”
Recreational retail shops won’t
open for at least one year. The state
has until December 6, 2019 to figure
out licenses and regulations for recreational
pot shops.
As a small business owner in the
gardening industry, Brikho said it
will affect him in a positive way. “It
will also affect many of the gardening
suppliers, as well as steel manufacturers,
as well as plant food manufacturers
when they produce products for
this industry,” he continued. “It will
also help the government in tax revenue
so the government’s tax base.
It has helped me take the talent
that I have learned from the retail
business and allowed me to bring it
to the gardening industry which caters
to the marijuana growers.”
Brikho pointed out that Chaldeans
are entrepreneurial and have
been since arriving into the United
States more than a century ago and
over the last 100 years. “I have never
met such a hard-working community
and driven community,” said Brikho.
“Chaldeans are the pioneers of this
industry in the state of Michigan.
Brikho argues that many Chaldeans
were instrumental in pushing
the legalization of marijuana. “The
very people that helps pass all these
laws are now being disqualified for
being in the business prior to the
laws taking effect,” he said.
Marijuana is more heavily regulated
than liquor. “It is certainly
more difficult to obtain a marijuana
license than it is a liquor license,”
said Bahoura. “The process of obtaining
a marijuana license from the
State is quite rigorous.”
Each applicant is subjected to a
very thorough examination of all of
their personal and business financial
Although legal on the state level, it is still illegal on the federal
level. “There is currently no funding from the federal government for
marijuana enforcement at the state level.” – MIKE M. BAHOURA
accounts going back three years, as
well as a thorough vetting of any tax
delinquencies, litigation history and,
of course, any criminal history.
“Time will tell how the industry
shakes out, but for now, there is
plenty of opportunity for those trying
to get into the business, whether it
is through cultivating or selling, or
by providing ancillary services to the
industry, such as security services,
packaging materials, signage, or web
development,” noted Bahoura.
“We did everything in our power
for the average Michigander to have
an opportunity to get into this industry
to be able to provide for their
family and the future of their families,”
said Brikho.
There are many who still protest
the law and want it changed. The
law could potentially change, but few
believe that could happen. When a
ballot initiative passes, it requires a
3/4 majority of both the state House
and Senate to make any changes.
But that doesn’t mean some legislators
aren’t trying. A bill has been
introduced that would make it illegal
to grow marijuana in your home,
and would drastically change the tax
structure established by the law.
“I know there are some people in
our community who frown at those
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JANUARY 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 17