Douglas - The Douglas city council will take another look at proposed regulations of medical marijuana -- two years after the process to draft the guidelines began. A special workshop meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday at city hall, 86 W. Center St., to talk about the ordinance and licensing of medical marijuana activities. The council could take the first step to approving the proposals at its 7 p.m. meeting. The city does not have a zoning rule for caregivers and growers, said Ryan Kilpatrick, director of community development. The proposal creates a medical marijuana overlay district that allows operations on commercial zones along Blue Star Highway, mostly south of Center Street, and in light industrial districts on the south side of the city. [continues 725 words]
Holland - A huge sign tries to lure customers to Meme's Green Dream. Around the corner, there's Big Daddy's, another marijuana dispensary for people with chronic pain or other health woes. A third shop, The Barn, is less than a mile away here in Genesee County, promising high-quality pot that will deliver "giggle fits." The Michigan appeals court four months ago said it is illegal for shops to broker the sale of marijuana, the most significant legal decision since 63 percent of voters approved marijuana for medicinal use in 2008. [continues 1066 words]
Holland - Prosecutors are letting local law-enforcement agencies determine if medical marijuana dispensaries are violating a recent appeals court ruling. Allegan and Ottawa prosecuting attorneys have sent letters to police agencies advising them of the ruling from the Michigan appeals court in late August that said the 2008 medical marijuana law, and the state's public health code, does not allow people to sell medical marijuana to one other, even if they are among the 99,500 who have state-issued marijuana cards. [continues 437 words]
Saugatuck Township - Saugatuck Township put off a decision Wednesday night on regulating where medical marijuana can be sold. The board extended its three-month moratorium by 30 more days while waiting to hear from its attorney. "I can't vote on this when I don't have the answers," said Trustee Jane Wright. An attorney for one of the dispensaries in the township called the decision a "prudent move." The planning commission recommended the ordinance that allows the sale of the drug from homes, not from commercial districts or traditional storefronts. [continues 283 words]
Saugatuck Township - Saugatuck Township planners are recommending medical marijuana be allowed to be distributed from homes, not from traditional storefronts in commercial areas, despite pleas from residents to wait until the issue is resolved in the state courts. The proposal, which must still be voted on by the township board before it goes into effect, leaves two dispensaries already operating in a commercial area on Blue Star Highway to an uncertain future. The township will not immediately close down the dispensaries if the township board approves the proposed ordinance, township attorney Ron Bultje told the planning commission Monday, Aug. 22. [continues 259 words]
Saugatuck, MI - The inside of The Great Turtle Emporium reflects owner Larry Darling's passions -- carved wood sculptures, historic post cards and maps from Saugatuck and Holland, books and vinyl record albums. "I love the history of the area," he said. Looking at the small shop at 3383 Blue Star Highway and Darling's low-key manner, it's hard to imagine that he is the center of a medical marijuana controversy in Saugatuck Township. Dozens of people packed the township hall June 1 -- the crowd numbers rivaled those devoted to the Aubrey McClendon lawsuits -- to discuss a moratorium on medical marijuana facilities. [continues 296 words]
Board OKs 3-Month Moratorium on Any New Facilities Saugatuck Township, MI - Saugatuck Township put an immediate three-month moratorium on new medical marijuana facilities, but is allowing the two already in the township to continue to operate. "We understand this is a legal use," said Trustee Jim Hanson at tonight's board meeting. "The question is where it should happen in our township," said Trustee Chris Roerig. The township proposed the moratorium in response to the opening last week of The Great Turtle Emporium, 3383 Blue Star Highway. The site, owned by Larry Darling, is listed as a dispensary on the website www.potlocator.com. [continues 232 words]
Douglas, MI - Douglas planners will continue researching where to allow medical marijuana caregiver operations - it's an important issue for the liberal community, one planning commissioner said Wednesday, Jan. 12. "I like being proactive on this," said Paul Marineau. "Being on the cutting edge of this goes with who we are." Douglas voters had the highest approval rating in Allegan County for the legalization of medical marijuana in 2008 - 79 percent of Douglas voters supported the proposal. Saugatuck city was the next highest with 77 percent of voters supporting the proposal. [continues 89 words]
