Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jan 2011
Source: Holland Sentinel (MI)
Copyright: 2011 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
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)

MARIJUANA MORATORIUM COULD BE EXTENDED

A moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and changes to the 
language would tighten the city's grip on the trade.

The new, extended moratorium allows one caregiver in his or her 
"principal residence" to be excluded from the temporary ban on dispensaries.

"This is really an attempt to narrow even more than the initial 
moratorium did where this kind of activity might pop up," Community 
and Neighborhood Services Director Phil Meyer said.

The city is working with Holland Township to work out the best zoning 
and other regulations to handle medical marijuana in their communities.

Holland's moratorium would have expired Feb. 25, but would be 
extended through May following a vote of the city council. "These are 
complex questions, and I think they require consideration," said 
Lindell Herrick, who works in substance abuse prevention.

Medical marijuana advocate Amy Gassaway appealed to the city to hold 
off on any laws that could potentially land the medical marijuana 
community in the middle of an expensive court case. She would rather 
see an extended moratorium.

"We don't need to waste more of our community dollars on this 
subject," she said in a letter to the planning commission. "Let's let 
the other communities that choose to spend their tax dollars on this 
find the answers the hard way."  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake