EnlargeGlassblowers from Urban Pheasant Glass do a live demonstration at the First Annual Genesee County Gardening and Information Expo.First Annual Genesee County Gardening and Information Expo gallery (7photos)
DAVISON TOWNSHIP, MI -- Medical marijuana growers have a chance to connect with each other in Davison Township this weekend.
On Saturday, April 13, Green Oasis co-owners Tony Butler and Christopher Kniffen threw the first day of the First Annual Genesee County Gardening and Information Expo at Stonegate Banquet Center in Davison Township.
After doing so much work on their own since founding Green Oasis in February 2011, the duo decided to connect with other area businesspeople to build the medical marijuana community in Genesee County.
"We had been to other expos, and we thought, we could put it here with local people," Kniffen said. "...A lot of people need information, and this isn't just stuff you can look up on a web site."
Butler added that aside from products, that the expo also gives growers and patients a chance to speak to each other about growing methods. From there, it takes time to learn.
"Even if you're the smartest guy and have the best teacher, it'll take at least a year to produce marijuana that is quality medicine," he said, factoring in elements such as climate control and environment control.
The event had about 23 vendors, including the likes of Medical Marijuana Mix and DocGreens Solutions to assist with growing, Pure Altitude to provide pipes and spoons, and others that sold pro-marijuana clothing, hemp jewelry and more. A band performed live music, and the expo also had a glass-blowing demonstration.
Butler said that he has seen people have different types of interest in the medical marijuana business, but that he tries to make clear decisions on who to work with.
"I've seen people have interest for a multitude of reasons. Some of them want to help people, and some are just trying to make money. We try to avoid (the latter)," Butler said.
He said that the Michigan Supreme Court ruling in February that outlaws medical marijuana dispensaries has helped weed out people who are only involved for making money, but that it has hurt his ability to give marijuana to patients who need it.
"I've given away over 30 pounds (of marijuana) to patients, but the block on dispensaries stops me from being able to make the money to give it away for free," he said. "...I don't understand the climate of opposition when it's clear that the industry is moving along so fast."
He thinks that the Supreme Court ruling hurt Saturday's possible attendance—the expo had welcomed about 100 people around 4 p.m. — but hoped that attendance grew for the rest of the evening and on Sunday.
Freddy Tarasevicius, a salesman for the Doc Greens Solutions nutrient line for growers, is satisfied with the expo either way. He admits that he was expecting more people to attend, but he said that the networking done at expos is still valuable.
"It's big to meet vendors in the area. We want to see who's out here," he said. "What better way than to see them all in one place?"
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