The past few months have produced intense drama and some relief for the cannabis community in Michigan
There was a scary putsch by the “Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association” (MCMA) and their friends in the Legislature, to destroy the medical marijuana caregiver system as we know it. However, the effort ran out of steam. They were unable to get a 3/4 super majority vote in the House needed to amend the MMMA.
A few weeks later a massive, multimillion-dollar recall of impure marijuana by the MRA, hit over 400 dispensaries in Michigan. Some facilities operating on shaky financial ground could go under. Fortunately it seems the perps will pay a heavy price down the road.
That said, one of the most intriguing things to happen in all this, is the rise, seemingly out of nowhere, of a new cannabis activist organization in Michigan whose goals are to vigorously defend the caregiver community. That group is the “Michigan Caregivers Association” (MCA).
Unlike most cannabis reform groups over the years, whose roots stem from either the counterculture or the progressive wing of the Democratic Party-- MCA’s key leaders are savvy, seasoned, free market Republican/Libertarians.
George Brikho is the founder of MCA and his right-hand man is Scott Hagerstrom, creator of the political consulting firm “Rogue Strategies.”
I briefly met Mr. Brikho at a “Michigan Republican Leadership Conference” on Mackinac Island some years ago. He came across as an alert, streetwise, no nonsense kind of guy.
Scott Hagerstrom has been around for a very long time in the GOP milieu. Our paths crossed many, many times over the years laboring in the GOP vineyards. Among other things, Mr. Haggerstrom was the longtime director of the Michigan chapter of “Americans for Prosperity” funded by the famous billionaire economic conservative Koch Brothers. He went on to run the Michigan “Trump for President” campaign operation. He was a respected candidate for Chairmanship of the Michigan Republican Party when the position was vacant last time.
That did not work out however. Mr. Hagerstrom graciously conceded the race when Michigan real estate billionaire Ron Wieser and his running mate Meshawn Madock entered the fray. Meshawn, who is the spouse of State Representative Matt Madock, is the equivalent of a rock star in the Michigan GOP, for her early efforts to torch Governor Whitmers COVID lockdowns. She was the force behind “Operation Gridlock” which brought over 4,000 cars to Lansing on a single morning early in the COVID outbreak, to fight the lockdowns. Her work made national news and is the stuff of legend for conservative activists and philosophers.
In an exclusive interview with MM Report, Mr. Hagerstrom explained what is up with the MCA.
“I’ve always believed the drug problem should be handled like they do in Portugal, where any drug is legal as long as the user is not harming anyone else,” he explained.
“This falls in line with any number of freedom issues” he continued, “like religion, freedom of speech and personal medical decisions.”
“The Republican Party is way behind the curve... and is missing out on a big opportunity as far as cannabis is concerned” he asserted.
As far as the recent anti-caregiver hearings in the House Regulatory Affairs Committee orchestrated by MCMA lobbyist Steve Linder, Mr. Hagerstrom declared, “this hearing was set up. The other side got 80 minutes and we got 20 minutes”
Mr. Hagerstrom went on to blame the Michigan GOP House leadership for the problem, not grassroots Republicans. In fact, some of these “grassroots” persons are elected members of the House. He went on to say we “have around 10” GOP House members who are not going to vote with the leadership on this one. Those GOP members, coupled with various Democrats, had the votes to block a 3/4 supermajority vote needed to amend the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.
Mr. Hagerstrom and the MCA have no interest in “negotiating” with Linder and his crew after their recent defeat. “We do not trust Steve Linder.” he explained. The idea of having “big government” stepping in to crush the small-time entrepreneur, who is operating legally, is anathema. This is “crony capitalism at its worst,” he said.
“Some of these people (various GOP legislators) are not used to all kinds of people calling their offices on this. They do not like it. They have never experienced real grassroots pressure and they are going to have to get used to it,”
To date, MCA has been able to raise real money from various canna businesses in order to fuel their fire. This includes a $50K donation from one canna business entity and more money is coming in every day.
While this is not much of a match, compared to the millions of dollars Linder’s MCMA has at their disposal, it is enough to pay committed activists for their time. In this case, to specifically work on the GOP-- along with friendly politicians of any political party.
When asked about infighting between existing cannabis reform organizations, Mr. Hagerstrom explained he knew nothing about such things when he first got involved in the struggle. “I’m getting to learn about it lately though” he quipped, suggesting it is all water off a duck’s back. Such things occur “in practically any political movement” and he’s gotten used to it over the years. Such squabbling will not deter MCA and its mission to protect the caregiver system.
