Jacob Bell
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FLINT, Michigan – The city of Flint has issued a 180-day moratorium on any new medical marijuana dispensaries or grow operations in the city.
The Flint City Council voted unanimously Monday night to pass the temporary ban while city officials look into establishing regulations and zoning laws on the matter.
The issue comes as several medical marijuana businesses have popped up around Flint and Genesee County, sometimes without government approval.
Councilman Scott Kincaid said the city just wants to "get a handle on it, before it gets out of hand."
Kincaid said he's in favor of allowing the businesses to operate, but encouraged the council to push for zoning laws that regulate where the businesses could operate, much like the way the city regulates bars.
"We need to make sure we don't have concentrations of dispensaries that detract from the community," he said. "We just need to make sure that when those businesses are located, that the public also has input."
City officials said the moratorium only applies to future businesses, not those that are currently operating.
However, City Attorney Peter Bade said the legality of current medical marijuana businesses could be questioned, since the city has not issued any licenses for dispensing or growing marijuana.
"We do not have a category of license to license this kind of business," City Clerk Inez Brown said.
It's a relatively new issue for local governments, as voters passed a state constitutional amendment for medical marijuana in 2008, and there are still gray areas.
State law says medical marijuana caregivers must be registered with the state, while federal law still prohibits the possession or use of marijuana for any purposes.
Still, some council members said they don't want to shut down the medical marijuana businesses that are currently operating respectably.
Councilman Michael Sarginson said the businesses he's talked to have been run "very securely," but said the city won't hesitate to crack down on operations that take advantage of the system.
"We will be in there to close your business down," he said.
Several members of the public asked that the council not shut down the dispensaries already in business.
Flint resident Michael Ledford, who said his wife suffers from multiple sclerosis, said medical marijuana is the only drug that can calm her violent tremors and ease her severe pain. He said the results are "nothing short of amazing."
"Neither one of us believed in this issue until it happened to our family," he said. "This is extremely important to me."
Kincaid said he is in favor of allowing the current dispensaries to operate, at least for now.
"They need to know that whatever procedures are put in place, that if they don't meet the criteria, they will have to close," he said. "Our ordinances are clear, you have to have a license in the city of Flint to do business."
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: mlive.com
Author: Kristin Longley
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Michigan Live LLC
Website: Flint City Council passes 180-day moratorium on new medical marijuana businesses
The Flint City Council voted unanimously Monday night to pass the temporary ban while city officials look into establishing regulations and zoning laws on the matter.
The issue comes as several medical marijuana businesses have popped up around Flint and Genesee County, sometimes without government approval.
Councilman Scott Kincaid said the city just wants to "get a handle on it, before it gets out of hand."
Kincaid said he's in favor of allowing the businesses to operate, but encouraged the council to push for zoning laws that regulate where the businesses could operate, much like the way the city regulates bars.
"We need to make sure we don't have concentrations of dispensaries that detract from the community," he said. "We just need to make sure that when those businesses are located, that the public also has input."
City officials said the moratorium only applies to future businesses, not those that are currently operating.
However, City Attorney Peter Bade said the legality of current medical marijuana businesses could be questioned, since the city has not issued any licenses for dispensing or growing marijuana.
"We do not have a category of license to license this kind of business," City Clerk Inez Brown said.
It's a relatively new issue for local governments, as voters passed a state constitutional amendment for medical marijuana in 2008, and there are still gray areas.
State law says medical marijuana caregivers must be registered with the state, while federal law still prohibits the possession or use of marijuana for any purposes.
Still, some council members said they don't want to shut down the medical marijuana businesses that are currently operating respectably.
Councilman Michael Sarginson said the businesses he's talked to have been run "very securely," but said the city won't hesitate to crack down on operations that take advantage of the system.
"We will be in there to close your business down," he said.
Several members of the public asked that the council not shut down the dispensaries already in business.
Flint resident Michael Ledford, who said his wife suffers from multiple sclerosis, said medical marijuana is the only drug that can calm her violent tremors and ease her severe pain. He said the results are "nothing short of amazing."
"Neither one of us believed in this issue until it happened to our family," he said. "This is extremely important to me."
Kincaid said he is in favor of allowing the current dispensaries to operate, at least for now.
"They need to know that whatever procedures are put in place, that if they don't meet the criteria, they will have to close," he said. "Our ordinances are clear, you have to have a license in the city of Flint to do business."
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: mlive.com
Author: Kristin Longley
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Michigan Live LLC
Website: Flint City Council passes 180-day moratorium on new medical marijuana businesses
