FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Flint Township will be without a medical marijuana ordinance for a while longer. The township board approved a motion to hold off voting on the ordinance after several people raised concerns about the proposed measure during public comment. Board members also expressed concerns about the legality of the law, which is being contested. "You read all these things in the paper and any normal citizen would get confused," said Trustee George Menoutes. Nick Pannesidi, owner of the Michigan Wellness Center, 3095 South Dye Road, raised concerns about a section of the ordinance that states: "The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act does not authorize marijuana stores, dispensaries, compassion centers or any medical marijuana business that may market to a wide customer base." [continues 337 words]
SWARTZ CREEK, Michigan -- The Swartz Creek city council is slated to vote on a proposed medical marijuana ordinance at its meeting tonight. The ordinance used distances from the Liquor Control Code to regulate where dispensaries and growing facilities can be located. Dispensaries and growing facilities must not be within 500 feet of another growing facility or dispensary, residential uses, any place the provides care or instruction for child younger than 18 and any house of worship or religious institution, according to the proposed ordinance. [continues 96 words]
SWARTZ CREEK, Michigan -- A proposed medical marijuana ordinance is another step closer to becoming a reality. The Swartz Creek planning commission voted unanimously to makes changes to its proposed medical marijuana ordinance to include revisions discussed at Tuesday night's meeting. Planned changes include following the Michigan Liquor Control Code when it comes to distances from schools and other areas. The revised ordinance would require all growth facilities and dispensaries to be located 1,000 feet radially from schools and municipal parks. [continues 208 words]
SWARTZ CREEK, Michigan -- The Swartz Creek city council unanimously passed a 90 day moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries at a special meeting tonight. The moratorium will "allow the city council to consider amendments to its zoning ordinance and to its drug control ordinances," the resolution reads. City manager Paul Bueche said the planning commission is close to completion on the city's medical marijuana ordinance. "We're looking for it to be finished to put on the books in 30 (or) 40 days," he said. [continues 53 words]
SWARTZ CREEK, Michigan -- Questions about phrasing in a medical marijuana draft ordinance dominated discussion at the Swartz Creek planning commission meeting, Tuesday night. Commission members expressed concern about parts of the ordinance including determining distance from residential zones and the number of inspections the city was required to make. The ordinance requires dispensaries and growth facilities to not be within 1,000 feet of areas such as schools, but commission members expressed concern that the distance, coupled with current zoning, would make the ordinance too restrictive. [continues 173 words]