Pubdate: Tue, 2 Nov 2010
Source: Holland Sentinel (MI)
Copyright: 2010 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact: http://extra.hollandsentinel.com/submitletter.shtml
Website: http://www.hollandsentinel.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1145
Author: Andrea Goodell, The Holland Sentinel
Cited: Holland Township 
http://www.hct.holland.mi.us/elected-a-appointed/elected-officials
Referenced: Michigan Medical Marihuana Act http://drugsense.org/url/8mvr7sW8
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)

TOWNSHIP CONSIDERS LICENSING MEDICAL MARIJUANA USERS

Local Ordinance Would Go Beyond State Law

Holland, MI - In a move to keep tabs on medical marijuana in Holland 
Township, a proposed ordinance mostly would mirror state law except 
in one significant way.

The township ordinance might also seek to require a business license 
for all patients and caregivers.

"This is the discussion stages, and I don't want to cut my planning 
commission out of this, that's for sure," Zoning Administrator Jon 
Mersman said. The commission plans to discuss the measure at its next 
meeting, at 7 p.m. Nov. 9.

Patients and caregivers already are required to register with the 
state, and proposed township regulations are similar to those already 
in place under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (sic), such as 
requiring marijuana growers to be more than 1,000 feet from schools.

As far as the business license registration, medical marijuana 
advocates aren't happy at the prospect.

"By the law, people can get into those records. ... So how are they 
going to protect these patients?" asked Amy Gasaway, a medical 
marijuana patient living in Park Township and a medical marijuana 
advocate for West Michigan.

"That is just enticing someone to come to (a patient or caregiver's) 
house. That poor patient or caregiver is going to be a statistic in 
the community, whether it be a robbery or whatever."

She further contends the proposed ordinance would violate her rights 
under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which 
protects patients' private information.

Mersman concedes there is a question of privacy.

"Until my lawyers tell me different, that's kind of where I'm going," 
he said. "We would like to know where pot is grown in a neighborhood."

For instance, he said, the listing could help authorities determine 
if a marijuana growing operation is legitimate. Mersman is 
investigating the possibility of restricting public access to the 
names of people who take out business licenses under this new regulation.

The license would require a fee based on how much time the township 
would have to invest. For instance, will the ordinance require home 
inspections to ensure marijuana growing operations are properly locked away?

That fee likely would be $150 or more.

Patients who grow marijuana for themselves and caregivers would have 
to reside at the location where the marijuana is grown. Thousands 
have signed up with the state program since it was voted into law in 2008.

[sidebar]

IF YOU GO

What: Holland Township Planning Commission will host a public hearing 
will allow for comment on a proposed medical marijuana ordinance that 
would require patients and caregivers to obtain business licenses.

When: 7 p.m. Nov. 9

Where: Holland Township Hall, 353 N. 120th Ave. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake