Medical marijuana biz leads to 30 new jobs in Ypsilanti

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Medical marijuana isn't just a buzz word in downtown Ypsilanti, it's a business with the potential to boom in the near future.

The 3rd Coast Seed Co. (a compassion club for users of medicinal cannabis and their caregivers) and the Michigan Marijuana Chamber of Commerce have set up shop in 7,300 square feet of commercial space, bringing 30 new jobs with them. The organizations' space (where one can eat a marijuana cookie among other cannabis products legally) is ironically in an old Girl Scouts office next to Abe's Coney Island on 19 N Hamilton St.

Anthony Freed, the founder of both organizations, also has plans to open similar offices elsewhere in Michigan. He believes this could create 1,000 jobs in Michigan both directly and indirectly within the next year.

"The ability for this to save Michigan is a very real concept," says Freed, who is also a user of medicinal marijuana. He also was once owned a mortgage company and claims to have been the general manager of Dexter Chevrolet at the age of 23.

As an example he says he is working with a local company that makes air purifying machines that have been used in restaurants to abate second-hand smoke. Instead of that business just going away with the newly passed smoking ban, he hopes to help that company transition its technology to be used as an air filtration system for the grow process of marijuana.

He sees multiple spin-off businesses coming from the new medical marijuana laws. Business that can not only be used by existing companies but can help create new ones, and new jobs, in Michigan. It's part of the reason why he is starting the Michigan Caregivers Cup in Ypsilanti at the end of this month.

"This industry can replace the auto industry at a fast pace," Freed says.

He points to proof of that in California, which is celebrating its 12 anniversary of the enactment of its medical marijuana laws. The medicinal marijuana industry is worth 10 figures and growing. He thinks Michigan is even more adept to hosting such an industry with its abundance of farmland, manufacturing base and research facilities.

"That this industry exists is a fact," Freed says. "It's a billion dollar industry whether you want to recognize it or not."

Source: Anthony Freed, co-founder of the Third Seed Co. and the Michigan Marijuana Chamber of Commerce
Writer: Jon Zemke