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HEARING SET ON CHANGES SPARKED BY MEDICAL POT

Green Oak Township residents on Thursday will have their say on minor zoning-ordinance changes that would incorporate state-approved medical marijuana use, possession and growth into the township's rules for building uses. 

The township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the draft zoning amendments at its regular meeting Thursday. 

The Michigan Medical Marihuana Program began last year after voters approved it at the ballot box in November 2008. 

The township's ordinance changes would be updated to say that state-approved use, possession and growth of medical marijuana are exempt from a prohibition against building uses not in line with local, state and federal law. 

While the state law made approved medical marijuana use legal, nonmedicinal use or possession of the drug remains illegal in Michigan. 

It is also a federal offense to use or possess the drug - including use for medicinal purposes. 

Green Oak Township, the village of Pinckney, the cities of Howell and Brighton and Brighton Township have been grappling with how to incorporate the voter-approved medical marijuana law into their local rules. 

Green Oak's legal counsel and township officials have been researching possible changes to the zoning ordinance to comply with the law for the past several months. 

"This is the first document we've come up with," said Lesa Brookins, the township's planning and zoning administrator. 

The Green Oak Township Board of Trustees has twice tabled a proposed 90-day moratorium on the "sale, growth or dispensation" of medical marijuana in the township while the zoning rules were being researched. 

Township officials explained the proposed ordinance amendments are separate from a moratorium, which hasn't been discussed since spring. 

It's unknown if a moratorium will be necessary at this point in the process, they said. 

"We want to be sure that we comply with all state and federal laws.  We have to make sure that we're doing it correct," said Clerk Michael Sedlak. 

Officials' greatest concern has been preventing "social clubs" where marijuana is dispensed from cropping up in their communities. 

The head of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association has said zoning laws don't apply because the program doesn't involve any type of business. 

The state's medical marijuana law doesn't allow the state Department of Community Health, which administers the program, to supply patients with seeds or starter plants, or give advice on how to grow medical marijuana. 

It also doesn't protect users or their caregivers from federal prosecution, or from having their marijuana seized by federal authorities. 

Those eligible for the program must have or be treated for ailments that fall within three categories of debilitating illnesses.  The list includes cancer, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, agitation of Alzheimer's disease and AIDS. 

As of Aug.  6, 23,350 patient registrations had been issued for the state program, and 6,122 applications denied, most due to incomplete applications or missing documentation, according to state data.