Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
After several contentious public meetings, Coldwater Township will try to keep the fireworks down at its July 3 township trustees meeting.
Township Supervisor Don Rogers said, "I know the burning question is, what is Coldwater Township going to do about the Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act? As I talked to the board members regarding 'Items for Action' to be placed on the agenda for the upcoming meeting, no one wanted to include it as an item to consider nor did they have any intentions to consider this item in the near future."
There has been loud opposition to consideration of allowing licensed marijuana grow operations, packing, transportation, or dispensaries in the township.
"So, I would say that until there is an interest by the majority of the board to revisit this item, I don't envision the MM FLA being an 'Action
Item' of the Coldwater Township board to consider at any time in the foreseeable future," Rogers said.
While the new state law was setup to control growers and dispensaries, it does nothing to change the current law which allows an individual to grow their own or for a "caregiver" to grow for up to 12 plants for not more than five people plus themselves if they have a MMMA card.
How many caregivers are in Branch County now?
"We can't get that information. We are not allowed to inquire," Branch County Sheriff John Pollack said.
The state will only release that 654 people in Branch County have a valid Michigan Medical Marijuana card. Local governments are prohibited from zoning against caregivers.
State law now allows caregivers to have a total of 12 plants plus 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and usable marijuana equivalents for each patient whom has assigned his card to that caregiver.
Sheriff Pollack said, at present, there is no way to check to see if a MMMA permit is assigned to more than one caregiver.
Law enforcement becomes aware of caregivers only if the person becomes part of an investigation into illegal sales or if the operation is broken into, or officers are called as part of another investigation.
There are at least three caregiver grow operations in the area of Garfield and Behnke Roads. All appeared to be legal under the current law.
Residents of the east side of Morrison Lake on Hawley Drive have complained to Girard Township about homes there. Because of closed up residences and traffic to the area, the neighbors suspect a caregiver grow operation.
All the plants and marijuana for the qualifying patients must be kept in an enclosed locked facility. The caregiver grower can also possess an incidental amount of seeds, stalks, and unusable roots.
The state also does not require marijuana to be plant material. For purposes of determining usable marijuana equivalency, "16 ounces of marijuana-infused product if in a solid form; seven grams of marijuana-infused product if in a gaseous form; or 36 fluid ounces of marijuana infused product if in a liquid form, shall be considered equivalent to 1 ounce of usable marijuana."
A number of people opposing the proposed licensing law are those with caregiver permits.
Sheriff Pollack said licensed permits could drive down the prices for marijuana and raise the quality. He thinks there needs to be control of all the operations and sales by the state.
"Something needs to be done," he said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: No medical marijuana on township agenda - News - The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI - Coldwater, MI
Author: Don Reid
Contact: Contact - Coldwater, MI - The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI
Photo Credit: Montreal Gazette Files
Website: The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Coldwater, MI
Township Supervisor Don Rogers said, "I know the burning question is, what is Coldwater Township going to do about the Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act? As I talked to the board members regarding 'Items for Action' to be placed on the agenda for the upcoming meeting, no one wanted to include it as an item to consider nor did they have any intentions to consider this item in the near future."
There has been loud opposition to consideration of allowing licensed marijuana grow operations, packing, transportation, or dispensaries in the township.
"So, I would say that until there is an interest by the majority of the board to revisit this item, I don't envision the MM FLA being an 'Action
Item' of the Coldwater Township board to consider at any time in the foreseeable future," Rogers said.
While the new state law was setup to control growers and dispensaries, it does nothing to change the current law which allows an individual to grow their own or for a "caregiver" to grow for up to 12 plants for not more than five people plus themselves if they have a MMMA card.
How many caregivers are in Branch County now?
"We can't get that information. We are not allowed to inquire," Branch County Sheriff John Pollack said.
The state will only release that 654 people in Branch County have a valid Michigan Medical Marijuana card. Local governments are prohibited from zoning against caregivers.
State law now allows caregivers to have a total of 12 plants plus 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and usable marijuana equivalents for each patient whom has assigned his card to that caregiver.
Sheriff Pollack said, at present, there is no way to check to see if a MMMA permit is assigned to more than one caregiver.
Law enforcement becomes aware of caregivers only if the person becomes part of an investigation into illegal sales or if the operation is broken into, or officers are called as part of another investigation.
There are at least three caregiver grow operations in the area of Garfield and Behnke Roads. All appeared to be legal under the current law.
Residents of the east side of Morrison Lake on Hawley Drive have complained to Girard Township about homes there. Because of closed up residences and traffic to the area, the neighbors suspect a caregiver grow operation.
All the plants and marijuana for the qualifying patients must be kept in an enclosed locked facility. The caregiver grower can also possess an incidental amount of seeds, stalks, and unusable roots.
The state also does not require marijuana to be plant material. For purposes of determining usable marijuana equivalency, "16 ounces of marijuana-infused product if in a solid form; seven grams of marijuana-infused product if in a gaseous form; or 36 fluid ounces of marijuana infused product if in a liquid form, shall be considered equivalent to 1 ounce of usable marijuana."
A number of people opposing the proposed licensing law are those with caregiver permits.
Sheriff Pollack said licensed permits could drive down the prices for marijuana and raise the quality. He thinks there needs to be control of all the operations and sales by the state.
"Something needs to be done," he said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: No medical marijuana on township agenda - News - The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI - Coldwater, MI
Author: Don Reid
Contact: Contact - Coldwater, MI - The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI
Photo Credit: Montreal Gazette Files
Website: The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Coldwater, MI
