Pubdate: Mon, 4 Oct 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: Carol Hopkins Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan) CITIES PLAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA MEETINGS People anxious to open a medical marijuana compassion club or dispensary won't have much luck around Oakland County right now. A brief check indicates that most communities have established moratoriums for such operations. Oakland County Sheriff's Office officials said they are unaware of any dispensaries in operation. Waterford Twp. Waterford Township's moratorium on medical marijuana operations runs until the end of January 2011. The Waterford Planning Commission listened to public input this week regarding land use matters involving medical marijuana. Some people said it should be zoned commercial. Some said it's against federal law. One man urged the township to work with him on his request to open a club. The Waterford Planning Commission will hold a study meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, to discuss the range of approaches that could be taken regarding zoning for medical marijuana land-use questions. The problem is, said Robert Vallina, township community planning and development director, the medical marijuana act is "silent on dispensaries and clubs." For example, should municipalities be dealing with them or should it be a matter for the state, Vallina asked. It appears that same question is being asked around the county. Vallina said the Planning Commission may decide to set up limitations, such as saying that such clubs could be no closer than 5,000 feet from schools. "They could also recommend nothing be done," he said. Waterford's zoning ordinance currently prohibits anything not in accordance with federal law. White Lake Twp. White Lake Township's board will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, which features the second reading of an ordinance amendment as the only item on the agenda. The amendment would prohibit anything in conflict with local, state or federal law, said Sean O'Neil, White Lake planning director. "Medical marijuana is not in the amendment." The township's 90-day moratorium on medical marijuana issues ends in October. O'Neil said most people who voted for the law believed marijuana would be made available to "people who are very ill or in need of serious pain medication." He said he has had many discussions on the subject. "There are a lot of people who could truly benefit from it," he said. "Then I hear others who are skeptical because they have heard arguments that it's just a step to legalize marijuana." O'Neil is looking forward to the meeting. "The board can approve, modify, amend, extend the moratorium or do nothing," he said. "I expect good conversation." Auburn Hills Auburn Hills was one of the first cities in Michigan following passage of the act to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. "We approached the issue from a zoning and land use perspective," said Steven Cohen, director of community development. "We originally zoned medical marijuana dispensaries in our commercial areas to keep drug transactions out of the neighborhoods. While the ordinance was adopted well over a year ago, the city only started to receive interest from prospective business owners this summer." Cohen said the majority of inquiries have been requests to open large-scale facilities, while the city's original ordinance was intended to comply with the act by allowing a limited number of small scale, pharmacy-type distribution operations. "We never envisioned the amount of gray areas in state regulation, however," he said. Currently, Auburn Hills has a 120-day moratorium in place to review the issue. The moratorium will remain in effect until early October, but can be extended if the City Council needs more time to consider the issue. West Bloomfield Twp. Sara Roediger, West Bloomfield's senior planner, said she regularly receives calls about medical marijuana operations, "but no applications are taken because the business isn't allowed." The township has a moratorium in effect until the end of the year. The township board will be discussing medical marijuana at its Nov. 15 meeting, Roediger said. David Bertram, legislative liaison team leader with the Michigan Township Association, said the association held a symposium in July to talk about the medical marijuana act. "We don't have a formal policy," he said. "We are having a hard time getting a handle on the act, and part of that is because it's written vaguely. Some things, such as number of plants that can be grown, are clear, but then there are a lot of other things confusing to us." Bertram believes no movement will take place in the Legislature during this election year. "It's going to be a difficult legislative process because it will take a 3/4th vote of both houses to make changes," he said. Locals Look to State Vallina in Waterford said people viewing the medical marijuana issue at the local level feel the responsibility for resolving this issue rests with the state. "There are a lot of issues that need to be refined in Lansing," he said. [sidebar] FYI The Waterford Planning Commission will hold a study session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, to review medical marijuana land issues. The White Lake Township board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, to discuss the second reading of an ordinance amendment related to discussions stemming from medical marijuana. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake