Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
East Lansing - City officials are considering ordinance changes that would allow commercial medical marijuana facilities.
East Lansing City Council could consider a draft ordinance in December and set the subject for a public hearing sometime in January, Mayor Mark Meadows said. The possible ordinance change was discussed Tuesday during a discussion-only meeting of the East Lansing City Council.
The new ordinance could regulate larger operations, such as growers planting up to 500, 1,000 or 1,500 plants; processors who sell marijuana or marijuana-infused products to a "provisioning center;" people who transport marijuana between facilities; provisioning centers that sell marijuana to patients or caregivers; and safety compliance hubs that test marijuana from other facilities.
"We felt that we should get ahead of the curve on it and get something on the books," Meadows said. "Whether we actually utilize it or not is still to be determined."
The possibility of a new local ordinance comes after the September approval of a state law clarifying licensing and regulations for commercial medical marijuana facilities.
The Medical Marijuana Facilities Act brings some clarity to the production, transportation and sale of medical marijuana, which was left largely open-ended in the state's 2008 medical marijuana act.
Although East Lansing has no dispensaries within the city, it does have an ordinance regulating them, according to Thomas Yeadon, a lawyer for East Lansing. The Medical Marijuana Facilities Act opens the door to clearer licensing procedures and regulations related to growers, transporters, and sellers.
"Cities and other municipalities are allowed to enact an ordinance which would accept any of these, none of these, or any combination of these," Yeadon said.
The city could charge a licensing fee of up to $5,000 per facility per year.
Additionally, the new law places a 3% excise tax on sales from the facilities. About 25% of that tax goes to the municipality in which the medical marijuana facility is located, and 35% to the county where the facility is located.
The city also would have to designate where those facilities could be located within East Lansing.
"We're looking at specific areas of the city to have it operational in," Meadows said. "I think that's going to be subject to a lot of public discussion."
While the Medical Marijuana Facilities Act goes into effect Dec. 20, people are unable to apply for licenses until Dec. 15, 2017. The delay in licensing gives the city time to consider its options, Yeadon said.
"This was just a preliminary look at what the city might want to consider in terms of allowing these facilities in the city," Yeadon said.
East Lansing is not the only city mulling regulations for commercial medical marijuana establishments.
Lansing city officials have worked to create an ordinance that would regulate the city's 70-plus commercial medical marijuana facilities. The city placed a moratorium on new commercial facilities on May 21.
In October, East Lansing also changed its city ordinance to decriminalize the use and possession of small amounts of marijuana. The change brought the city ordinance in line with a charter amendment passed by voters in May 2015.
The ordinance change allows possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by people 21 and older on private property.
Yeadon said any city ordinance changes related to medical marijuana facilities would apply to facilities for medical use only, not recreational use.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: East Lansing Eyes New Rules For Medical Marijuana Facilities
Author: Beth LeBlanc
Contact: 1-517-377-1000
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Lansing State Journal
East Lansing City Council could consider a draft ordinance in December and set the subject for a public hearing sometime in January, Mayor Mark Meadows said. The possible ordinance change was discussed Tuesday during a discussion-only meeting of the East Lansing City Council.
The new ordinance could regulate larger operations, such as growers planting up to 500, 1,000 or 1,500 plants; processors who sell marijuana or marijuana-infused products to a "provisioning center;" people who transport marijuana between facilities; provisioning centers that sell marijuana to patients or caregivers; and safety compliance hubs that test marijuana from other facilities.
"We felt that we should get ahead of the curve on it and get something on the books," Meadows said. "Whether we actually utilize it or not is still to be determined."
The possibility of a new local ordinance comes after the September approval of a state law clarifying licensing and regulations for commercial medical marijuana facilities.
The Medical Marijuana Facilities Act brings some clarity to the production, transportation and sale of medical marijuana, which was left largely open-ended in the state's 2008 medical marijuana act.
Although East Lansing has no dispensaries within the city, it does have an ordinance regulating them, according to Thomas Yeadon, a lawyer for East Lansing. The Medical Marijuana Facilities Act opens the door to clearer licensing procedures and regulations related to growers, transporters, and sellers.
"Cities and other municipalities are allowed to enact an ordinance which would accept any of these, none of these, or any combination of these," Yeadon said.
The city could charge a licensing fee of up to $5,000 per facility per year.
Additionally, the new law places a 3% excise tax on sales from the facilities. About 25% of that tax goes to the municipality in which the medical marijuana facility is located, and 35% to the county where the facility is located.
The city also would have to designate where those facilities could be located within East Lansing.
"We're looking at specific areas of the city to have it operational in," Meadows said. "I think that's going to be subject to a lot of public discussion."
While the Medical Marijuana Facilities Act goes into effect Dec. 20, people are unable to apply for licenses until Dec. 15, 2017. The delay in licensing gives the city time to consider its options, Yeadon said.
"This was just a preliminary look at what the city might want to consider in terms of allowing these facilities in the city," Yeadon said.
East Lansing is not the only city mulling regulations for commercial medical marijuana establishments.
Lansing city officials have worked to create an ordinance that would regulate the city's 70-plus commercial medical marijuana facilities. The city placed a moratorium on new commercial facilities on May 21.
In October, East Lansing also changed its city ordinance to decriminalize the use and possession of small amounts of marijuana. The change brought the city ordinance in line with a charter amendment passed by voters in May 2015.
The ordinance change allows possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by people 21 and older on private property.
Yeadon said any city ordinance changes related to medical marijuana facilities would apply to facilities for medical use only, not recreational use.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: East Lansing Eyes New Rules For Medical Marijuana Facilities
Author: Beth LeBlanc
Contact: 1-517-377-1000
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Lansing State Journal
