Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 Source: Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) Copyright: 2011 Kalamazoo Gazette Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/vggfBDch Website: http://www.mlive.com/kzgazette/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/588 Author: Tom Haroldson MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE FOR BUSINESSES DELAYED BY PORTAGE CITY COUNCIL PORTAGE -- Portage has tabled action on an ordinance amendment regulating medical marijuana businesses in the city. The Portage City Council heard comments Tuesday from several people opposing the proposed ordinance that would regulate medical marijuana as a home occupation much like the cities of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids have done for months. After concerns were raised about the distance from schools and requiring the growth of marijuana plants indoors, the council voted 4-3 to table action until its July 26 meeting. Councilman Terry Urban suggested the tabling so that additional information could be provided, specifically dealing with occupational safety issues such as use of pesticides and other chemicals within a home to grow marijuana. Urban also had concerns about the 1,000-foot common distance from schools -- based on the federal drug-free zones standards -- that he said appeared to prohibit medical marijuana dispensing in many parts of the city. In January, the council approved a six-month moratorium regulating medical marijuana and asked the Planning Commission to come up with a proposal. The Planning Commission spent weeks reviewing it, took comments from only two people and unanimously recommended its approval. The ordinance amendment sets guidelines for dispensing of marijuana, such as hours of operation, number of caregivers and patients, distances from schools, hours of operation and parking. The ordinance amendment that is being proposed would allow a home occupation with no more than one primary caregiver who can cultivate no more than 12 marijuana plants per patient. It also allows possession up to the maximum permitted by law -- 2.5 ounces for each patient. The home occupation could not be within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare facility, recreational park and playground or 100 feet from a public or private youth center, public swimming pool or video arcade. Plants would have to be grown indoors, within locked enclosures. Patients can only visit between 8 a.m.-8 p.m., with no more than five patients allowed at one time. The ordinance would be enforced by the Community Development Department and the Portage Police Department. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.