Pubdate: Wed, 9 Feb 2011
Source: Argus-Press, The (Owosso, MI)
Copyright: 2011 The Argus-Press
Contact: http://www.argus-press.com/submissions/?mode=letters
Website: http://www.argus-press.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4861
Author: Julianne Mattera, Argus-Press Staff Writer
Cited: Owosso City Council 
http://ci.owosso.mi.us/Government/Overview-Government.htm
Referenced: Michigan Medical Marijuana Act http://drugsense.org/url/8mvr7sW8
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)

GROWING LIKE A WEED

OWOSSO - Jars of marijuana buds sat neatly on a counter in the 
dispensing room of The Health Club in Owosso's Dutchtown as staff 
members took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Shiawassee 
Regional Chamber ambassadors Monday.

As the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed 
the business into Owosso, Vice President Sue Kadlek noted The Health 
Club isn't the first medical marijuana business to become a chamber 
member. Green Today Cannabis Certification Services and Mother 
Nature's Choice in Owosso became members earlier in 2010.

And it may not be the last Owosso-based business with ties to the 
Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, depending on the outcome of an Owosso 
zoning ordinance update currently in the works.

"The Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce supports businesses 
within the county - any type of business," Kadlek said. "We would 
support this type of business just as we would any other type of 
legitimate business. The Michigan voters voted in the Medical 
Marijuana Act ... and we don't accept or deny membership to 
businesses as long as they're operating a legitimate business."

Located at 718 S. Chipman St., The Health Club of Dutchtown 
Compassionate Healthcare helps qualified patients and caregivers 
obtain medical marijuana and products related to the MMA such as 
clones and THC-infused tinctures, co-owner Aaron Bedell said. He 
added The Health Club gets its cannabis from area caregivers with 
"potential overages."

Along with Bedell, the business is co-owned by Sherry Lynn Kenney, 
and it shares a building with the head shop Dutchtown Express, which 
Kenney owns.

So far, the business has been growing like, well, a weed.

Open since Dec. 15, the private club has more than 100 members, who 
are either qualified medical marijuana patients or primary caregivers.

Following a set of rules and regulations, members of The Health Club 
can stop by the establishment to purchase products for their personal 
use or, if they're a caregiver, for a patient's use.

The Health Club owners say they feel welcomed by the surrounding 
community. And Owosso leaders have been open-minded on the issue, Bedell said.

"We've been working with ourselves and working with the city, going 
to all the meetings and making sure our input and everything is 
heard," Bedell said.

Owosso City Council members voted 5-2 against a 90-day moratorium 
aimed at new businesses growing and selling marijuana Monday. 
According to a draft of the ordinance, the moratorium would have 
given city staff and council time to investigate the city's ability 
to regulate marijuana businesses, as well as develop and implement 
regulations. The moratorium, however, would not have affected current 
medical marijuana businesses such as Bedell's.

Owosso City Council previously decided to not move forward with a 
90-day moratorium on new medical marijuana-associated businesses in August.

City Manager Don Crawford said council won't likely revisit the 
marijuana moratorium proposal.

Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development Adam 
Zettel said a proposed ordinance is being drafted that would define 
and regulate medical marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries.

"They're looking to allow dispensaries - again functioning underneath 
the statute and administrative rules of the state - they're looking 
to allow those to function in some retail districts," Zettel said. 
"They're looking at putting growing facilities in their industrial 
zones within the city."

The planning commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the 
proposed medical marijuana ordinance at its Feb. 28 meeting, Zettel 
said. He added, public input, new findings of fact based upon 
litigation and the city council's review of the proposed ordinance 
prior to approval could alter the ordinance.

Depending on how well the planning commission and public receive the 
ordinance at the public hearing, the ordinance could be presented to 
city council for approval in March or April, Zettel said.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake