The Ionia County Substance Abuse Initiative members continue to work toward a drug-free community grant. ICSAI chair Tex Bryant, Prevention Coordinator Courtney Miller and Deb Thalison are working toward the development of information on Ionia County drug and alcohol use amongst students in seventh, ninth and eleventh grades. Data from the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) report from 2011-2012 is being used to show figures for Ionia County. "The state runs this test, and students take it once every two years," Bryant said. [continues 491 words]
Community Workshop Provides Information, Advice IONIA COUNTY, Mich. - Ninety percent of all addicted adults began using as teens, a substance abuse expert told an audience of 70 at the Ionia County Intermediate School District building. Parents and professionals from schools, hospitals, law enforcement, courts and treatment facilities across the county and the state attended a workshop on "Emerging Drug Trends in 2012" Monday. The speaker was Scott Kelly, executive director of BASES Teen Center in Charlevoix and a substance abuse counselor for 26 years. The event was hosted by the Ionia County Health Department and the Ionia County Substance Abuse Initiative. [continues 839 words]
LANSING, Mich. - Supporters of Michigan's medical marijuana program rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday to protest recent court rulings and proposed legislative changes that would make it harder for some licensed patients to get the drug. Protesters carried signs reading "Power to the Patients" and "Cannabis for Chronic Pain" while saying authorities may be trying to weaken the 2008 law approved by voters. Capitol facilities managers estimated 700 to 1,000 protesters were present at the start of the rally. [continues 332 words]
IONIA, Mich. - An opinion last week from the State of Michigan Court of Appeals ruling an Isabella County medical marijuana dispensary illegal is raising concern for two local dispensaries. Great Lakes Holistic, located at 1276 N. State Road, and The Healing Club, located at 6981 Blue Water Highway, are concerned they will not be able to help medical marijuana, card-carrying members based on the ruling. "It's been devastating," said Kim Logan, of Great Lake Holistic. "(Patients) have to go to the street, places that look shady and most do not have caregivers." [continues 750 words]
Methamphetamine seen in juvenile, family court system IONIA, Mich. - A dangerous drug being seen throughout the area is also being seen in the juvenile and family court system. Ionia County Board of Commissioners heard of how methamphetamine abuse is being seen more through the juvenile and family court system at Tuesday's Committee of the Whole meeting. "Our juvenile numbers have been going downward over the past few years," said Ionia County Juvenile and Family Division Judge Robert Sykes. "The numbers are down and abuse and neglect numbers remain steady, if not increased over the past few years." [continues 811 words]
IONIA TWP., Mich. - Helping those in need in the area, Great Lakes Holistic found a new home in Ionia Township opening its doors to patients on Tuesday. Owners Todd Prior, Wendy Ingalls and Kim Loren are glad to be in Ionia County. Great Lakes Holistic in Ionia Township is their second location, with the other in St. Louis, Mich. Ingalls explained that there are not many dispensaries in the area, and the closest ones are in Lansing. One of the focuses of Great Lakes Holistic is to educate community members on the medical benefits of medical marijuana, and offer patients a safe, comfortable atmosphere for their medication. [continues 728 words]
LAKE ODESSA, Mich. - Another Ionia County area is preparing to tackle the issue of medical marijuana, which has proven to be controversial topic in the cities of Ionia and Belding. The Lake Odessa Village Council will be holding a public hearing on the matter at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Page Memorial Building and will discuss a ordinance proposing a six-month moratorium on issuing permits or licenses for the sale or dispensation of medical marijuana. "We're just trying to stay on the pro-active side of things so we can do the right thing," said Lake Odessa Village Manager Mark Bender, who added the village has not yet seen any official requests for medical marijuana privileges. [continues 190 words]
BELDING, Mich. - The first reading of a medical marijuana ordinance amendment was the hot topic at Tuesday's Belding City Council meeting. A six-month moratorium was approved in September on the sale and/or dispensation of medical marijuana, and the expiration date of March 15 is fast approaching has prompted another decision of action by the city council. The ordinance would regulate the use of medical marijuana within city limits but prohibits the use in commercial and industrial areas and areas within 1,000 feet from schools. However, it would allow the use in residential areas with a home occupation permit, which would be issued to the "primary caregiver." This person would be able to accept only five qualifying patients per week and have only two customers at a time in the residence. [continues 420 words]
PORTLAND, Mich. - Portland will see a new ordinance that will allow for medical marijuana users the opportunity for home use, but not for commercial use within the city. Portland members approved the ordinance with a 4 to 1 vote in favor, with council member Steve Calley opposing. Calley stated that he would prefer to wait to hear from the state and other communities before adopting such an ordinance. "It's like we are trail-blazing the way," said Calley. "I would rather see how some of it plays out and see what the state implements." [continues 416 words]
IONIA, Mich. - After two moratoriums and lengthy discussions in Ionia's Planning Commission and council chambers, Ionia City Council members approved zoning ordinances for medical marijuana use at Tuesday's meeting. The vote was 6 to 3, with council members John Milewski, Gordon Kelley and deputy mayor Kim Patrick voting against the proposal. Before voting, council members heard a presentation and were able to ask questions of representatives from the Hubbard Law Firm from Lansing. Kelley said he felt that after hearing the presentation and receiving more information, planning commission members could have further defined the ordinances with a second moratorium, which would not end until March. [continues 523 words]
SARANAC, Mich. - A new program is in the planning and pilot stage in the Eighth Circuit Court system, with a goal to help individuals find an alternative way to seek treatment and help. The program is a drug court, which serves individuals post-sentencing who are diagnosed with a substance abuse addiction and a felony charge. "(We) are looking at this as a possible and certainly a diversionary program, with the assistance from the (drug court) team, to divert individuals who may be on track for prison," said Eighth Circuit Court Judge Suzanne Kreeger, who is spearheading the drug court initiative. [continues 317 words]
BELDING, Mich. - The Belding City Council held two back-to-back special meetings Tuesday to discuss and pass an ordinance amendment to regulate the possession and sale of drug paraphernalia. The two meetings were held the same night because the ordinance was labeled as an "emergency ordinance," which creates the outcome of the council's decision to be effective immediately. City Manager Randall DeBruine said the ordinance was to "protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Belding." [continues 165 words]
IONIA, Mich. - The Ionia Planning Commission discussed approaches the city can take to handle the selling of medical marijuana at Wednesday's meeting. At March's City Council meeting, the members signed a moratorium that offered six months for the planning commission to discuss zoning. During the past few months, the commission has been gathering information on zoning ordinances in regard to where people will be able to grow and dispense medical marijuana. "State law doesn't address the local issues, and probably never will," said Ionia City Manager Jason Eppler. "The issue is if medical marijuana businesses, home occupations, care givers and compassion clubs are appropriate for us (as a city)." [continues 306 words]
IONIA - An initiative to vote on whether to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in Michigan is drawing a response from law enforcement officials and medical experts alike. "We would look at it like other prescription drugs," said Dwain Dennis, Ionia County Sheriff. He said people caught with the drug and not properly prescribed would be dealt with accordingly. "You would be in possession of a controlled substance," he said. If approved, Michigan would join 14 other states legalizing the drug for medicinal use. [continues 347 words]
IONIA - National cuts could trickle down and have a local impact if proposed cuts to the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program go through. This would have a negative impact on efforts to curb drug use around not only the nation, but Michigan as well. Michigan could potentially lose two-thirds of its nearly $10 million of funding received in 2007. Nationally, the funding will be reduced to about $170 million, down about 67 percent from last year's nearly $520 million. [continues 408 words]
