Pubdate: Fri, 30 Nov 2012
Source: Voice, The (New Baltimore, MI)
Copyright: 2012 Journal Register Company
Contact:  http://www.voicenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5146
Author: Courtney Flynn

NEW BALTIMORE MARIJUANA MORATORIUM, ORDINANCES UP IN SMOKE

The New Baltimore City Council is now left with no ordinance or
moratorium addressing medical marijuana.

On Nov. 26 the council again turned down a proposed ordinance that
would have allowed the growth and sale of marijuana in specified sites
for caregivers and patients. This ordinance was more reflective of
what the Planning Commission wanted; it did not allow the growth of
marijuana in any place but the industrial district in the city.

The proposed ordinance was rejected by a 3-2 vote; council members
Jeff Christie and Susan Burkhardt cast the opposing votes and
Councilman Ken Butler was absent. A motion needs four votes to pass.

Before the proposed ordinance was even turned down Councilman Karl
Rutledge suggested the parameter in which a medical marijuana facility
could be located to a school be lowered to 200 feet; the only schools
near the industrial facility are Compass Pointe and Ross Medical School.

"This provides us with an ordinance that can still be reviewed in the
future," he said.

When Burkhardt found out there was a possibility of a medical
marijuana facility being located near an alternative education school,
though, she made a motion to turn the entire ordinance down. However,
this motion wasn't valid because Mayor Pro Tem Florence Hayman had
already made a motion to approve the proposed ordinance with the 200
foot parameter change.

Hayman's motion didn't pass though and Christie made it known
throughout the discussion he wasn't in favor of the proposed ordinance
because the attempted actions do not allow certified growers to
cultivate the plant in their home.

"This is a sham," he said of the proposed ordinance before it
failed.

Now that there is no ordinance or moratorium for medical marijuana on
the books for the city of New Baltimore the city is left to follow
state law, which is still hazy in some cases.

Christie, who has been the most vocal on wanting a medical marijuana
ordinance that allows growth in homes and proper facilities, said he
has no plans to bring another ordinance forward.
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MAP posted-by: Matt