Grand Rapids Denies Only Applicant For Home-Based Medical Marijuana License

[thanks2]

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/01/grand_rapids_denies_only_appli.html

 

GRAND RAPIDS – Several months after the city required medical marijuana growers to become licensed as home-based businesses, no licenses have been issued.

 

The only applicant for a license was denied last month, according to information obtained by The Press under the Freedom of Information Act.

 

Is the ordinance too restrictive, shutting out would-be growers – or caregivers – who want to serve the state's 45,800 card-carrying medical marijuana patients?

 

“I think it's too early to tell,” said City Clerk Lauri Parks, whose office denied the application.

 

Parks denied the application under the city's zoning ordinance, which treats medical marijuana growers as a home-based business requiring inspections and a $224 license.

 

Bruce Block, a lawyer who specializes in the emerging field of medical marijuana law, said he's not surprised Grand Rapids' new ordinance has no takers.

 

“I think it's driven people out of the city if that was the intent,” Block said. “The issue is no one wants to stick their necks out. The fish that jumps out of the water gets caught in the net.”

 

“People are going to look at what are considered more favorable counties and cities.”

 

One city resident featured in an earlier Press article about medical marijuana growers, said he has gotten out of the business rather than comply with the city's business license requirements.

 

“Grand Rapids has made it pretty clear they don't want us,” he said.

 

The sole applicant for the Grand Rapids license failed to jump through a number of hoops, according to the Dec. 16 denial letter.

 

The applicant, who name and address were crossed out by the City Attorney's Office, does not live at the Southeast Side home where the marijuana was to be grown, the letter said.

 

Also, the applicant did not adequately prove ownership of the house nor did the applicant prove they had permission of the home's owner to grow marijuana, the letter said.

 

Since the police had reports of prior incidents involving illegal drug activity at the house, Parks' office also asked the applicants to verify when they lived in the house and when they held an ownership interest in the house.

 

Although the state law prevents law enforcement officials from obtaining the name of caregivers and prevents local officials from making the disclosures, Parks said her office shared the address with the police department as part of their routine background checks for business licenses.

 

“They are applying for a business license with the city of Grand Rapids,” she said.

 

The Fire Department also had “several outstanding safety issues that need to be resolved,” the denial letter said. Building and electrical permits needed for the improvements also had not been pulled.

 

The proposed growing rooms in the house also were not secured with locks – a requirement of the state law governing medical marijuana, the letter said.

 

The applicant had 10 days to appeal after the denial letter was issued on Dec. 16.

 

So far, they have not heard from the applicant again, Parks said.

[Willy]

So far, they have not heard from the applicant again, Parks said.

 

LIke they thought they would. I bet dollars that person is now going back underground. Doing what he has to do.

[Big J]

Please take note if the person that applied reads this get a lawyer and sue the bunny muffin out of the city for violating the mmma law and hippa. They according to this article broke both laws if you are a patient and a caregiver. Put miss parks office violated at the very least the mmma law by disclosing personal information.

[ScrogBubbles]

Although the state law prevents law enforcement officials from obtaining the name of caregivers and prevents local officials from making the disclosures, Parks said her office shared the address with the police department as part of their routine background checks for business licenses.

 

“They are applying for a business license with the city of Grand Rapids,” she said.

 

I wonder why nobody applied

[+EdwardGlen]

When cities see the money they're losing but being taken in by other communities I'm sure the tide will turn in favor of OUR LAW!

 

Lets face it. Money is the only thing politicians understand and when enough of it gets in the right pockets everything is legal.