Pubdate: Thu, 16 Aug 2012
Source: Jackson Citizen Patriot (MI)
Copyright: 2012 Jackson Citizen Patriot
Contact: http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/jacitpat/letters/index.ssf
Website: http://www.mlive.com/jackson/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1190
Author: Lisa Satayut

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS OWNER WANTS TO MOVE LOCATION, LEONI TOWNSHIP SAYS NO

LEONI, MI - Medical marijuana business owner Anthony Freed wants to 
move the location of his shop about a block away from its current 
spot on Ann Arbor Road.

That won't happen.

"If you move out of that place you are out of business, you are 
grandfathered into that spot," Leoni Township board member Judy 
Southworth told Freed.

Freed is locked into the location, 3646 Ann Arbor Road, due to a 
one-year medical marijuana moratorium passed by township officials 
earlier this year.

The existing businesses, including his, were grandfathered in. 
Southworth also sits on the township planning board. She said she 
doesn't have an issue with the type of business, but there is nothing 
the township can do at this point.

Earlier this week Freed asked the township board of trustees if they 
would make an exception. He wants to change locations for several 
reasons, one of those being security. His shop was broken into June 
1. According to police reports, medical marijuana was stolen from his business.

Freed said the location he would like to move to is farther away East 
Jackson High School and a nearby church. He would also like more 
space to construct an examining room.

"I don't see the legal reasoning behind the moratorium. I want to 
move one block away from where I am. Farther away from the church and 
East Jackson High School," Freed told the township board.

The moratorium prohibits any new businesses from setting up shop in 
the township for one year. It is set to expire May 2013. It could be 
extended or a zoning ordinance could be created that would allow 
medical marijuana businesses to be located in a certain area of the 
township such as a light or heavy industrial zone.

Leoni Planning Commission members have not decided what they will 
recommend to the township board yet. They are currently waiting to 
see what other townships in a similar situation will do.

Until then Freed will have to wait.

Freed offered to purchase a medical marijuana business that is 
currently up for sale in the township hoping officials would see that 
as an attempt to decrease the number in the area.

Southworth said she is impressed with Freed's business. She has 
visited the existing medical marijuana businesses in the township and 
said she was impressed with all but one.

I was impressed with his and Todd Pickett's," she said.

Pickett owns Sweet Greens on Fifth Street. Pickett is also headed to 
the general election this November for a seat on the township board.

Freed opened the first medical marijuana dispensary in Michigan in 
downtown Ypsilanti and is the executive director of the Michigan 
Medical Marijuana Chamber of Commerce.

"I'm hoping for support from the township," Freed said.

He invited the entire township board to visit his business.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom