LUNA PIER — Green Labs Provisions, a medical marijuana dispensary in Luna Pier, is open for business.
Owned and operated by Jason (JD) Davison, a 39-year-old veteran, along with Sean Lyden and Breen Lyden, the facility located at 10701 Madison St. specializes in medical cannabis, accessories and apparel.
Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., customers must be 18 or older and have valid identification and a medical marijuana card.
The business has 12 employees. Dave Azoni serves as chief operating officer and Stephen Georgiadis is chief plant officer. Budtenders assist customers with in-store purchases and orders can be placed online through https://weedmaps.com
“Many people need help to find what will help them the most and our knowledgeable bud-tenders facilitate that process. We specialize in the finest cannabis in the Michigan market featuring our house brand, Dutch Touch Genetics,” Davison said. “The new business (opened November 3) has been very well-received by the local community and we are starting to gain traction at the store. Many people have commented on how nice our storefront is and how they welcome the investment into their town.”
“We offer a variety of medical marijuana options for our customers. Our products come in many forms including edibles, capsules and concentrates,” added bud-tender Hilary “Hilly” Donbrosky of Temperance. “I have experience working in healthcare and I have done extensive research on the benefits of medical marijuana and how it can treat PTSD, anxiety and depression.”
Green Labs is a provision and grow center.
“A ‘provisioning center’ is a store that sells medical marijuana to medical patients with the appropriate card issued by a physician and ‘grow’ is a cultivation site where marijuana is grown, harvested, dried and trimmed for sale,” Davison explained. “There are countless grow methods, but our facility is fully indoor using the best and cleanest nutrients in a sterile environment for the plants to thrive. Cheaper marijuana in the market comes from outdoor or greenhouse grows where mold and pests are rampant and require significant remediation with harmful chemicals and/or radiation.”
Currently, Green Labs can do business with medical patients from almost any state that has a medical marijuana program. In the near future, Davison and his team plan to offer adult-use or recreational marijuana but are waiting for both city and state approval.
Once the business has obtained its recreational license, adults 21 years or older with a valid I.D. can shop at the store. Davison estimates 90 percent of his business will stem from recreational sales.
“Both the state and the City of Luna Pier need to approve us for adult-use sales. We are currently in the process with both,” he said. “Many people find that marijuana significantly improves their lives in numerous ways and experience the benefits of medical cannabis for pain and sleep relief. They can finally feel comfortable shopping in a clean store with friendly people without resorting to the black market or taking the trouble to cultivate themselves.”
Davison had his business idea more than 10 years ago, but it wasn’t until 2018 when he approached the city with the concept of building the facility. Davison said opening a medical marijuana facility has required both patience and time.
He admits his parents were even reluctant with the initial idea, especially his father, Dave Davison, a former Luna Pier mayor.
“My dad is a retired police officer and decorated detective, convincing him that I should open a marijuana establishment was quite the uphill climb, especially when he was in office,” he said. “The potential for conflicts of interest and doing this whole thing the right way were contributing reasons my dad stepped down as mayor years ago when we were first starting the project.”
“We took time to allow for a ton of community input and were required to obtain Mason School Board approval for the purchase of the land where we are currently located. The city was only willing to zone the area where we are currently, which required roughly 1.5 million dollars in infrastructure work to get water, electric, sewer service, and raising the building pads areas above the floodplain.”
Davison said progress was slowed down even further due to the foreclosing of neighboring property which prevented him from obtaining the required easements to complete mandated infrastructure improvements.
“It takes a significant amount of planning and paperwork to obtain even a preapproval from the State before any construction begins. There are countless hoops to jump through and then comes the task of building the facility on an appropriate location. Then, there are final inspections, hiring staff, etc. which all add up.”
According to Davison, his goal from the beginning has been to provide support and relief to his customers and financial support to the city.
“We have greatly increased the property tax base for our property and building. Most importantly, once we receive our adult-use license, 15 percent of the 10 percent excise tax on adult-use marijuana will go directly to the City of Luna Pier. This will be a major benefit to the city because it has only a few other revenue streams now.”
Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling is a contributor to The Monroe News.
Green Labs Provisions
Location: 10701 Madison St. in Luna Pier
Owners: Jason (JD) Davison, Sean Lyden and Breen Lyden
Business started: 2021
Services: Specializes in medical cannabis, accessories, and apparel. Customers must be 18 or older and have valid identification and a medical marijuana card.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week
Be the first to comment