Pubdate: Tue, 16 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
Cited: East Lansing City Council 
http://www.cityofeastlansing.com/Home/Departments/CityCouncil/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)

CITY COUNCIL STALLS OVER POT DECISION

East Lansing City Council is expected to approve a 90-day extension 
on a moratorium preventing the regulation of medical marijuana sales 
and distribution.

The council voted to introduce the ordinance at its work session last 
Tuesday but does not approve items at work sessions unless they are 
deemed an emergency, Assistant City Attorney Tom Yeadon said.

Council is considering three ordinances: one that would allow 
storefront dispensaries, another that would license primary caregiver 
operations and a third that only would allow registered patients and 
primary caregivers to grow medical marijuana.

Council will vote on the issue during its 7:30 p.m. work session 
tonight at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.

If approved, the extension will retroactively extend the moratorium 
until February 2011, Yeadon said. The initial moratorium would have 
expired today.

"It's written to extend from the expiration of the last one and it's 
intended that if there's a gap between the two that it covers that as 
it applies retroactively," Yeadon said.

The original moratorium would have expired before two planned 
meetings about the issue - one in the Planning Commission and another 
at city council, Councilmember Nathan Triplett said.

Extending the moratorium allows for the opportunity to hold those 
meetings, he said.

"The objective of passing it now is that the moratorium continues 
uninterrupted as we decide how to approach the issue," Triplett said.

The moratorium could last the full 90 days, but if both planned 
hearings are held in December and the council is ready to make a 
decision, it could vote to pass an ordinance, he said.

"We should take the time to get it right but do so as expeditiously 
as possible," Triplett said.

There is no pressure for a decision to be made by the end of the 
year, City Manager Ted Staton said. Council members seem to be 
narrowing the potential options for regulation but still are a "far 
cry" away from a consensus, he said.

"We're more concerned about getting it right," he said.

The American Civil Liberties Union recently contacted the city and 
wished to give input on the issues, Staton said.

"I don't see why we won't create additional opportunities for public 
testimony on it," he said. East Lansing is taking a comprehensive 
approach to the regulation of medical marijuana, Staton said. Other 
jurisdictions, such as Lansing and Meridian Township, are taking a 
hands-off approach and the results are not desirable for East Lansing, he said.

"We've taken exactly the right approach, which is to keep them for 
creeping in anywhere they want," Staton said.

There are multiple dispensaries on Michigan Avenue in Lansing and a 
dispensary near an elementary school in Meridian Township, he said. 
East Lansing officials are looking to avoid both of those situations, 
Staton said.

Meridian Township does not intend to pass any regulations on the 
dispensary and sales of medical marijuana, Township Supervisor Susan 
McGillicuddy said.

The "herbal center" near the elementary school in East Lansing is 
further from stores selling liquor and alcohol and only is regulated 
as a business, she said. 
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