In July of 2020, Grand Haven Mayoral Candidate Andrea Hendrick was attempting to purchase the former Rendezvous Restaurant to turn it into a medical marijuana provisioning center. She had formed partnerships with investors and was far into the process when the deal fell through largely over concerns of future profitability. Medical sales were legal in Grand Haven but recreational sales were not, despite having been approved by voters in 2018. Those only permitted to sell medical marijuana faced stiff competition from recreational sellers in nearby communities. (Recreational sales were not approved in the City of Grand Haven until June 2022.)
The ordnances regarding marijuana facilities were largely developed by the planning commission. Andrea Hendrick was involved in developing these ordinances as a member of the planning commission.
Opening a marijuana provisioning center in the City of Grand Haven requires a Special Land Use Permit and a Facility Permit. Andrea Hendrick had both. She owns Queen Leaf LLC. On October 12, 2020, Queen Leaf LLC was given pre-qualification approval to open a marijuana Provisioning Center in the City of Grand Haven.
To obtain the facility permit, Andrea required a partner. Marijuana is still a controlled substance at the Federal level, so banks generally elect not to loan money to those wishing to begin businesses involving marijuana. Andrea partnered with Ramon Hana owner of Candid Labs, LLC. In June 2023, Andrea’s business partner Ramon Hana was “permanently prohibited from being employed or working in any capacity at a licensed marijuana business in Michigan.”
According to news articles, Hana’s licenses were revoked because inspections at his facilities revealed security cameras with long periods of blank footage, products being processed that could not have been produced with plants grown at the facility, and a quantity of immature plants greater than the number permitted. Since it is cheaper to grow illegal marijuana, the violations indicate that it was likely Hana’s facilities were processing illegal marijuana alongside of legal marijuana in an effort to avoid taxes and additional expenses.
Another part of the permitting process involves meeting with neighbors and informing them of future business plans. Andrea owns another company, I Site Consulting Group, that helps cannabis businesses find locations to open dispensaries and navigate the permitting process at the local level. It appears Andrea Hendrick hired her own company, I Site Consulting, to assist with this portion of the process, but the letter sent to neighbors is signed Green Parent Holding.
Green Parent Holding is owned by Benjamin T Vader, an attorney from Warren, Michigan.
Part of the marijuana provisioning center ordinances for the City of Grand Haven requires 33% of the owners to be residents.
It appears outsiders are very interested in the Grand Haven marijuana business opportunities and eager to form partnerships. A local resident with political aspirations working with outside business owners behind-the-scenes is the opposite of transparency. What else are they planning?