Pubdate: Wed, 10 Nov 2010
Source: State News, The (MI State U, MI Edu)
Copyright: 2010 The State News
Contact:  http://www.statenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1246
Author: Alanna Thiede
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)

COUNCIL EXTENDS MARIJUANA MORATORIUM TO FEBRUARY

The East Lansing City Council unanimously voted to approve an 
extension of a current 90-day moratorium that does not allow passing 
any ordinances to regulate medical marijuana, to February 2011.

The extension was voted on during council's Tuesday night work session.

The current ban on passing medical marijuana ordinances would have 
expired next Monday, but now is extended 90 additional days, said Tim 
Schmitt, East Lansing community development analyst. Council can 
shorten or extend the moratorium at any time depending on when it is 
ready to vote on an ordinance.

"There is still a lot of public input to be had in determining the 
best approach," he said.

City staff will work to summarize the communication received up to 
this point from various groups and individuals via e-mail, phone and 
public comment, City Manager Ted Staton said. After considering 
public input, the council should choose an option and receive 
comments on a particular ordinance or blend of ordinances, he said.

The extended time will allow for council to receive more input from 
individuals in the community and student groups, Mayor Vic Loomis 
said. City council has not received formal communication from East 
Lansing's neighborhood associations, although the issue briefly was 
discussed at a meeting of neighborhood representatives, he said.

ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, and the Council of 
Graduate Students, or COGS, soon will formalize opinions by sending 
council letters to explain their positions, he said.

"(MSU's Residence Halls Association) did not indicate if they will 
formalize a letter," Loomis said. "(ASMSU) will recommend a 
liberalized version of ordinance C."

Ordinance C regulates store front dispensaries for medical marijuana sales.

Although council will accept and review any input from student 
organizations, it should be made clear there is a distinction between 
the city of East Lansing and MSU's campus, Councilmember Nathan 
Triplett said. "At some point, (the council) will make a decision 
about our approach in the city, and there's a good chance it will be 
inconsistent with the university's approach," he said.

The next scheduled hearing about medical marijuana is Dec. 7, Triplett said.

Council also discussed the draft bylaws and draft interlocal 
agreement for the Michigan Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority.

The authority will be appointed by East Lansing, Lansing and Lansing 
Township to work on the improvement and maintenance of the Michigan/ 
Grand River Avenue corridor, said Lori Mullins, community and 
economic development administrator for East Lansing.

East Lansing is working to set up a board in the city that would act 
as a part of the multijurisdictional authority.

"If the bylaws are approved at next week's council meeting, we would 
hope to seat board members at the first meeting in December," Mullins said.

East Lansing's board can meet and discuss the corridor prior to the 
formation of the Lansing and Lansing Township boards, but cannot move 
forward with corridor projects without the full authority in place, she said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake