Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jun 2013
Source: Ypsilanti Courier (MI)
Copyright: 2013 Heritage Newspapers, a Journal Register Property
Contact: http://www.heritagenews.com/lettertoeditor/
Website: http://www.heritage.com/ypsilanti_courier/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5124
Author: Krystal Elliott

MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES

YPSILANTI - After delaying its initial decision, the Ypsilanti City 
Council will revisit an emergency ordinance to place a 60-day 
moratorium on permits and licenses for medical marijuana facilities 
at Tuesday night's meeting.

City attorney John Barr recommended an emergency ordinance after the 
idea of a moratorium on medical marijuana facilities was proposed in 
March by Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson and Councilmember Ricky 
Jefferson. The two cited over-saturation of medical marijuana 
facilities in the city as the reason for the moratorium, and said 
that they had received complaints from residents.

There are currently six medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, 
with one pending license, and there is one operating marijuana 
growing facility with two more pending licenses. Under the zoning 
ordinance, there is a possibility for three more dispensaries and two 
more growing facilities within the city.

The majority of the facilities are in Wards 1 and 3. Distribution is 
as follows:

Ward 1 - two dispensaries, one potential dispensary, one grow 
facility and one potential grow facility

Ward 2 - one dispensary

Ward 3 - three dispensaries and one potential grow facility

Barr suggested a 60-day emergency moratorium during which city staff 
would evaluate the number of permits and licenses the city has 
already issued, or is in the process of issuing, before deciding how 
many more to allow within city limits.

The city also wanted to temporarily halt the issuance of permits and 
licenses until the state clears up some of the ambiguity surrounding 
the legality and proposed decriminalization of medical marijuana. Continued...

In the resolution, the ordinance was declared to be an emergency 
ordinance necessary for the immediate preservation of the public 
peace, health, safety and welfare of the city.

Council voted 4-3 to table the ordinance at its May 21 meeting after 
much deliberation and after many community members spoke out both in 
favor of and in opposition to the moratorium.

Jamie Lowell of 3rd Coast Compassion Center, a medical marijuana 
dispensary at 19 N. Hamilton St., addressed council at the meeting, 
stating that he thinks it's perfectly reasonable to consider putting 
a cap on the number of medical marijuana facilities in the city, but 
does not agree with the proposed ordinance.

"To have an emergency moratorium to discuss this issue is 
inappropriate. Have this discussion but please don't pass anything 
that would reflect that there is a public health and safety issue, 
because there is none," he said.

Ypsilanti resident and pastor Harry Grayson, of Messias Temple Church 
at 200 Harriet St., supported the moratorium.

"The saturation level is higher in Ypsilanti than it is in other 
communities," he said. "It's not emotional or personal, it's just 
about the saturation."

The motion to table the decision came after Councilmember Pete 
Murdock proposed a resolution to cap the number of medical marijuana 
permits in the city in lieu of an emergency ordinance. The delayed 
voting on the issue until they could be counseled on the legality of 
such a resolution.

City council will revisit the discussion at its 7 p.m. meeting 
Tuesday night. A presentation by Ypsilanti resident and medical 
marijuana supporter John Evans on the "History/Synopsis of Medical 
Marijuana" will be heard by council before the resolution goes to a vote.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom