Medical Marijuana Moratorium Approved By Leoni Township Board

[jamieuke]

http://mobile.mlive.com/advjackson/pm_29293/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=F5s3vJfG

 

 

 

MICHIGAN CENTER -- The Leoni Township Board has become the latest local government to temporarily ban any new medical marijuana businesses.

 

The board voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve a medical marijuana moratorium, said Leoni Township Clerk Michele Manke.

 

She said the one-year moratorium will give the township Planning Commission time to consider in which zoning classifications medical marijuana establishments should be located.

 

"I think our board (earlier) took the approach that the voters passed the law, so we weren't going to do anything with a moratorium," Manke said. "But we have an issue where one is fairly close to a church and our elementary school," she said.

 

"Even though it's medical ... it's becoming an issue." 

 

Michigan voters in 2008 approved a law that allows people to use marijuana for medical purposes.

 

American Growers, 309 Fifth St., is near Keicher Elementary School. "There's parents, they just don't want their kids to be exposed to that at that age," Manke said.

 

Nicholas Lasky, owner of American Growers, said abuse of the medical marijuana law needs to be prevented. "I hope they do regulate it better," he said.

 

"We understand that and we take extra precautions," Lasky said of the concerns from parents.

 

He said he is a certified medical marijuana caregiver and carefully checks the proper forms before dispensing medical marijuana. He has turned away prospective customers who could not legally buy medical marijuana, Lasky said.

 

Manke said she is aware of four medical marijuana-related businesses in Leoni Township. All of them can continue operating under the moratorium, but no new establishments can open.

 

Roger Maufort, director of the Jackson County Compassion Club, which advocates for medical marijuana patients, said an outright ban of medical marijuana dispensaries would be inappropriate.

 

Manke said she doesn't believe that is the intent. Officials have informally discussed allowing medical marijuana establishments in certain zoning classifications, she said. Zoning regulates other kinds of businesses, Manke said, including topless bars, bakeries and hair salons.

 

Maufort said there are 4,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Jackson County.

 

"Putting a moratorium for a period of time, I don't have a problem for that at all," he said. "I think one of the things about Leoni is that they have been very much understanding of patients' needs and that dispensaries fulfill the need for patients."

 

The moratorium approved by the township board prohibits "the growth, sale, or dispensation of medical marijuana from any clinic, dispensary or other facility that does not already exist" for one year.

 

The medical marijuana law has created much controversy, with critics saying it is overly vague. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has crusades against medical marijuana.

 

The city of Jackson is among the other communities to adopt medical marijuana moratoriums. Last month the Jackson City Council delayed action on a proposed ordinance that would have placed extensive restrictions on the growing and dispensing of medical marijuana.

 

 

Sent from Jamie's iPhone

[Restorium2]

"I think our board (earlier) took the approach that the voters passed the law, so we weren't going to do anything with a moratorium," Manke said. "But we have an issue where one is fairly close to a church and our elementary school," she said.

 

Then pass a zoning ordinance, duh. That's your J O B. Who paid you to shut them down? The church?

 

Zone them where you want them and be done with it. Anything else is crawling off the job....

Edited May 9, 2012 by Restorium2

[bobandtorey]

"I think our board (earlier) took the approach that the voters passed the law, so we weren't going to do anything with a moratorium," Manke said. "But we have an issue where one is fairly close to a church and our elementary school," she said.

 

Then pass a zoning ordinance, duh. That's your J O B. Who paid you to shut them down? The church?

 

Zone them where you want them and be done with it. Anything else is crawling off the job....

were is the C.V.S store next to the church?