Marijuana – northern Michigan's newest industry?

REGION – Since 2008, with legalization of the drug for medicinal purposes, a new industry has been taking root in the state of Michigan – marijuana farming and processing.

And with last year's approval of regulations governing commercial medical marijuana facilities, that industry is set for major expansion in the next three to five years.

With a number of licenses for commercial facilities already approved in the village of Kalkaska, and numerous inquiries and applications for municipal approval in many other areas of both Kalkaska and Antrim counties in recent weeks, it's a safe bet that by this time in 2020 both counties will boast at least a few commercial facilities where pot is being grown, scientifically processed into various forms for consumption, shipped to other areas, and – in some cases – sold locally. 

And that may be a cause for concern among private medical marijuana caregivers in both counties, as well as the patients who use those facilities.

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