Pubdate: Fri, 01 Oct 2010
Source: Press and Guide (Dearborn, MI)
Copyright: 2010 Press and Guide
Contact:  http://www.pressandguide.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5196
Author: Ben Baird

HEIGHTS COUNCIL TO DISCUSS MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE TUESDAY

DEARBORN HEIGHTS - There will be a public study session Tuesday 
evening on a zoning ordinance amendment that would allow medical 
marijuana manufacturing facilities in the city.

Council Chair Ken Baron said the study session will be at 7 p.m. in 
the City Hall council chambers.

"Everyone's welcome," Baron said. "We'll all learn something together."

There will be some speakers there to explain the law pertaining to 
medical marijuana, he said. He said there are a lot of questions 
currently and this will help both council and anyone interested in 
attending to better understand the situation.

The ordinance went past its first reading before City Council on Sept. 14.

Besides the manufacturing facilities, the ordinance also deals with 
medical marijuana dispensaries, facilities where legally registered 
primary caregivers can assist qualifying patients with medical marijuana use.

There is currently a medical marijuana moratorium that has been 
extended for four months. It was created to give council time to 
adopt ordinance dealing with the changes in state law.

Councilman Tom Berry said he initiated the ordinance and asked that 
Corporation Counsel Gary Miotke write it.

The most important reason for the ordinance is to regulate 
manufacturing facilities and dispensaries to make sure they cannot be 
in residential neighborhoods, he said, but in the commercial district 
where the city has greater control.

Medical marijuana is an issue that's not going to go away, Berry 
said. The city has an opportunity to take a lead role in establishing 
controls and restrictions of it, he said.

A clinical psychologist is also coming to the study session to speak, he said.

Councilwoman Margaret Van Houten said she is against the ordinance 
because she believes it will be impossible to enforce.

She would like Dearborn Heights to move in the direction of not 
allowing marijuana manufacturing facilities in the city, she said, 
which she believes is the direction Dearborn and Livonia are going in.

"A lot of residents are very concerned that the laws are going to be 
abused," Van Houten said.

One resident who spoke during the Tuesday council meeting said she 
believes having medical marijuana facilities in the city would weaken 
the community.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake