Pubdate: Sun, 21 Feb 2010
Source: Daily Tribune, The (Royal Oak, MI)
Copyright: 2010 The Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailytribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1579
Author: Michael P. McConnell, Daily Tribune Staff Writer
Cited: Hazel Park City Council 
http://www.hazelpark.org/web/index.php/mayor-a-council
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

HAZEL PARK LOOKS TO AMEND ZONING FOR POT

City Wants to Accommodate Medical Marijuana Dispensories.

HAZEL PARK -- City officials are working to determine how to amend 
zoning laws to accommodate medical marijuana dispensaries that want 
to locate here.

"Voters in Michigan and Hazel Park have already overwhelmingly 
approved the use of medical marijuana," said City Manager Ed 
Klobucher. "We want to set aside areas that would be available for 
growing facilities to conduct their business."

City Council members this week directed Klobucher and city planning 
officials to come up with a proposed amendment to current zoning laws.

"One restriction would be to keep these businesses out of 
neighborhoods and away from schools," Klobucher said.

He expects the City Council will have a formal proposal to consider 
sometime next month.

Many communities statewide are trying to block medical marijuana businesses.

Royal Oak, for example, first wanted to limit such businesses to a 
defined commercial zone and then backtracked after the Royal Oak 
police chief suggested marijuana businesses should be banned outright 
because all marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

Royal Oak is expected to resolve the question some time next month.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has asked the DEA to respect states 
that have medical marijuana laws in place and refrain from seeking 
charges unless the growers violate both the state and federal law. 
Still, DEA agents have made some raids on dispensaries and growers in 
California and Colorado in recent weeks and it is unclear how federal 
policy might change under a future administration.

At a Hazel Park City Council meeting on Tuesday, no residents or 
business owners spoke out against medical marijuana dispensaries and 
growing operations coming to the city, Klobucher said.

"This is still in the beginning stages," he said. "Everybody has a 
slightly different idea of what they would like to see."

Under current Michigan law, registered patients can grow up to 12 
plants at their homes or choose a caregiver to provide them. 
Caregivers can grow up to 60 plants for a maximum of five patients 
under the law.

In Hazel Park, Klobucher said business operators have said they would 
like to come to the city and set up facilities where a number of 
caregivers can grow marijuana plants in one location. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake