Rhode Island - Will Warwick become the site of one or more medical marijuana compassion centers? And if it does, what's an appropriate location for a center that may not only distribute marijuana to qualified patients, but also grow marijuana?
Those are questions City Planner Mark Carruolo can't answer, but he thinks the city should, nonetheless, have a say on.
As of March 18 the Department of Health opened applications for the centers. The deadline for filing an application is May 17. A public hearing on applications is set for June 21, and the department is slated to issue a decision by July 21.
The department could approve up to a total of three centers or elect to reject all applications.
Carruolo notes that the law sets forth some guidelines for the centers such as they can't be within 500 feet of a school. However, he asks, "What qualifies as a school?"
That's an ambiguity Carruolo feels should be straightened out and one the city is best suited to answer.
"If the state wants these (compassion centers) they should be legislated under zoning...that would allow the city to address them," he said. As it now stands, the city doesn't have any standards regulating the centers.
Carruolo said attorneys questioning if the city will regulate the location of the centers have contacted him.
As of yesterday, Annemarie Beardsworth said the department has not received any applications. She did not find that extraordinary given the deadline is May 17. All applications will be opened at the same time, she said.
Beardsworth agrees the centers raise questions, such as how cities and towns would regulate their locations, for which there aren't answers yet.
"The whole idea of compassion centers is new for all of us," she said.
According to the Health Department Web site, there is no limit to the number of patients who can be served by a single center. Also, in a series of answers provided by the department to questions raised by prospective applicants, the department indicated it would look more favorably on a center serving more, rather than fewer patients.
"Therefore," reads the department response, "all other factors being equal, an application that demonstrated a capacity to serve 50 patients would probably receive a lower rating score on this parameter than an application which demonstrated a capacity to serve 100 or more patients."
According to the law, compassion centers are to be operated "on a not-for-profit basis for the mutual benefits of its patients." Centers can hold no more than 12 plants per patient and 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana for each qualifying patient.
Also, centers can serve as a growing facility.
"However," reads the legislation, "any growing operations must be consistent with all local zoning requirements or restrictions. As growing marijuana and possession of the narcotic is illegal, there are no city regulations concerning its cultivation.
According to the Health Department a non-profit organization would be allowed to use an employee-leasing firm to staff a center as long as the non-profit would have the ultimate hiring and firing over those employees. Those employees would be required to comply with all regulatory provisions.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Warwick Beacon
Author: John Howell
Copyright: 2010 Warwick Beacon
Those are questions City Planner Mark Carruolo can't answer, but he thinks the city should, nonetheless, have a say on.
As of March 18 the Department of Health opened applications for the centers. The deadline for filing an application is May 17. A public hearing on applications is set for June 21, and the department is slated to issue a decision by July 21.
The department could approve up to a total of three centers or elect to reject all applications.
Carruolo notes that the law sets forth some guidelines for the centers such as they can't be within 500 feet of a school. However, he asks, "What qualifies as a school?"
That's an ambiguity Carruolo feels should be straightened out and one the city is best suited to answer.
"If the state wants these (compassion centers) they should be legislated under zoning...that would allow the city to address them," he said. As it now stands, the city doesn't have any standards regulating the centers.
Carruolo said attorneys questioning if the city will regulate the location of the centers have contacted him.
As of yesterday, Annemarie Beardsworth said the department has not received any applications. She did not find that extraordinary given the deadline is May 17. All applications will be opened at the same time, she said.
Beardsworth agrees the centers raise questions, such as how cities and towns would regulate their locations, for which there aren't answers yet.
"The whole idea of compassion centers is new for all of us," she said.
According to the Health Department Web site, there is no limit to the number of patients who can be served by a single center. Also, in a series of answers provided by the department to questions raised by prospective applicants, the department indicated it would look more favorably on a center serving more, rather than fewer patients.
"Therefore," reads the department response, "all other factors being equal, an application that demonstrated a capacity to serve 50 patients would probably receive a lower rating score on this parameter than an application which demonstrated a capacity to serve 100 or more patients."
According to the law, compassion centers are to be operated "on a not-for-profit basis for the mutual benefits of its patients." Centers can hold no more than 12 plants per patient and 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana for each qualifying patient.
Also, centers can serve as a growing facility.
"However," reads the legislation, "any growing operations must be consistent with all local zoning requirements or restrictions. As growing marijuana and possession of the narcotic is illegal, there are no city regulations concerning its cultivation.
According to the Health Department a non-profit organization would be allowed to use an employee-leasing firm to staff a center as long as the non-profit would have the ultimate hiring and firing over those employees. Those employees would be required to comply with all regulatory provisions.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Warwick Beacon
Author: John Howell
Copyright: 2010 Warwick Beacon
