Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Portage's only medical marijuana dispensary will be allowed to stay in business and the city intends to pursue an ordinance on local control of medical marijuana facilities.
Both actions came at a special meeting of the Portage City Council Tuesday night when the council voted 5-2 on an emergency ordinance to allow the Lake Effect medical marijuana provision center to remain open for six months while it pursues a state license.
The council also voted 6-1 for a resolution stating its intent to examine an ordinance that would regulate medical marijuana facilities such as growing operations or dispensaries. The first look at a potential local ordinance will be at a committee of the whole meeting 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19.
The emergency ordinance comes about because the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs recently issued a bulletin that said in places where patients have developed relationships with caregiver facilities, municipalities can allow medical marijuana dispensaries to remain open past Dec. 15.
But, the department said, the local government must adopt an ordinance allowing it before then. Lake Effect, which has been allowed to operate in the city for more than two years, needed council action before Friday, prompting the special meeting on the emergency ordinance.
Council supporters said they favored keeping Lake Effect in business because it provides an important medicine to patients battling a variety of illnesses or diseases.
"We need to care about our citizens and the medical needs of our citizens," said Mayor Pro-tem Jim Pearson, adding that with 29 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and hearing from patients and experts, he believes medical marijuana is effective and an alternative to opioids.
City Manager Larry Shaffer said that "without this temporary ordinance in place those facilities would have to close, thereby causing great harm to those who rely on medical marijuana as a medicine."
Councilman Terry Urban, who was joined in opposing the emergency ordinance by Councilwoman Claudette Reid - attending via teleconference -- said he based his objections not on the importance of medical marijuana but that Lake Effect is an illegal operation violating city and state laws.
"I have no sympathy for a business that chooses to open knowing it is illegal," Urban said. "I do not support people who flout the law and the city of Portage and do not respect our city government or our state government."
Urban also pointed out that three council candidates in the recent election, including Mayor Patricia Randall, received campaign donations from a person affiliated with a medical marijuana facility.
An angry Randall said she would not allow Urban to question the integrity of council members nor attack them.
"People come with biases, but to insinuate that a vote was purchased is very false," Randall said.
Councilwoman Lori Knapp, one of the council members who received campaign contributions from a medical marijuana advocate, called the emergency resolution "responsible and pragmatic" and said it allows Portage to be proactive.
Councilman Chris Burns, who also benefited from medical marijuana-backed campaign support, agreed. "There are several reasons not to vote for this. I don't see any of them credible."
Several people thanked the council for the vote, including Jevin Weyenberg, manager of Lake Effect and a campaign contributor to three candidates. Weyenberg said his business intends to go after a state license.
"Thank you for the emergency resolution and for putting the health and wellness of the community first," Weyenberg said.
On the issue of pursuing a medical marijuana ordinance, the council said its resolution does not mean the city will automatically adopt one but will closely study it through a process that will include next week's committee of the whole meeting.
The issue has been at the top of the council's list since the Nov. 7 election. Tuesday's discussion followed a three-and-a-half-hour committee of the whole meeting Nov. 30.
While the seven council members have said they support some type of ordinance, they differ on the specifics such as how many plants a grower could have; if the city should also get into regulating safety compliance facilities, provisioning centers and transporters; or if it should start slow and just deal with provision centers and growers.
The city's actions would likely include both regulation of medical marijuana facilities and changing zoning laws to restrict where the facilities could operate.
Portage joins other area municipalities in tackling the issue. Kalamazoo Township recently voted to opt-in on allowing medical marijuana facilities. The city of Kalamazoo has put off the issue until next year. Comstock Township recently voted not to allow medical marijuana facilities.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Portage allows medical marijuana dispensary, will pursue ordinance | MLive.com
Author: Tom Haroldson
Contact: MLive contacts, services and support | MLive Contacts - MLive.com
Photo Credit: Jen Rynda
Website: Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com
Both actions came at a special meeting of the Portage City Council Tuesday night when the council voted 5-2 on an emergency ordinance to allow the Lake Effect medical marijuana provision center to remain open for six months while it pursues a state license.
The council also voted 6-1 for a resolution stating its intent to examine an ordinance that would regulate medical marijuana facilities such as growing operations or dispensaries. The first look at a potential local ordinance will be at a committee of the whole meeting 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19.
The emergency ordinance comes about because the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs recently issued a bulletin that said in places where patients have developed relationships with caregiver facilities, municipalities can allow medical marijuana dispensaries to remain open past Dec. 15.
But, the department said, the local government must adopt an ordinance allowing it before then. Lake Effect, which has been allowed to operate in the city for more than two years, needed council action before Friday, prompting the special meeting on the emergency ordinance.
Council supporters said they favored keeping Lake Effect in business because it provides an important medicine to patients battling a variety of illnesses or diseases.
"We need to care about our citizens and the medical needs of our citizens," said Mayor Pro-tem Jim Pearson, adding that with 29 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and hearing from patients and experts, he believes medical marijuana is effective and an alternative to opioids.
City Manager Larry Shaffer said that "without this temporary ordinance in place those facilities would have to close, thereby causing great harm to those who rely on medical marijuana as a medicine."
Councilman Terry Urban, who was joined in opposing the emergency ordinance by Councilwoman Claudette Reid - attending via teleconference -- said he based his objections not on the importance of medical marijuana but that Lake Effect is an illegal operation violating city and state laws.
"I have no sympathy for a business that chooses to open knowing it is illegal," Urban said. "I do not support people who flout the law and the city of Portage and do not respect our city government or our state government."
Urban also pointed out that three council candidates in the recent election, including Mayor Patricia Randall, received campaign donations from a person affiliated with a medical marijuana facility.
An angry Randall said she would not allow Urban to question the integrity of council members nor attack them.
"People come with biases, but to insinuate that a vote was purchased is very false," Randall said.
Councilwoman Lori Knapp, one of the council members who received campaign contributions from a medical marijuana advocate, called the emergency resolution "responsible and pragmatic" and said it allows Portage to be proactive.
Councilman Chris Burns, who also benefited from medical marijuana-backed campaign support, agreed. "There are several reasons not to vote for this. I don't see any of them credible."
Several people thanked the council for the vote, including Jevin Weyenberg, manager of Lake Effect and a campaign contributor to three candidates. Weyenberg said his business intends to go after a state license.
"Thank you for the emergency resolution and for putting the health and wellness of the community first," Weyenberg said.
On the issue of pursuing a medical marijuana ordinance, the council said its resolution does not mean the city will automatically adopt one but will closely study it through a process that will include next week's committee of the whole meeting.
The issue has been at the top of the council's list since the Nov. 7 election. Tuesday's discussion followed a three-and-a-half-hour committee of the whole meeting Nov. 30.
While the seven council members have said they support some type of ordinance, they differ on the specifics such as how many plants a grower could have; if the city should also get into regulating safety compliance facilities, provisioning centers and transporters; or if it should start slow and just deal with provision centers and growers.
The city's actions would likely include both regulation of medical marijuana facilities and changing zoning laws to restrict where the facilities could operate.
Portage joins other area municipalities in tackling the issue. Kalamazoo Township recently voted to opt-in on allowing medical marijuana facilities. The city of Kalamazoo has put off the issue until next year. Comstock Township recently voted not to allow medical marijuana facilities.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Portage allows medical marijuana dispensary, will pursue ordinance | MLive.com
Author: Tom Haroldson
Contact: MLive contacts, services and support | MLive Contacts - MLive.com
Photo Credit: Jen Rynda
Website: Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com
