Original Article Posted At on the Holland Sentinel by Cassandra Lybrink

FENNVILLE — The process took more than 18 months, but Patt Dewenter has opened a marijuana dispensary in Fennville's former city hall.

The marijuana side of the business launched in mid-August, but customers have been able to shop CBD products since April 20.

More:Fennville’s old city hall could become marijuana shop

"I think we're the only dispensary in the state with a full CBD store in front like that," Dewenter said. "We sell coffee and tea. In fact, CBD coffee is one of our best sellers."

Commissioners approved the sale of the property at 222 Maple St. to Dewenter in March 2020, just weeks after municipal staff and elected officials moved to a new building down the street.

"Somebody put me onto the community," Dewenter said of her choice to open a marijuana shop in Fennville. "I started going to all the city hall meetings and I really liked the people, and they ended up liking me."

The business has a recreational license, but will honor medical cards for discounts. More than anything, Dewenter wants customers to feel comfortable.

"It's more of an experience," she said. "Rather than running in and grabbing your weed, it's a much more personalized thing. We're super friendly, and you can just come in and have a cup of coffee and hang out."

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Pot shops have popped up across West Michigan in record numbers over the past year. Even though recreational weed was legalized by voters in November 2018, Fennville didn't approve its local marijuana regulations until February 2020.

Dewenter has already received several offers from retail chains to purchase her business — but she's turned each one of them down.

"At least let me get open first," she joked.

But it's about more than money to Dewenter.

"We'll be doing a lot with community involvement, as opposed to just planting myself down on the side of the highway and being part of a big corporation," she said. "That's not the experience I want to have. There's a lot of change going on right now, and us independents have to stick together."