The Arbella Group

11/03/2026

We think Anthony says it all so well in this video….

Will be interesting to see how tonight turns out…..and the aftermath……

11/02/2026

Today we are going to approach the subject of how the DEA only wants to give medical cannabis licensing to states who don't have recreational cannabis........

Some states who have been recently approved are Alabama, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, and West Virginia....... though interestingly enough Virginia had passed legislation for recreational cannabis, as they haven't initiated licensing they are allowed medical cannabis licensing.

It would seem the DEA doesn't understand that there are many medical cannabis patients across the country who utilize the recreational cannabis market and depend on cannabis sold in the recreational market because it works best therapeutically for their ailments, compared to the limited selections allowed in the new federal system they are trying to force us to be grateful for. Instead, a first good step in faith from the DEA to the patients, (instead of harming patients further and limiting access while simultaneously destroying people's companies), should be to allow for current medical cannabis patients to have access their medication even when they have to travel, so patients can travel with their medicine when needed. Possibly start to roll things out on a helpful positive note?

The company that I utilize have quality standards for their products that supersede the medical cannabis quality rule and is a company I have known and trusted the quality of the cannabis since the beginning of the Wild West Era of Michigan. While I am in California helping Pops, I have to use secondary companies here to supplement my therapeutic regiment as I can't legally travel with what works best for me without jeopardizing being a criminal. I go through spasms, locking up, and other crappy symptoms out here in California as I am not allowed to bring or have shipped the brand of medicine back home that works the best for me.

While California has some good genetics and companies I by far prefer the company I utilize back home in Michigan for my therapeutic usage. I have multiple documented chronic conditions, with the most recent added to my list being that I survived 3 severely spurred and collapsed vertebrae in my neck as well as had a cyst on my spinal cord that was blocking spinal fluids......It would be nice to have access to the medication that works for me best instead of being limited and potentially persecuted over what works best for quality of life for me.

While I have always wanted to focus my skills and abilities soley on medical cannabis and patients......the government's actions both on state and federal levels make it so I also have to defend the recreational portion.......

I have been in a flair with my back now for a week and a half, and to be quite honest while California has some good genetics, the only thing I wish I had was some Private Reserve OG, or Spartan OG, 517 Headband, 517 Tricks or some Hippie Cologne from the company that has worked for me for years to have the best quality of life possible for me. The secondary choices I have here in California do not work as efficiently for me.......While I am grateful for the invention of steroids and toradol that typically assist in helping stop the flare, and braces to support, and a cane to assist in movement when needed, it is those genetics from a specific licensed company that help my body BEST preventing spasm, prevents my muscles from locking up, and help alleviate a lot of the symptoms I experience. Interrupting and limiting a patient's medical cannabis causes great harm to patients across the country who may need to travel for whatever reasons.

Maybe the DEA could talk to the TSA and we could all figure out how to quit persecuting and limiting medical cannabis patients? Possibly include an actual solution for patients, instead of another burden.........We'd certainly love to come to the table for discussions because nowhere does it seem the federal government is taking patients' needs anywhere in their considerations of "federal approvals", just as Michigan is failing to address the issues it faces with the upcoming activation of Public Act 268 of 2013.........

11/02/2026

Today we are going to discuss an issue that medical cannabis patients face that the federal government has not addressed that has been a concern for quite some time......the issue of traveling with your medication.

As of the latest updates TSA has said, "TSA’s screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance or evidence of criminal activity is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer." Then points out "The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint."

We'd like to point out how limiting this is to patients. Instead of being able to travel with the medication that works best for them, they are instead forced to find dispensaries wherever it is they are flying, and hope to get similar genetics.

While most states have medical cannabis laws, this is not such an easy feat and disrupts a person's medical cannabis therapeutic regiments. It is not all the time you can find similar genetics, and as not all states have medical cannabis laws some places a person's medical is outlawed regardless of medical necessity.

An example I'd like to give...... I have used certain genetics of a specific company pretty much since I had surgery for 3 severely spurred and collapsed vertebrae with a cyst on my spinal cord blocking spinal fluids. The genetics I get from this company alleviate muscle spasms, locking up, and when I am in a flare of symptoms calms them....they for the most part keep me from having flairs as long as I don't overdo myself and stay within the medical boandaries I have. In California that brand is not offered, I cannot transport it or mail it.........and while California does have some good companies and genetics, they are not as efficient as the ones I have access to back home in Michigan when I have really rough days.

Example number two, the oils that best have the genetic needs pops for his healing process is sold in California, as we could not find an oil close to comparison in Michigan.........

How many medical cannabis patients have to travel, and aren't allowed to take their medication with them? How many patients have had their therapeutic needs interrupted and substituted at a quality because of no access to the therapeutics you have at home? How many people must fall through the cracks?

Per Google, as of April 23, 2026, FDA‑approved ma*****na products and ma*****na under qualifying state medical licenses have been moved from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, lowering federal regulatory barriers for these categories...........

Doesn't seem to add up to me, if the scheduling is dropped why can't patients access the medication that works best, or be allowed to travel with it safely without fear of prosecution? When does medical necessity apply and be respected without fear of persecution?

11/01/2026

Day 31 of Michigan's Medical Cannabis History.......Today we round out this series, and in the new week will begin another. We hope you have enjoyed this series and learned a bit about both the medical cannabis history, but also how recreational cannabis has had a variety of effects on medical cannabis patients. We want to remind you that this month's series is actually a very small portion of Michigan's history. The hardest thing has been choosing which topics to fit within this month.

As Michigan walks into the future of the cannabis industry's both medicinal and recreational there is much uncertainty, and definitely more legal hoops to jump and battle. Sadly, legislators have failed to act about the issues that we are currently facing and the issues that lay ahead in our future when the state decides to enact Public Act 268 of 2013.

Will the legislators yet take action before the new year? Or will their legacy be one of lack of care or courage to address the hard topics and instead pass the burning mess onto the next session?

Remember as you vote, how far BOTH party's have let our state fall with no care to fix the issues, and the CRA has been useless when it comes to efficiency or productivity......how Michigan went from the top in the country to the worst by a landslide without care. The current "leaders" and "lobbyist's" of our industry have failed to address the issues and, in our belief, have greatly done disservice as they certainly haven't protected the patients, recreational users, or companies they claim to represent......

Our state has a deep history, and one worth fighting for restoration........the medical cannabis patients, the recreational people, and the companies deserve far better.

10/30/2026

Day 30 of our Michigan Medical Cannabis History........ Today we will be discussing an unsung hero that has given his life's work to help the patients' for rights and to access quality cannabis......the man, the legend......Roger Winthrop. At 78 years old and , he is not done yet after almost 50 years of service.

Roger whom is commonly known as RD, and whom I call Pops is a direct descendant of John Winthrop who led the Arbella and 10 other ships in the spring of 1630 across the Atlantic with his vision and leadership to become the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the first Governor of Massachusetts which shaped our society today. Roger, like his ancestors, has spent his life educating and working on a variety of Human Rights Policy.

In his youth Roger obtained a bachelor’s degree from University of Kentucky in Political Science and History, then obtained his master’s degree at University of Wisconsin in Education focusing on Human History.

Pop's worked closely with the "Kiddie Caucus" that consisted of strong liberal position and civil rights issues. Not only was he a major role in Michigan's first medical cannabis law, but he also assisted with:

* Michigan Environmental Protection Act of 1970
* FOIA & Meetings Act 442 of 1976 in Michigan
* Public Health Code 368 of 1978 co-writing Michigan’s First Medical Cannabis Program and over saw the operations
* Truth In Renting Act of Michigan enacted in 1979
* Assisted in the development of regional substance abuse programs

During the Wild West Era of Michigan's medical cannabis history he was the owner of the Robert C. Randall Memorial Wellness Center, as well as the second owner of Cannalytics. The dream he had of helping patients with doctors, as well as the lab for quality assurance was something he had waited decades for the opportunity. As we have discussed previously the doors were shut due to the Curruther's ruling, and the legislative inaction to address concentrates and edibles.....and with the passing of Public Act 2013 investing in the licensing programs was futile.

For years he has watched Michigan fall to pieces and has wanted nothing more than to offer guidance and wisdom from his decades of experience to help restore Michigan to the greatness it once was. As this is an election year, and with President Trump lowering the Scheduling (even if his plans for how they are going to roll pharmaceutical cannabis out aren't even complete, and will face legal challenges) Pops decided at 78 years old he wanted to come back to Michigan and walk the capital with the picture of him getting the first law signed in to see if he could inspire legislature to do something as they had been ignoring the issues facing our state. So he traveled earlier this spring to Michigan to fight to restore Michigan's cannabis industry to greatness once again. After being in Michigan a short time, he ended up showing symptoms and was eventually diagnosed with bladder cancer and with a heavy heart we came back to California so he could be treated.

He has been working hard to restore his health, and to be able to come back to Michigan once again to help the legislators. He reminds me of Haymitch from the Hunger Games.....all he has ever wanted was to work with the government for patients to have safe access, and the producers of the medications to produce quality cannabis. The wisdom he holds spans decades, and all the systems Michigan has created. Michigan should utilize the experience he has to restore Michigan and let the medical cannabis and recreational industries thrive while providing quality cannabis to the patients and users of recreational cannabis.

Pops recently had a surgery where they removed 3 golf ball sized tumors from his bladder and has another upcoming surgery yet coming. The fact that at 78 years old, battling all sorts of medical conditions he has the burning desire to fix Michigan and restore it says more than any paid lobbyist ever could. The heart this man has had for the people, and the work he spent his life on, the level of true care is so rare in this world. He has led, he has taught, he has worked endlessly not just in Michigan but abroad our country and sacrificed more than what most could dream of.......There is no other lobby group in Michigan that can compare to Pops or his experience, and the fact he does it because he believes in it and not for a paycheck makes him a hero.

Today we honor Pops........for his decades of service and leadership. The courage he showed in the 1970's, and in current times almost 50 years later is unsurpassed to anyone else in our state and look forward to being parts of the solutions to fix the mess we’re in.

10/29/2026

Day 29 of Michigan's Medical Cannabis History Month as we call it...... today we are going to discuss the difficulties people in the cannabis industry face when suddenly unemployed may it have been the Wild West Era, the Licensing Era, or the upcoming Public Act 2013 Era.....

It has been incredibly difficult for people who have worked in the cannabis industry to find employment in mainstream industries. In various cannabis industry groups across the state there are posts from people asking for help and looking for employment. Sadly, many companies don't see these people as potential employees but stoners or other stigmas. When leaving the cannabis industry many lose everything financially despite having skills that are transferable.

I am going to share my experience was when the Robert C. Randall Memorial Wellness Center and Cannalytics closed it's doors. I went from working with legislators, patients, and caregivers educating and working to change people's lives for the better......working at an attorney’s office where I learned that was not my strength or interest working in an office roll…. Other then I was good at get medical cannabis dismissals and will always remember the call I got at the office from a client who had his charges dismissed…I am not good at proof reading and my eyes have issues staring at screens all day, nor is the paperwork involved my gift. I really sucked at it, but I learned an admiration for the hoops lawyers have to jump through….and that there are good lawyers with good hearts that do exist. I give nothing but credit to those who do the paperwork and fight for justice, I just know I am meant to help give lawyers different perspectives for their court cases. And I stepped back into seeking world of jobs….. ultimately it was Subway that actually gave me more hours and made it more bearable financially. Yup, I was a sandwich artist for awhile until I found more sustainable employment. Travis always joked "wifey bootcamp." (For those who don't know, Travis was my life partner that passed away of colon and liver cancer while Michigan was busy allowing remediated cannabis.) It was a job that at least brought something in for me to try and support my family despite sending out endless resumes. It took time to find employment that would actually sustain myself and my girls. If it were not for the love and care of three of the gentlemen who watched over us to make sure we didn't go homeless and had food, I have no idea how I or my children would have made it. When the National Institute of Health held the first neurological cannabis summit, I couldn't even afford the gas to attend. I was making signs to hitch hike, and Travis threw me in his truck and drove me because he believed in me and loved me even when I couldn't hold me head up financially despite having skills and abilities that most don't.

Since then over time I have worked at CSL Plasma as their Community Liaison and even wrote a power point they requested to use nationally as a training for those who would hold the position, and many other neat organizations where I helped give away thousands of formals for free to young ladies in need.

So many have faced this struggle as the waves of unemployment during the Wild West Era, those currently facing it as companies are closing in the licensing system due to its failures, and what we will see in the coming times when our state enacts Public Act 268 of 2013. Rebuilding your life after this industry is hard in mainstream employment…..it’s not just trying to support your family financially it’s also trying to figure out where your skills and abilities can be best used for betterment of the word and you and your family….there is such a wide range of skills that people can transfer into if society.

Will our current legislators change their legacy's their last months in the capital and address the issues that plague the licensing system as well as the future of Public Act 268 of 2013? Or will they remain quiet and be attached to the part of history that showed no care for the industries, the patients, or the people who work in it?
As we can see every system we changed to has harmed the workers, and with each new system our quality grows poorer and more limited...... Why is Michigan not embracing an industry that changes lives for the better and one we once dominated nationally and offer opportunity for the workers instead of destroying their work and dreams?

10/28/2026

Day 28 of Michigan's Medical Cannabis History Month as we call it.......Today we are going to talk further about Public Act 268 of 2013.

We will be discussing the part that contains the part where it states you have to obtain your medication from a pharmacy........

As we have discussed the current medical cannabis licensing system will cases to exist "immediately" when Michigan decides to put this Public Act into effect, and from that point forward "pharmaceutical grade" cannabis would be sold from pharmacies with limited selection products being sold to patients and guided by the medical professionals and pharmacists with their "book" knowledge.

Aside from the economic devastation you are going to cause to medical cannabis licensed companies who have practical knowledge and experience working with the patients of Michigan as well as their employees who will lose their jobs. They, as do the people of the Wild West Era have practical application skills that a quick Continuing Education Class could never teach.

One thing we have noted in the various eras of medical cannabis history in Michigan is that the further we get away from the Wild West Era, the less education there actually is for patients. When we went from the Wild West Era to the Medical Cannabis Licensing Era and then with the incorporation of the recreational cannabis industry all being corporate there is a huge gap of education and personalized care for medical cannabis patients, or even for new people on the recreational side of the counter who may never have experienced cannabis before walking into a dispensary and should be given some guidance.....

I was speaking to a very well know researcher and doctor one day, she said to me, "We have book smarts and degrees, but practical application knowledge is different ballpark."

We lost education and patient care when the patients were switched to the corporate licensing system, as the ones who knew the field best was actually the caregivers of the Wild West Era. Public Act 268 of 2013 shows a future of people who do have practical application knowledge and skills being pushed aside for propaganda research and a basic Continuing Education Class...and the patients again lose in care they deserve to have, and have had previously.

10/27/2026

Day 27 of Michigan's Medical Cannabis History Month as we call it....... Today we are going to talk further about Public Act 268 of 2013 and the effects it would have on patients.

Today we are going to talk about how the bill was primarily geared for adult patients with zero mention of pediatrics until the House created for pediatrics to be included. In that amendment it requires for two doctors to recommend the patient's therapeutic use.

While Michigan has had a two-doctor approval for medical cannabis patient registration since the beginning of pediatric use becoming a legal option for treatment, there is not a single state in our country that mandates having two doctor approval for every prescription.....why is Michigan continuing to require this? Why did they not use wisdom and see how limiting that has been for pediatric patients and change that in this law for the betterment of pediatrics?

Pediatrics all threw the Wild West Era and the Licensing Era have been limited in access, and it makes no sense again no other state in our country has a law like this.......

*One issue the pediatrics of Michigan have faced is finding 2 doctors with the courage to do pediatric recommendations. We fail to speak of the head hunting that occurs for those doctor's brave enough to do so, and so finding doctors willing is incredibly difficult. Once these families can find a doctor they have to burden of the financial cost of the gas for traveling, then pay the cost of the referral appointments, and then pay the state to register.

*Travel to find doctors that will consider the on some of these children is almost impossible due to the conditions these children have, such as neurological disorders. Let us also not forget the children who are in hospice and their families want availability to a medication that can help their babies' pains and ailments without the heaviness of morphine.

We would also like to point out that the current pediatrics have been utilizing various cannabis products now for quite some time that have therapeutic value for them and can show it in their medical records. Switching them to "pharmaceutical grade cannabis" is going to cause a lot of disturbance in their therapy abruptly, and while no patient old or young should have to deal with the fall out of that, the pediatrics deserve to be treated far better as do the companies that serve them.

The fact that pediatrics wasn't at least addressed in the original writing of this law speaks volumes. When the House made the amendment to include pediatrics, they should have considered what difficulties they are expecting pediatric patients to go through, or at very least pondered why are we the only state with the only law that requires two doctors to approve the prescription?

Those who created and wrote this law, had zero considerations for medical patients older or younger and should be embarrassed of themselves. They created a limiting preemptive law that creates far more harm than good with zero care for the people they claim to serve, and years later it is at our doorstep with no attention from the legislators.

10/26/2026

Day 26 of Michigan's Medical Cannabis History.......We will spend the remainder of this month discussing Michigan's Public Act 268 of 2013, and the impacts to come if action is not taken by our legislators.....What will the future of both the medical and recreational cannabis industry in Michigan? Will we be restored to greatness as a state, or be the laughingstock of the country on how far we fallen?

Public Act 268 of 2013 is known as Michigan's pharmaceutical-grade cannabis law. This law was sponsored by Senator Kahn on Halloween of 2013 under Bill 660 and was immediately to the committee of Government Operations, and on Nov. 7th the Committee recommended that the words "Immediate Effect" be placed on it. On December 18th it was placed on Governor Snyder's desk, and it was approved by Governor Snyder and on December 30 was filed with the Secretary of State for "Immediate Effect" when the federal scheduling of cannabis was lowered. This was the nail in the coffin of Michigan's Medical Cannabis Industry, however the recreational side of the Market in later years would create a ripple that the pharmaceutical companies didn't realize what was coming.........

In previous posts we have mentioned some of the issues that Public Act 268 of 2013 will bring to our state such as limiting qualifying conditions, reducing genetic options for patients, and not offering a smooth transition to yet again another licensing system for patients, ect., the Act is tied to Federal Action of lowering the scheduling and is preemptive and may differ from what the federal government tries to put into place. Due to the law being dormant, it has created the situation that no one wants to take action to fix the huge injustices that are facing the states medical cannabis patients that are still registered, as well as those unregistered. It also creates hue issues to those who are current medical cannabis company license holders, most of which have no clue that all their hard work and money will disappear at the drop of a dime, just as happened to the owners of the Wild West Era.....except this time it will affect that corporate companies that bought into the licensing and ultimately hand the industry "immediately" to big pharmaceutical companies.

There was/is no forethought or consideration of the medical cannabis patients and how this would affect them, nor any care for the corporate companies currently serving Michigan in the Licensing System. History is doomed to repeat unless the legislators take action, and the owners of the Licensing System will have their dreams and hard work taken from them at a moment's notice for the states next "medical cannabis licensing system."

We would like to discuss with the state's blurred lines between the medical cannabis and recreational Program and issues it could arise. As we saw in the beginning of the recreational market the state had no issues in moving medicine to the recreational counters within the first week of recreational cannabis being allowed. The message sent to many patients at that time was loud and clear: as medical patients we are still secondary in concern or thought after jumping hoops and paying for state registrations, as well as recreational cannabis is where the best cannabis is going to be moved to. The registered medical cannabis patients gave up their registration cards and chose to have larger selection on the recreational side of the counter and not be forced to pay a useless fee to the state.

People who utilize cannabis for medicinal benefits are a huge backbone of the recreational market due to the mishandling of the state. Expecting the medical cannabis patients to give up the selections that have benefited them now for close to a decade and improved their quality of life for pharmaceutical grade cannabis limited selections and products is not going to happen like you think…..why would people select pharmaceutical when it will limit further the products and genetics made available to patients?

Despite the disrespect the state has shown medical cannabis, patients still speak to their primary doctors (who still aren't allowed to write recommendations) about how the cannabis they utilize helps them with their quality of life and have the medical records to show it. As we have also seen in the past in the Randall Ruling medical necessity prevails and could now potentially be seen as the savior to the recreational industry as well because of the blurred lines our state was so comfortable in creating.......................

10/26/2026

Day 25 of Michigan Medical Cannabis History as we call it......... We are going to stay one more day on the Licensing System Era for today, then tomorrow will move on to Public Act 268 of 2013.

We want to discuss recalls in products, and of a report that speaks volumes to where our state stands concerning issues with State Cannabis Industry Violations..........

In 2024 a report was done on Cannabis Industry violations........our state who was top in the nation in the industry embarrassingly ranked #1 for VIOLATIONS. Michigan had 928 violations in a single year; the second closet state was California who had 458 (about 500 less then Michigan), then Washington, and Missouri following. While the state has made a lot of money, approximately 3.72 million in fines in 2024, it'd be a whole lot better seeing changes be made and restoration to the greatness we once were..........When will we admit the system in place in not working? From best in the country, to literally the absolute worse.

Next we are going to discuss recalls on cannabis products........ We'd like to ask the question, why are products out for sale on the recreational counter if they haven't passed all quality testing? There have been times when a recall has taken 6 months to announce, and by then the products are utilized and most people who purchase the product have no clue about the recalls..... Again we ask the question, how is it these products are allowed to be sold in the first place?

Just further ways both patients and recreational cannabis users have been endangered without lack of care........ Our state used to be groundbreaking, known for the best products by a land slide........and today we truly are the laughing joke of the country endangering people..........and no one seems want to address the issues..........

Here's an article from recently.....Oh Michigan how far you have fallen under the "leadership"..............

Michigan ma*****na regulators have announced the recall of 786 ma*****na concentrate products after testing indicated they contained a banned chemical. Fawn River Cultivation Company LLC, … Continue reading