Pubdate: Thu, 11 Nov 2010
Source: Flint Journal (MI)
Copyright: 2010 Flint Journal
Contact: http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/fljournal/letters/
Website: http://www.mlive.com/flint/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/836
Author: Sarah Schuch

FLUSHING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION IS CONSIDERING A MEDICAL 
MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

FLUSHING TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- The Flushing Township Planning 
Commission is considering drafting an ordinance to regulate medical 
marijuana, but members aren't sure if they legally can.

"We want to make sure we follow the law. There's some concern whether 
there's anything we can do with the registration," said Planning 
Commission Chairman Mark Newman. "We don't want to work on drafting 
an ordinance to find out there's nothing we can do."

The planning commission has been discussing the issue for a few 
months and hopes to have an answer by the Dec. 13 meeting after 
speaking with Steve Moulton, the township's attorney.

Moulton said the process is extremely complicated.

The proposed ordinance would require those who wish to grow marijuana 
for personal use or as a caregiver in accordance with state law to 
apply for a special permit through the planning commission, Moulton said.

The state law requires that the marijuana plants -- 12 for individual 
use or up to 60 for a primary caregiver -- must be grown and 
cultivated in an enclosed structure. The township's proposed 
ordinance defines an enclosed structure as one with four walls and a ceiling.

"You're not going to just grow the plants in your backyard and call 
it good," Moulton said.

If approved the ordinance would also include restrictions on where 
medical marijuana dispensaries can be built, which is the part that 
is causing most of the issues with municipalities, he said.

"There's absolutely no guidelines in the (Michigan) statute," Moulton said.

In Flushing Township they would only be allowed in the township's 
commercial zoning districts, and the owners would need to acquire a 
special permit from the planning commission, which would include a 
criminal background check.

Newman said there is still confusion over what kind of information 
can be attained by the township.

"We've kicked around a number of things. There's issues of does there 
need to be registration of caregivers or dispensaries operating in 
the township," he said. "Is there an application process we need to 
put into place?"

Moulton said a lot of confidential information will be coming into 
the planning commission in the applications and it will remain 
confidential past the planning commission and the police who perform 
background checks on dispensary owners.

"There's going to be a long learning curve on this," he said. "One 
thing we don't know is if we are going to get two or three people 
wanting to get (permits) or if we will get hundreds."

Medical marijuana was one of the topics at Genesee County 
Metropolitan Planning Commission's annual forum on Nov. 5, and local 
government representatives still left wanting more information, said 
Julie Hinterman, director and coordinator of the planning commission.

"I think it was one of those topics when a question was answered 
another question was raised," she said.

For the complete medical marijuana presentation from the forum click here.

[sidebar]

For the Complete Medical Marijuana Presentation From the Forum:

http://www.co.genesee.mi.us/gcmpc-plan/2010PlanningForum.htm
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