Pubdate: Mon, 02 Aug 2010
Source: Daily Tribune, The (Royal Oak, MI)
Copyright: 2010 The Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailytribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1579
Author: Michael P. McConnell, Daily Tribune Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?261 (Cannabis - United States)

HAZEL PARK TO DECIDE RULES FOR MEDICAL POT BUSINESSES

HAZEL PARK -- With more than a dozen medical marijuana businesses
eyeing Hazel Park as a potential location, city officials this month
are expected to decide how to regulate marijuana outlets in the city.

"We want to comply with the new state medical marijuana law," said
City Manager Ed Klobucher, "but we also want to make sure we're not
promoting recreational use of marijuana."

Ferndale and Royal Oak have enacted moratoriums on medical marijuana
businesses while officials there try to determine how to deal with the
issue. Several cities have banned such operations outright while
others have passed zoning ordinances limiting where medical pot
outlets can operate.

Klobucher admits that Hazel Park is in limbo on the question until the
City Council makes a final decision.

"Until we develop an ordinance we're saying these businesses are not
permitted here," he said.

Hazel Park council members have been divided on the issue, though it
appears likely a majority prefer to allow the businesses under an
ordinance limiting their location.

"We will probably allow some form of (marijuana) growing facility in
our manufacturing district," said Councilman Andy LeCureaux. "Patients
would be allowed into the facility to make transactions with
caregivers, but would not be allowed to congregate and use marijuana
at the site."

Councilman Mike Webb said he is alone among the elected officials in
favoring a citywide ban on marijuana businesses.

"The way the law is worded leaves too many loopholes for abuse," he
said, adding that he believes marijuana businesses will create
problems for law enforcement officers.

Still, Webb said that he has had to compromise with others on the City
Council in an effort to resolve the issue.

Klobucher, accompanied by two other City Hall workers, visited a
marijuana dispensary and clinic last week in Ferndale called Clinical
Relief. The clinic opened before Ferndale officials enacted a 90-day
moratorium on pot businesses in June.

"We showed up there unannounced," Klobucher said. "The people we saw
there approached it in a very clinical and professional manner. I'd
like to get a few of our council members over there to see it."

LeCureaux favors allowing dispensaries in a limited area on John R in
the city's business district. However, he would like to prohibit the
dispensaries from growing or allowing the use of marijuana on site.

Medical marijuana is spurring business in three areas --- growing
operations, dispensaries and equipment sales for marijuana
cultivation.

Under the law, caregivers are allowed to have up to six patients and
can grow up to 12 plants for each patient. In large growing
operations, a number of caregivers operate under one roof to grow the
product.

Other cities like Troy, Livonia and Birmingham have banned medical
marijuana. A common objection to state medical marijuana laws is that
federal law, which supersedes state laws, still prohibits the use and
possession of marijuana under any circumstances.

Michigan is one of 15 states with a medical marijuana
law.

"We're doing the research and hope to make a decision on what is in
the best interests of our community," Klobucher said.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake