Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 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: Annette Manwell
Bookmark: http://www.drugsense.org/cms/geoview/n-us-mi (Michigan)

HOLLAND CITY EXTENDS MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

Holland, MI - The moratorium restricting medical marijuana
dispensaries in the city of Holland has been extended for another
three months.

The Holland City Council voted unanimously to extend the moratorium
Wednesday. City Attorney Andy Mulder said this extension would allow
the city more time to study the issue.

Because the current moratorium would expire May 25, it was necessary
for the council to take action Wednesday if they wanted the moratorium
extended. The "emergency" ordinance would take effect immediately if
given final approval later this month.

Councilman Myron Trethewey questioned why a six-month moratorium
wasn't an option, suggesting that talks in Lansing may solve the
problem for the municipalities dealing with the issue.

"The best thing that can happen right now is that Lansing solves this
thing for us," Trethewey said.

"I certainly think we can wrap this up in the next three months if not
by June 1," Mulder said. "We do have enough safeguards in place."

Mulder said the city has chosen the conservative option by not
allowing dispensaries. The U.S. Department of Justice is looking into
dispensaries because they don't want large grow operations, he said.

"I don't think anyone has been more conservative that Holland," Mulder
said. "There are several key issues. We do have the time to
appropriately deliberate."

Although Park Township resident Al Neilly did not vote in favor of the
state's medical marijuana law in 2008, he has since been converted to
believe it does help people, especially cancer patients, he told the
council during a public comment period Wednesday.

Neilly favored store front dispensaries saying that allowing the
stores would keep the sales "above ground" where the city could control it.

"Or it will go below ground," he said. "It doesn't belong in homes,
neighborhoods."

The ordinance proposed by the city would not allow customers to go to
the door of the caregiver; the caregiver would have to deliver to his
or her patients.

Park Township is also under a moratorium while its planning commission
examines a possible ordinance restricting medical marijuana. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake