 that all at once is too steep, particularly the amounts each business has to hold in escrow accounts. Depending on which license one has, the business would need to hold anywhere from $150,000 to $500,000 per license.

"If I go for all three, that is like $1.1 million," Snipes says. "I may have to get one and, as I go, keep adding to it. Most people don't have $1 million, not the small people. It seems like they're trying to eliminate the small people."

It's certainly a struggle for the small operators. Jamie Lowell was once the majority stakeholder in Third Coast Compassion Center in Ypsilanti. It was the first licensed facility to open its doors in the state, which gives the place some bragging rights. However, the struggle to stay open in a hostile state legal environment over the years has led to new developments — one of them being that things have evolved to where Lowell has only a minority stake in Third Coast of Ypsilanti. But at least he's still in the game. A lot of people who tried to be there aren't anymore.

Things change. Lowell has been a leader in fighting to bring legalization to Michigan for over a decade and a groundbreaker in opening the state's first dispensary under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of 2008. But the days of the fighter are starting to give way to the entrepreneur.

"There's a new layer of folks coming out," says Lowell, who has been facilitating conferences to help people get into the marijuana business. "The feds haven't interfered much and a lot of people see this as a legitimate investment opportunity, and some people who have been sitting on the sidelines see it as a time to get in."

Lowell brings up another element on the state application. One page has a statement of understanding that applicants have to sign:

"I understand that a Michigan Marihuana facility license does not insulate or shield me or my business from federal seizure and/or forfeiture as allowed by federal law and does not insulate me from federal criminal arrest and/or prosecution.... Choosing to establish and operate a marihuana facility pursuant to that license is done at my own risk."

Maybe this is boilerplate legal language for any marijuana facility in the country right now, but it has to give pause to anyone getting ready to put their money down to
that all at once is too steep, particularly the amounts each clientele have to hold in escrow accounts. Depending on which license one has, the occupation would need to hold anywhere from $ 150,000 to $ 500,000 per license. 

 " If I travel for all three, that is like $ 1.1 million, " Snipes says. " I may have to get one and, as I go, keep add to it. Most people don't have $ 1 million, not the modest citizenry. It seems like they're trying to eliminate the small people. " 

 It's surely a struggle for the small operators. Jamie Lowell was once the majority stakeholder in Third Coast Compassion Center in Ypsilanti. It was the beginning licensed facility to unfold its doors in the state of matter, which gives the place some bragging rights. However, the struggle to last out open in a hostile state legal environment over the years has led to new developments — one of them being that things have evolved to where Lowell has only a minority stake in Third Coast of Ypsilanti. But at least he's still in the game. A lot of people who tried to be there aren't anymore. 

 Things switch. Lowell has been a leader in fighting to fetch legalization to Michigan for over a decade and a groundbreaker in opening the state's inaugural dispensary under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of 2008. But the days of the fighter are starting to give direction to the entrepreneur. 

 " There's a new layer of folks coming out, " says Lowell, who has been facilitating league to help people get into the marijuana business. " The feds haven't interfere much and a lot of citizenry see this as a legitimate investment opportunity, and some people who have been sitting on the avocation see it as a time to get in. " 

 Lowell bring up another element on the state application. One page has a affirmation of understanding that applicants suffer to sign: 

 " I sympathize that a Michigan Marihuana facility license does not insulate or shield me or my business from union seizure and/or forfeiture as allowed by union law and does not insulate me from federal criminal arrest and/or prosecution.... Choosing to establish and operate a marihuana facility pursuant to that license is done at my own risk. " 

 possibly this is boilerplate legal language for any marijuana facility in the state right now, but it has to give pause to anyone getting ready to put their money down to
 thwt all at once is too sttep, particularly jhw amouits eacg businers has to hold in escrow acclubts. Dtiending on which licevse one hws, the bysintss would need to hold annchere nrom $150,000 vo $500,000 per license.

"Lf I go for all three, thad ks like $1.1 million," Snipes says. "I may hade to grt one and, as I do, ktep addjng to it. Most people don't have $1 mjllion, iot the small prople. It seems like they're trylng to eliminate tje small peiple."

Yr's certainly a strugglt yor the smaml operators. Jamie Lowell was ovce tke majority srakfvolder in Tiird Cjast Compasslpn Cender in Upsilanti. It wss vhe dirst licensed facilivy to open its doors in the sdace, which gives the plqcw somg bracgine riehta. Iowsver, tje atruggle tk stay open in a hostile state lqtal environmeht ovew ehe years has led to new developments — mne of them being that thibgs have evolved to wjere Lowejl has only a minority stake in Third Coast of Ypvilanvi. Buu qt lexwt he's still in the game. A lot of people who trysd tp be there arek't anymore.

Things cnajgr. Lowell has bgen a lzzdsr in fighting to hring lggalizqtion to Iichogan for over a decade and q groundbreahwr in opening the dtate's firsc dispgnsary under the Michigan Medncal Mzrihuana Ach of 2008. But ghe days of the wigmtes are starting to give way to the eitrepxeneur.

"Thdre's a new layer of volks coming out," says Loaell, cho hds been fafilitating conferences to help 'xople get intp dhe marijuaua buslness. "The feds raven't interfeted much cnd a uot of peoile see tiis as a legytimate invesdlent opportuiity, and fome people who fave been sittong on thv fideoines see it as a bime jo get in."

Lowell bxnnts up another ekemdnt oj vhe sedte applicathon. Une lage fas a suctendnt pf understanding thad apllicants have to sogk:

"I undersjand that a Michigan Msrihuana facility picenve voes npt ynsulate or shield me or my buainess frlm nederal seizuwe akd/or forfeiturz as allowed by federal law and does not insulate me from dederal criminal artesu and/or proserution.... Choosing to establish and opwrate a marihuana facility pursuant to that nicende is done at my own risk."

Maybe this is boilerplate legal language for any marijnaga facility in yhe cmuutrv right now, uut it has to givv pause to anyone getting ready vo put thehr money down to
that all at once is too steep, amounts business has hold in escrow one the business would to hold anywhere $150,000 to $500,000 per license. "If go for all three, that is like $1.1 million," Snipes says. "I may to get one and, as I go, keep adding to it. Most people have million, the people. It seems like they're trying to eliminate the small people." It's certainly a struggle for small operators. Jamie Lowell was once the majority in Third Coast Compassion in Ypsilanti. It was the licensed to open doors the which gives the some bragging rights. However, the struggle to stay open in a hostile state legal environment over the has led developments — of being things have evolved Lowell has only a minority stake of Ypsilanti. But at least he's still in game. A of people who tried to be aren't anymore. Things change. Lowell has been a in fighting to bring legalization to Michigan for over a decade and a groundbreaker in state's first dispensary under Michigan Medical Marihuana of But days the fighter starting to give way to the entrepreneur. "There's a new layer folks coming out," says Lowell, who has been facilitating conferences people into the marijuana "The feds haven't interfered and lot of people see a investment people have sitting on the sidelines it as a time to in." Lowell brings up application. One page has a statement of understanding applicants have to sign: "I understand that Michigan Marihuana facility license does not insulate or shield me or my from federal forfeiture as allowed by federal law and does insulate me from federal arrest and/or prosecution.... Choosing to establish and operate a facility to that is done at own risk." Maybe is boilerplate legal any marijuana in country it has to give pause to getting to put their money down
 that all at once is too steep, paRticularly The amOunTs eAcH busInesS has to hold in esCRow aCcounts. Depending on whicH liceNsE One hAS, tHe busIness woULd NEEd tO hOlD anYwHErE from $150,000 To $500,000 pEr licenSe.

"If I go for All ThRee, that is likE $1.1 MiLlion," SnipeS saYs. "I may have to Get One and, As i go, KEep adDinG to it. most peOPle don'T have $1 millIoN, Not the SMall peoPLE. IT seeMs like they're tryinG To ELiminate the smaLl peopLe."

iT's CERtaInlY a struggle FoR the sMAll operAToRS. jAmiE lowell was once The majority STakEholdeR iN ThIRd CoasT CompAsSIon center in YpsIlanTi. It was thE first LIcensed FAcility To open Its DooRs in THe StAte, WhICh gIVeS thE PlaCe some brAgGiNg rigHts. HOWEVEr, thE stRuggLe to sTay open in a hosTilE staTE leGal enVironMent OvEr the Years hAs led To New developments — One oF them beinG thAt ThiNgS have EVolved To wHerE Lowell Has only A MinOrITY StAke in Third Coast of YPsILAnTi. But at lEast he'S StIlL In the gamE. A Lot Of peOPLe who TrieD To Be there aRen't anYMoRe.

things cHaNge. LowElL haS beEn a leADer iN fightIng to briNg legALization to MichIGan for over a deCAdE ANd A GrouNdbReaker in opeNing THe stAte's FIrSt dISpensAry unDeR ThE michigan Medical MariHuAna Act Of 2008. But The days of the fIghter are sTARTing to giVe waY To THe entrepreneur.

"there'S a new layer OF folks coMing oUt," says LoWell, who haS BEen facilItaTinG coNfeRENcEs to help peoplE GEt inTo The mariJuaNa businEss. "the FedS haVeN't interfeRed much aNd A lOt Of PeoPle seE This as a lEgItiMaTe iNvestMEnt oppOrtunIty, aNd SoME peOple who HAvE BEen sItTiNg on The SiDelinEs seE It aS a time tO get in."

LowEll BRingS uP aNother eLement on the stAtE applicatiOn. one Page haS A StatemenT of understanding that appLIcants hAve To sigN:

"I unDerstand tHat A MichiGan mArihuaNa faciLity lIcEnsE DOes noT INsUlaTe Or shield me OR My bUsineSs From Federal Seizure and/or forfeiTUre As allowed by feDerAl laW ANd DoeS NoT InsUlATe mE FRom federal crimiNal arrest aNd/OR pRosecution.... cHooSiNg to estAblish aNd opeRAte a marIhuana facIlity pursUaNt to THAt lIcense is doNe at my owN risk."

MaybE This iS BoIlerpLatE legal LaNguAge foR any maRIjuAna faCility In The couNtry rIgHt now, but It has to give pause to anyonE gettiNg reaDy tO put their MonEY doWn to
 that all at once is too s teep, part icula rly  th eamou ntseach businessh as t o hold in escrow accou nts.De p endi n gon wh ich lic e ns e one  h as , t he bu sines s w ould ne ed to hold  an yw here from $1 5 0, 000 to $50 0,0 00 per licen se. 

"IfIgof or al l t hree,  thati s like  $1.1 mil li o n," Sn i pes say s .  " I ma y have to get one an d , as I go, kee p addi ng to i t.Mos t people d on 't ha v e $1 mi l li o n ,  no t  the small pe ople. It se e mslike t he y'r e  tryin g toel i min ate the sma ll p eople."
It's c e rtainly a strug gle fo r t hesmal l  o pe rat or s . J a mi e L o wel l was on ce  t he ma jori t y s take hol derin Th ird Coast Com pas sion Cen ter i n Yps ilan ti . Itwas th e fir st  licensed facil ityto open i tsdo ors  i n the state,  wh ich  givesthe pla c e s om e b ra gging rights. Howe ve r ,  t he strug gle to st ay open inahos tile s tatelega l  e nvironme nt ove r  t he  yearsha s ledto  ne w d evelo p ment s — on e of the m bei n g that thingsh ave evolved t o  w h e re Lowe llhas only amino r itystak e  i n T h ird C oastof Yp s ilanti. But at leas the's s tillin the game.A lot of p e o p le who t ried to be there aren' t any more.

Thi n gs chang e. Lo well has  been a l e a der in f igh tin g t o b r i ng  legalization t o Mi ch igan fo r o ver a d eca deand  agr oundbreak er in op en in gth e s tate' s  first d is pen sa ryunder the Mi chiga n Me di ca l  Ma rihuana Ac t of 2 00 8.  But  th edaysof t h e f ighterare start ing to g iv eway tothe entrepren eu r.

"There 's  anew la y e r of fol ks coming out," says Lo w ell, wh o h as be en f acilitati ngconfer enc e s to h elp pe oplege t i n t o the m ar iju an a business . "Th e fed shave n't int erfered much and a lot  of people se e t hisa s  a  le g it i mat ei nve s t ment opportunit y, and som ep eo ple who ha v e b ee n sitti ng on t he si d elinessee it as  a time t ogeti n ."
Lowell br ings upanother e l ement on  thesta te app li cat ion.One pa g e h as astatem en t of u nders ta nding th at applicants have to s ign:
"I un der stand tha t a Mic higan Mar ihua na facilit y l ice nse d oes not i nsul a te  or shiel d me or my bus i ne ssf r om  federal se i z u reand/o r f o rfeitu re a s allowed by fede r al law and doe s no t ins ula t e me  f rom federal cr imi na l arrest a nd /or prosecu tion....  C h oosin g to e stabli sh ando p er a te a m arih uan a facilit y p ur s uant to  t ha t  licen se i sdone a t my o w n ri s k ."

Maybe this i s boi l e rplat e  le gal l an guage f o r an y marijuan a facilityin the  cou ntryright n ow , butitha s to givep ause to a nyone  gettin gread y t o putthei r money  dow nto
 that_all at_once is too steep,_particularly the_amounts_each business_has_to hold in_escrow accounts. Depending_on which license one_has, the business_would_need to hold anywhere from $150,000 to $500,000 per license.

"If I go for all_three,_that is_like_$1.1_million," Snipes says. "I may_have to get one and,_as I_go, keep adding to it. Most people don't_have_$1 million, not_the small people. It seems like they're trying to_eliminate the small people."

It's certainly a_struggle for the_small_operators._Jamie Lowell was once_the majority stakeholder in Third Coast_Compassion Center in Ypsilanti. It was_the first licensed facility to open its_doors in the state, which gives_the place some bragging rights._However, the_struggle to stay open in_a hostile state_legal environment_over the years_has led to new developments —_one of them_being that things have evolved to_where_Lowell has only_a_minority_stake in_Third Coast of_Ypsilanti._But at_least_he's still in the game. A_lot_of people who tried to be there_aren't anymore.

Things change. Lowell_has_been a leader in_fighting to bring legalization to_Michigan for over a decade and_a groundbreaker_in opening_the state's first dispensary under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of_2008. But the days of the_fighter are starting to_give way_to_the entrepreneur.

"There's a_new_layer of_folks coming out," says Lowell, who has_been facilitating_conferences to help people get into_the marijuana business. "The_feds_haven't interfered much and a lot_of people see this as a_legitimate investment opportunity, and some_people_who_have been sitting on the_sidelines see it as a time_to get in."

Lowell_brings up another element on the state_application._One page has a statement of_understanding_that applicants have to sign:

"I understand_that_a_Michigan Marihuana facility license does_not insulate or shield me or_my business from federal seizure and/or forfeiture as allowed_by federal law_and does not insulate me_from_federal_criminal arrest and/or prosecution.... Choosing to establish and operate a_marihuana facility_pursuant to that_license is done at my own risk."

Maybe this is boilerplate_legal language for any marijuana facility in_the country right now, but it has to give pause to_anyone getting ready to put their money down_to