[420 Girl]

Corey Tripp is a Livingston County businessman who isn't burdened with local ordinance restrictions like most of his home-based business brethren. He and his clients enjoy a heightened level of protection under one of the state's newest laws, and highlight one of area's newest entrepreneurial adventures.

Tripp, 28, is a consultant for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Project, an organization designed to connect patients suffering from debilitating or chronic illness with marijuana - up to 2.5 ounces on their person at one time.

The title does not allow Tripp to "sell a bag of weed, but I can sell my time and services," he said.

The former journeyman carpenter reinvented himself following a car crash that left him in a coma for more than a year and caused him to endure seven surgeries, bone cleansing to address an infection and another two years of speech and physical therapy. "I suffered from a closed-head injury," said Tripp, a part of the recovery that was frustrating but not as painful as the bone/blood cleansing he had to endure 12 hours weekly for eight weeks.

Oxycotten and oxycodone helped with the pain, but were damaging his pancreas and liver, forcing him to take another set of pills to counterbalance the effect. He'd grown sick of the pills and was introduced to marijuana by a friend.

"It's not about getting high if you're really sick. It's relief, not being juiced up on pills for the rest of your life," he said.

He feels strongly enough about the natural healing of marijuana, compared to the addiction of narcotics, that he joined M3P and started helping others find relief.

Tripp helps people become caregivers (overseers) that manage plant growth, supply and paperwork involved with growing, harvesting and delivering medical marijuana. Each caregiver is permitted five consumers, or patients who qualify for the drug, and grow up to 12 plants per consumer for a total of 60 plants.

Howell Police Chief George Basar, who also serves as the immediate past president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, was not surprised that area residents are practicing business under the new law.

"There are a lot of entrepreneurial people. We're just seeing the tip of the ice burg," he said, but noted that he is concerned about leftover product. He fears the drug will hit the streets.

But Tripp said the entire plant is used for medical purposes, to alleviate consumers' pains. What is not rolled into marijuana cigarettes is turned into hash, a white, powdery by-product of the burned plant; or into oil that can be used in peanut butter or body lotion. He offers recipes for each of the products.

He also sets up 8-foot by 8-foot grow rooms in warehouses or homes, where every consumer or caregiver has a locked room. Perhaps his most called-upon service however is steering people through the processes needed to become a consumer, or state-approved patient.

"I try to stay with people who are real patients. Are they honest and trustworthy?" are questions he uses as his guide before taking them to a Southfield facility where they can meet with four doctors, three are required by state law, and receive Affirmative Defense paperwork, making it legal to carry the drug.

The program and paperwork is overseen by the Michigan Department of Community Health. Fees range depending on services requested, but begin around $65 for paper documentation and arranging a Southfield appointment. Mandatory membership in M3P is $500 each month and entitles patients to the marijuana, which Tripp can deliver.

Basar said he doesn't begrudge people who are truly sick from getting the relief they seek. His argument is that it should be regulated and dispensed through a pharmacy.

"We have nothing but compassion for those truly ill and truly suffering, but the law was not well thought out and it will require years of litigation to work out" for quality control and to determine if the drug meets an adequate level of effectiveness, Basar added.

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