Pubdate: Wed, 05 Jun 2013
Source: Ypsilanti Courier (MI)
Copyright: 2013 Heritage Newspapers, a Journal Register Property
Contact: http://www.heritagenews.com/lettertoeditor/
Website: http://www.heritage.com/ypsilanti_courier/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5124
Author: Katrease Stafford

YPSILANTI RESIDENTS CONCERNED AS COUNCIL REJECTS EMERGENCY MORATORIUM 
ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES

Ypsilanti will not impose an emergency moratorium against new medical 
marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities, despite pleas from 
several residents to consider the ordinance.

"All of these drugs right now are tearing up our community," said 
Ypsilanti resident Brian Foley, who has lived in the city for 53 
years. "I'm a recovering addict. I know the pain of addiction and we 
have a lot of pain on my side of town. I'm a lifelong resident of 
Ypsilanti. I don't want my city to be known as the dope capital of 
the midwest."

Council member Ricky Jefferson and Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson 
brought forth the ordinance on May 21, which requested no additional 
permits and licenses be granted related to medical marijuana for 60 
days until city staff reviews the present density of licenses already granted.

To impose the emergency ordinance, it would have taken four-fifths of 
council to vote in favor of it for it to pass. Jefferson, Richardson 
and Council Member Susan Moeller voted in favor of it. Mayor Paul 
Schreiber, Council members Brian Robb and Daniel Vogt voted against 
it. Council Member Pete Murdock abstained.

"I am very moved by the fact that the citizens don't want to see 
these businesses by their homes," Moeller said.

Council originally voted to table the ordinance at the May meeting.

Jefferson said his main concern and drive to propose the moratorium 
was based on what he believes is a high number of facilities located 
within Ward 1, which he represents.

"This thing was kind of backdoored on us," said Ypsilanti resident 
Ken Harrison. "I remember going to Abe's Coney Island one day and 
then the next thing I knew, it was a (marijuana) facility in the 
back. We have halfway houses, assisted living facilities popping up 
everywhere. It's time we're notified prior to these things coming up."

Ypsilanti has the following dispensaries and grow facilities within 
city limits:

* Ward 1 has two dispensaries, with one potential dispensary. The 
ward also has one grow facility and one potential grow facility.

* Ward 2 has one dispensary.

* Ward 3 has three dispensaries and one potential grow facility.

Several community members attended the May 21 and June 4 meetings to 
voice their disapproval of more dispensaries opening in the community 
- -- particularly Ward 1.

Yet, some residents and dispensary owners had a different belief and 
stated the businesses are good for the city and local economy.

Ypsilanti resident John Evans, who gave a presentation Tuesday 
entitled the "History/Synopsis of Medical Marijuana" is in favor of 
the facilities. Evans is a medical marijuana activist and medical 
marijuana patient.

"I'm here telling my city council that i want to be progressive," 
Evans said. "That's how social change works. We don't wait for 
Washington. Saturation should be defined by the free market in a 
capitalist society."

Ypsilanti business owner Dave Heikkinen said business owners in the 
downtown district had initial concerns about Herbal Solutions, at 124 
W Michigan Ave, opening, but he said no issues have been reported.

"We had concerns when this whole thing took off," Heikkenen said. "We 
had a town hall with Herbal Solutions. Like it or not, we've lived 
harmoniously since they opened up."

Jamie Lowell of 3rd Coast Compassion Center, a dispensary, said he 
believes a town hall meeting should be held so both sides can discuss 
their concerns.

"If we could do a town hall or some meeting outside of this to 
examine what are our serious issues, we could learn more about this 
together and move forward," Lowell said.

Rick Thompson, a parent of an Eastern Michigan University student and 
a Clear Channel radio show host said "a vocal minority should not be 
allowed to rule over a vocal majority," citing Ypsilanti's recent 
measures passed in favor of medical marijuana by residents.

Former Mayor Cheryl Farmer, who is also a practicing physician, is 
against more dispensaries and facilities opening.

"The idea of adding medical to marijuana was to make it more 
palatable to the citizenry," Farmer said. "Let's not keep pretending 
it's medical."

Farmer said the city has more than enough dispensaries and facilities 
for the entire population of the city.

"We've got plenty to take care of the people in our city," Farmer 
said. "We don't need to serve Toledo and Detroit. Let's study the 
issue and decide what we want."

Police Chief Amy Walker said the current facilities have had 
relatively low calls for service, but she doesn't believe more would 
be good for the city. Between May 2012 and May 2013 all of the city's 
medical marijuana facilities received only five calls.

"That's my personal opinion," Walker said. "I do believe marijuana is 
a gateway to heavier drugs and we have a hard enough time fighting 
the drug problem (we already have.) I understand the hot topic it is, 
but in my humble opinion, there are plenty dispensaries to go around 
these four square miles. I don't think the city wants to promote 
itself as medical marijuana mecca."

Reverend Garther Roberson of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church at 718 
North Prospect, said he's lived in Ypsilanti for more than 85 years 
and believes the city must do more to prevent a rising number of new 
medical marijuana facilities.

"I've watched this great city as we've had ups and downs," Robeson 
said. "Marijuana in itself isn't the bad thing, it's the question of 
what it leads to. Why must it be on the south side?"
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom