How Healthy and Productive is Anti Cannabis Leader Scott Greenlee?
On November 29th, a story appeared in the Detroit Free Press with the headline "Opponents of legalized marijuana in Michigan form group to fight ballot proposal."
In brief, the article described the emergence of a group named "Healthy and Productive Michigan" (HPM). HPM's goal is to persuade Michigan voters to vote down the legalization of marijuana in Michigan in November 2018.
The group's leader, Lansing resident Scott Greenlee, age 50, declared "now that big money has started to get behind legalizing recreational marijuana in Michigan, its time we put Michigan first and oppose these efforts...we remain opposed to increased marijuana use in Michigan"
The Free Press story went on to explain that Greenlee, who is owner "Greenlee Consulting" declined to say who was backing his efforts, but claimed his group "is a large coalition" that includes business, law enforcement and faith based organizations.
"We plan to be very aggressive to fight this" he continued, suggesting his group could bring at least one million dollars to the anti cannabis effort.
With the exception of the Free Press, the only important statewide media outlet to cover Greenlee's announcement was Michigan Radio.
However, a deep background check of Greenlee and his past lives was made
The first unusual thing to pop up, according to Michigan Secretary of State Records, is his committee's officially registered name is "Health and Productive Michigan" yet he calls himself President of "Healthy and Productive Michigan."
A check of his Facebook page has him posing with a pistol and a big dog, in front of a rack of 30+ rifles and hundreds rounds of ammunition. The caption reads "Since I can't carry this very friendly dog (Bullet) around with me and in light of my announcement two weeks ago that I will be heading up the fight against recreational marijuana...these nice, peaceful, non addicted, friendly, open minded and respectful people who really want to see the law changed and recreational marijuana made legal and because of their threats (they really want their weed) I decided to upgrade my second amendment rights..."
According to a public records search, since he first surfaced on the Michigan political scene as "Founder and First President" of the Grand Rapids Community College Republican Club in 1987, the data indicates he had at least 14 changes of address, ranging from Missouri, Illinois, Grand Rapids and Lansing. He has worked mostly as a volunteer for Republican notables such as John Engler, John McCain, Rick Snyder, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Bill Schuette and Donald Trump. At one time he was a Vice Chair-Coalitions, of the Michigan GOP and a party leader in Kent County.
Prominent political employment positions in his life, include a one year stint as "Export Director" for the "Michigan Economic Development Corporation" from March 2011 to February 2012 and "3 years 1mo" with Attorney General Bill Schuette as a "constituent relations" manager. He operated his political consulting firm while he was on Schuette's payroll.
In a quixotic campaign for Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party in 2014, Greenlee proclaimed himself in the west Michigan political news letter "Michigan Blogspot" to be "Attorney General Bill Schuette's right hand man, a seasoned political pro who has both grassroots and establishment support."
Big GOP financiers and power brokers like Betsy DeVos, Ronna Romney, Terri Lynn Land, Paul Welday, Ron Weiser, Congressman Paul Mitchell, and State Rep. Peter Lund were also touted as being in the running for the chair at that time. Mitt Romney's niece Ronna Romney was ultimately elected to the position.
Greenlee Consulting prints campaign signs, literature, business cards, marketing brochures, and palm cards. It also does robo calls and "traditional and electronic media buys for clients."
The only record found to date of Greenlee Consulting activity, appeared in TDE Journal from Richmond, Virginia in 2014. It identified Greenlee as chairman of a shadowy PAC called the "Patriots Fund." The Patriot's, in conjunction with one term Oakland County Michigan Congressman Kerry Benitvolio, orchestrated a barrage of robo calls, accusing Virginia House of Delegates member Bob Marshall of missing too many legislative votes. Mr. Marshal won the election in spite of Greenlee's efforts.
Greenlee does not appear to be a high net worth individual. Campaign contribution web sites and information services, indicate his personal campaign contributions have been in small denominations, never exceeding $1,000 a pop. Virtually all of his donations went to the Republican Party or various Republican political candidates.
He lives in a 1160 sq ft, 1 bath condo in Lansing which he purchased for $75K in 2014.
Perhaps there is more to know about what Greenlee is up to and who he represents. However, calls and messages to Greelee's one and only known phone number were not returned.
It seems at this time, Mr. Greenlee and/or "Health and Productive Michigan" is not in a position to defeat legalization of cannabis by the voters of Michigan in November 2018.
