Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jun 2010
Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle (MI)
Copyright: 2010 The Traverse City Record-Eagle
Contact: http://www.record-eagle.com/opinion/local_story_128175513.html
Website: http://www.record-eagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1336
Author: Lindsay Vanhulle

MEDICAL MARIJUANA NEEDS REGULATIONS

TRAVERSE CITY - City leaders and medical marijuana  patients and
caregivers agree it's important to  regulate the growth and
distribution of the drug within  Traverse City limits.

The city wants a foundation from which to address  complaints and a
way to minimize traffic from such  activities in residential areas.
And those permitted to  grow marijuana want to continue to do so
legally  without turning their hometown into a haven for  outsiders
who seek a quick profit.

Both groups met to draft a proposed ordinance, since  taken up by the
city's planning commission, that is  expected to be presented at a
public hearing next  month.

"We were really trying to deal with the land-use  impacts," city
Planning Director Russ Soyring said. "If  this operation of growing
marijuana was creating a  nuisance, we could address the nuisance."

Michigan voters approved marijuana for medical use in  2008. Three
years prior, 63 percent of Traverse City  voters supported a measure
that made medical marijuana  use, transfer or possession a low
priority for law  enforcement. The ballot stopped short of legalizing
it.

The latest ordinance would allow marijuana to be grown  in residential
and industrial districts, provided  plants are kept "within a fully
enclosed locked  facility inaccessible on all sides."

That includes garages and sheds. Central neighborhood  resident
Adrienne Rossi said she is concerned about an  increase in theft or
crime that could result from  residential marijuana
cultivation.

Authorized patients or caregivers only would be allowed  to transfer
the drug between other patients in what are  termed "collectives,"
located in hospital or some  commercial districts -- including downtown.

In the collectives, patients and caregivers wouldn't be  able to keep
marijuana there between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.  They, their parents or
guardians, and facility owners  and employees would be the only people
allowed inside.

A city moratorium on sale or distribution permits is  set to expire
Aug. 19. New rules enacted before then  would prevent people from
conducting those activities  anywhere, City Attorney Karrie Zeits said.

Traverse City's ordinance would permit up to 72 plants  grown in a
single-family home -- each patient is  allowed 12 plants, and
caregivers can grow for five  patients -- and up to 12 in a
multi-family residence.

The rules would require the buildings primarily be used  as
residences.

"There are some people who want to make this the next  Amsterdam,"
said Bob Cameron, a city resident and  medical marijuana caregiver.
"We also wanted to protect  ourselves so that people don't come to
Traverse City  and rent a house and turn it all into a growing
(operation)." 
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