Pubdate: Sat, 13 Oct 2012
Source: Cadillac News (MI)
Copyright: 2012 Cadillac News
Contact:  http://www.cadillacnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3750
Author: Rick Charmoli

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM COULD BE EXTENDED IN CADILLAC

CADILLAC - Since the medical marijuana law was passed in Michigan in
2008, patients and municipalities have been buzzing with questions.

Michigan voters approved a medical marijuana ballot proposal meant to
protect qualifying patients with specific debilitating medical
conditions and certain caregivers from arrest, prosecution and penalty
for the medical use of a limited amount of marijuana. It does not,
however, address compassion clubs or dispensaries. There also are
multiple court proceedings and appeals regarding the law.

With so many questions, most municipalities have passed moratoriums on
medical marijuana and until such time that the law is clearly
understood or other adjustments are made that will be the case. The
city of Cadillac is one of those municipalities that has taken that
route.

On Monday, the Cadillac City Council will be introducing an ordinance
to extend the marijuana moratorium and set public hearing for Nov.
5.

Cadillac City Manager Marcus Peccia said the Cadillac Planning
Commission has been monitoring the issue since the council passed the
moratorium last year, including what other communities that didn't
impose moratoriums are doing.

"At this point, unfortunately, the state is not further along than it
was a year ago," he said. "The city attorney did go to the planning
commission meeting and give another presentation as far as where
things are. The recommendation is to either outright ban dispensaries
or enact another moratorium."

The council extended its moratorium on the sale and dispensing of
medical marijuana in April 2011 for a period of six months. Last
October, the council voted 5-0 to extend the moratorium for another 12
months and now must make a decision regarding the issue again.

The Cadillac City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the
Council Chambers of the Cadillac Municipal Complex, 200 N. Lake St.
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MAP posted-by: Matt