Pubdate: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 Source: Rockford Independent (MI) Copyright: 2010 Stafford Communications Group Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/KOdDTWu4 Website: http://www.rockfordindependent.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5199 Author: Danielle Arndt Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan) PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP EXTENDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM Plainfield Township is in "wait and see mode" when it comes to addressing planning and zoning issues presented by the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA), said Community Development Director Bill Fisher. "Communities are waiting on a statewide basis for judges to make some clarifications on the law," Fisher said. On March 15, Plainfield Township Board members passed a six-month moratorium on permits or licenses for the sale or dispersal of medical marijuana. And on Sept. 7, the board extended that moratorium for another six months until March of 2011. Fisher said the township has not been approached by any groups wishing to open marijuana cooperatives or dispensaries like other local communities have. "If anything, there have been some conversations with individuals, medical marijuana patients or caregivers, just inquiring what the status (of a possible zoning ordinance) is," he said. "We are willing to get going on this and will, but with all the ambiguities and the lack of clarity in the law it wouldn't be in our best interests to just get something in the books." In January, Grand Rapids amended its zoning ordinance to regulate the relationship between medical marijuana caregivers and patients as a home-based business and in August, Greenville did the same. Other municipalities also have passed moratoriums, while others still have banned the dispersal and sale of medical marijuana. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake