Emily Elconin
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The outside of Green Wave Dispensary located at 500 East Oakland Ave. in Lansing, Michigan. 'MMP' stands for Michigan Medical Patient Marijuana.
Emily Elconin
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The outside of Capital Dank Dispensary located at 1202 S Washington Ave in Lansing, Michigan.
Emily Elconin
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Alyssa Edwards, 21, smokes from her bong in her apartment in Lansing. Alyssa has her medical marijuana card for anxiety and skin problems.
Emily Elconin
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After Alyssa Edwards smokes marijuana, she is laughing on the floor on her apartment. She says that smoking is a release for her anxiety.
Emily Elconin
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Adam rolls up marijuana in a blunt wrap in his house in East Lansing, Michigan. Adam has his medical marijuana card for chronic nausea and says that it helps him immensely with this issue.
Emily Elconin
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The entrance to The Lansing Market Dispensary located at 918 Southland Ave. in Lansing, Michigan.
Emily Elconin
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Amy Nichols, left, and Gabrielle Varga, 20, right, pose for a portrait inside the Lansing Market Dispensary on April 20, 2017. Gabrielle suffered from a traumatic brain injury and decided to get her medical marijuana card in November, 2016. "I had a traumatic brain injury and and suffered from PTSD, memory loss, and a tremor. I mostly smoke oils which have helped my balance and my tremor," Gabrielle said.
Emily Elconin
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Edible cannabis suckers are sold by vendors at The Lansing Market during the special April 20th event.
Emily Elconin
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Inside The Lansing Market's special event held at the dispensary on April 20, 2017. There were several vendors and medical marijuana patients that attended.
Emily Elconin
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An array of edible food with cannabis alongside different vendors at The Lansing Market during there April 20th event.
Emily Elconin
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Edible cannabis in the form of the candy nerd rope is being sliced for customers during the event at The Lansing Market.
Emily Elconin
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Greg McDowell, a regular vendor at The Lansing Market, rolls a joint for April 20th festivities.
Emily Elconin
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Greg McDowell, a regular vendor at The Lansing Market, smokes a joint at his vending booth.
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Individuals gather in a circle while Reverend Jeremy Hall delivers a sermon to individuals attending the Life and Death service at the First Cannabis Church of Logic and Reason on April 30, 2017 in Lansing, Michigan. The church is a church for cannabis users to congregate and give thanks while learning personal moral growth in a non-denominational setting.
Emily Elconin
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Reverend Jeremy Hall delivers a sermon to individuals attending the Life and Death service at the First Cannabis Church of Logic and Reason on April 30, 2017 in Lansing, Michigan. The church is a church for cannabis users to congregate and give thanks while learning personal moral growth in a non-denominational setting. "One of our main goals is to normalize cannabis within the community. A way we do that is we do good deeds. We do community outreach projects and we gave out 5,000 dollars worth of toys at Christmas. What that does is show the community that we are something to be cherished and not shunned," Reverend Hall said.
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A glimpse through a crystal ball as individuals listen to Reverend Jeremy Hall deliver a sermon at the Life and Death service at the First Cannabis Church of Logic and Reason on April 30, 2017 in Lansing, Michigan. The church is a church for cannabis users to congregate and give thanks while learning personal moral growth in a non-denominational setting.
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Regan Hall, wife of Revered Jeremy Hall, smokes a joint that the Church gives to each medical marijuana patient that attends the service on the trails behind the First Cannabis Church of Logic and Reason on April 30, 2017 in Lansing, Michigan. The church is a church for cannabis users to congregate and give thanks while learning personal moral growth in a non-denominational setting.
Emily Elconin
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From left to right, Kevin Skouby, Jonathon Thompson, and Harriet Clauson smoke a joint in the trails behind the First Cannabis Church of Logic and Reason on April 30, 2017 in Lansing, Michigan. The church is a church for cannabis users to congregate and give thanks while learning personal moral growth in a non-denominational setting.
The legalization of medical marijuana has been an ongoing controversy throughout the United States. There are very mixed feelings about whether it should be legalized for a number of reasons. Now, states are legalizing, decriminalizing, and even integrating the medical marijuana industry into their economy making it fully legal to be purchased by anyone that is of age. According to ProCon.org, as of April 20, 2017, there are 29 state that are legal medical marijuana states. Although there are bills that have been passed and are attempting to be passed in attempts to regulate where these dispensaries are located, the state has yet to define the legality of medical marijuana in Michigan. Meanwhile, the medical marijuana industry has continued to grow and integrate itself into the Lansing area, creating a new community for those who are growers, caregivers, medical marijuana patients, and dispensary owners. Throughout Lansing, medical marijuana is a thriving staple for those with their medical marijuana cards.