Farmer's Market for Medicine

Ken Van Every's Compassionate Apothecary is strategizing a move to a larger location to accommodate the swift growth they've experienced.  He says the key is a business model which supports dozens of local farmers.  Wait...weed growers are farmers?  "They are farmers," says Ken.  "This is not their only crop."

 

"The quality is so much better than what's being catapulted over the border," Van Every says about concerns over the medicinality and food and drug safety of his herbs.  These local, organic crops are quite different, he says, than imported marijuana, which has gone through "You don't know what."

Ken does not strike one as a retired hippie stoner.  He has had a successful career in professional sports photography as well as many independent fly fishing companies he's founded. "We're bringing jobs to the state of Michigan, paying state taxes...I saw this as a business opportunity first. 

"I quit my job to start this."

What "this" is, is in fact remarkable at least for its singularity in Lansing. Compassionate Apothecary (or "CA of Lansing") offers display space to local farmers who set their own prices.  Ever the business diplomat, Van Every did not try to pigeon-hole his plurality of grower colleagues, but acknowledged "most" of the farmers he deals with are "leaning towards the organic way." Because of this unique business model, he says, the apothecary attracts growers with quality at their bottom line.  Ken never said the words "farmer's market," but that's what he's created: "They are farmers. This is not their only crop."  

 
A patient named James was eager to offer his own perspective on what sets C.A. apart from some other local businesses serving medical marijuana consumers: "Other places, they're standing there with guns like 'What do you want?'"  James was selecting that day from among the 83 strains available from over 30 different local farmers.  The apothecary includes a small but comfortable waiting room and a clean show room filled with natural light.  

But more space is needed to accommodate recent growth, and the business is eyeing some other local properties.  "What brought us to this point is our homey atmosphere and our knowledge."  When Van Every vets medication, he inspects for mold, insect damage, plant disease, and a number of other specific potential flaws--reasons for refusal.  Does he turn down meds?  "Sure," he says, "I say 'I'd rather not offer this to a patient.'"  

Plants are grown and harvested either indoors or outdoors, depending on season and variety.  Outdoor crops grown in 2010--now dried, cured and on the display shelf--include a Blueberry cannabis as well as the heirloom strain White Widow.

What exactly are these 'meds?'  Mainly three varieties of cannabis, one of which is a blend of the two main strains: cannabis sativa and cannabis indica.  Huh?  Ken Van Every cites Indica flower buds as a common prescription for pain, insomnia, and other conditions.  Sativa varieties can be used for many of the same conditions, he says. They may offer an effect which self-reports as less sedative and impairing than many Indicas.  

C.A.'s dry-erase board in the lobby lists 26 strains by name, plus "many more."  Some of those listed were Strawberry OG, Rx and Dutch Treat.  Rx was almost sold out.  Dutch Treat (shown above) was currently enjoying a trend of popularity.

"We provide a service to qualified patients," says Ken.  They choose from among live plants (on Thursdays) and a daily selection of dried herbs and baked goods prepared with marijuana that has passed Ken's mustard.  The edibles, he says are almost always provided by the farmers themselves.  Sir Kushington, C.A.'s head "bud-tender" and consultant, adds generously that "farmers' spouses do a lot of that."   With so many different medication types Ken, Kushington and the rest of the staff "really work hard and do a lot of research," says Ken as he proudly surveys his comfortably busy show room.  "We've got cookies, brownies, suckers, Chex Mix, salad dressings..."  Ken muses when asked about the delivery of doses which range away from smoking.  "I tell people to try just a little at first."

Ken describes a patient who had never once used marijuana:  His doctor had prescribed ganja as an alternative to pain pills that were ravaging the patient's bodily systems.  When the patient came in Ken discussed pertinent details and suggested a few options.  Did the guy ever come back? "A few weeks ago.  He's feeling better."  

Van Every is proud also of providing local jobs.  He anticipates the likely expansion move will require several more employees. But what sold me on Ken was his commitment to the farmers.  "Some of our most important people are our farmers," he said when asked about the food and drug system generally.  "We don't purchase from the farmers.  Other places buy low and sell high," which helps neither farmer nor patient.  Compassionate Apothecary charges a basic service fee to farmers, plus rental for however much display and locker space they need--hence the expansion.  

Who are these farmers? Are they as forthcoming as James and Ken, or are they still in a Sir Kushingtonesque  phase of transition into a comfort zone with public knowledge of their business?The one grower I spoke with at C.A. did not offer his last name, but his first name is the same as the name of his farm.  "I encourage farmers to brand themselves," suggests Ken.  "Be like other businessmen."  He names RonJon's and HDK Farms as two local farms with no qualms about branding their growing efforts.

The herb's de facto legalization and the inevitable economy around it are still newly in the mainstream conversation.  The definitions of farmer, pharmacist, healer, and drug seller (ne dealer) are perched like so many medical marijuana storefronts and their local neighborhood corners.  Local neighborhood corners poised for what?  In this case, an indoor herbal healing farmers market--doctor's prescription required.  

For now, the house on Michigan and Magnolia is easy to miss--none of the bright loudness of its neighbors on the Ave. with their adverts and slogans.  On the broad lane from MSU to Michigan's Capitol, this is the new breed of business.  Some have already closed shop, at least one after a raid on an allegedly related commercial growing operation.

Ken Van Every is not interested in growing--he knows the farmers who do it best.  With Sir Kushington's encyclopedic knowledge and uncanny customer relations at his service, and a parade of patients in need, he's found a niche.  Together their plans include a music festival and possible reality TV show.  

Again, Van Every cautions about medicine doses, and waiting "20-30 minutes" after a small dose before proceeding as appropriate.  But is Ken the faith healer of Lansing's relationship with farmers and medical pot?   He carefully describes the situation of an unidentified patient who became able to walk without his usual cane after medicating with cannabis.  Dramatic culminations aside, this is a business man who's earned the trust of many local farmers.  He's applied an innovation of the farmer's market model to his sector to better serve producers and consumers.  Whatever you think about the weed, the implications for a more ethical economy are staggering.