Hotel Cancels Medical Marijuana Clinic
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Updated: 2:07 AM Jun 17, 2010
Hotel Cancels Medical Marijuana Clinic
The University Quality Inn asked the Michigan Caregivers Network to go elsewhere
Posted: 11:04 PM Jun 16, 2010
Reporter: Jamie Edmonds
Email Address: jamie.edmonds@wilx.com
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About three weeks ago, Brook Robertson got a call from group wanting to rent space at the University Quality Inn in Lansing.

"They said it would be physicians meeting with patients," Robertson said.

The two rooms the group requested were available on June 20th, and the approximate $1,500 price tag was acceptable. So, Robertson said a contract was sent out, but not long after, the hotel began to get threatening phone calls.

"Stating that they would be protesting and there might be some damage done to our property, staff and guests," she said.

All Robertson knew is the group who made the reservation is called the Michigan Caregiver's Network. Those who called in protest knew the group planned to set up a medical marijuana clinic, where doctors write prescriptions for the drug after a short examination.

Worried about the safety of guests and employees, Robertson said they asked the Michigan Caregivers Network to go elsewhere.

"I still don't fully understand what their function would be, but what I do understand is that people in the community were not happy with it," she said.

The MCN never returned News Ten's phone calls as to if and when the clinic may be relocated, but the state said MCN is well within their rights to reschedule because it's legal.

That's only if they use licensed Michigan doctors, said James McCurtis of the Department of Community Health.

"That's all legal because all the law requires is you get a recommendation from your physician that you have a debilitating illness," McCurtis said.

The Michigan Caregiver's Website still said the clinic will be held at the Quality Inn on Sunday, but Robertson said, that's not the case.

"We don't know what happened to that group, we just know they won't be here on June20th," She said.

The Michigan Caregiver's Network has two other clinics scheduled this weekend in Kalamazoo and Detroit. News Ten made phone calls to both hotels and the representatives at both places said the clinics are still on.