Pubdate: Tue, 2 Nov 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: Mike Scott, For The Daily Tribune Cited: Bloomfield Township http://www.bloomfieldtwp.org/Government/Trustees.htm Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan) BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP BANS MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES Bloomfield Township approved two ordinances last week that will affect how medical marijuana patients in the community will fill their prescriptions. Residents who are eligible under state law to consume marijuana for medicinal purposes will have to fill their prescriptions at dispensaries outside the township, according to the township board of trustees' unanimous vote. The board has been debating the issue for several months and had placed a moratorium on the issue a few times since voters approved the state law in November 2008. Since then, communities around the state have had to make decisions on whether dispensaries can be allowed within their borders. Without any real tax benefits to local communities for allowing dispensaries, few have taken steps to allow them. Not only will dispensaries not be allowed in Bloomfield Township but cultivation of product also is forbidden. However, residents who have a state card that allows them to use marijuana for medicinal purposes will have to register with township police, the requirements of a second ordinance approved by the board in late October. Patient registration will be confidential and failure to register would be a misdemeanor. "This is really about trying to avoid a recipe for disaster," said Capt. Steve Cook of Bloomfield Township Police. "Registering with the police department is really for the protection of residents and officers." One of the problems with how the state law is written is that there are inconsistencies in how law enforcement should handle residential marijuana cases, Cook said. The department wants to avoid any unnecessary raids for marijuana use, and registering with the police department can help with that, he added. "I'm not asking residents to register with our department because we want to charge them," Cook said. "But we want to work with you as long as you are working within the state law. If your (physician) has prescribed a resident to use medical marijuana and you are complying with state law, that is your business and we won't bother you." The issue is that without local registration, Cook and his officers won't know whether residents are using legally or illegally. "Everyone is wrestling with the fact that this state law is poorly written," Cook said. "If a resident needs it for (chronic pain) who am I to say no?" Medical marijuana can be used only in residential areas, and there can be no more than two patient users in a home, according to state law. Caregivers, though, do not have to register with township police. Michigan law provides for caregivers, who may have up to five patients. Caregivers are allowed to grow up to 12 plants per patient and must be registered with Michigan. Cook is not aware of other municipalities that require their residents with a state medical marijuana card to register with local police. However many municipalities haven't finalized their local ordinances and whether they will allow growing or dispensaries within their communities. "I do know that 64 percent of our (township) residents voted for this state law," Cook said. "We are trying to figure out what we can and should enforce." Nearby communities Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham also do not allow dispensaries while Beverly Hills continues to have a moratorium on the issue. While marijuana use is against federal law, federal authorities have not actively fought medical marijuana usage under state laws. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake