CLIO LOOKS TO BAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES

CLIO, Michigan -- Medical marijuana may be legal -- but don't plan on
looking for it in downtown Clio.

With the state getting ready to begin registering people to legally
use marijuana under Michigan's new medicinal marijuana law, Clio
officials are taking steps to snuff out any enterprising business
owners from selling it.

The goal: To avoid a repeat of the topless coffee shop controversy a
few years ago.

Because using marijuana remains illegal under federal law, the Clio
ordinance would bar a business license for any store that violates
local, state or federal law.

"Federal law trumps state law," said Otis Stout, the Clio city attorney.

Opinion from area business owners is mixed.

"It wouldn't bother me," said Greg Bauman, who owns a guitar shop downtown.

Jewelry store owner Cindy Newman said a dispensary might increase
foot traffic downtown.

"I need business," she said.

But the owner of a floral shop that sits next to a boarded up
business isn't so sure that a storefront dispensary is the best idea.

Debbie Taylor worries she would lose customers who might steer clear
of such a store and is concerned that young people will be able to
get marijuana in the same way that some use fake driver's licenses to
buy liquor.

"You can't please everybody," said Taylor.

In November, voters passed a state law to allow people to use
marijuana for medicinal reasons, including the treatment of nausea
and other side effects of serious illnesses.

The state Department of Community has until April 4 to issue
guidelines for how patients and designated caregivers can get
state-issued cards to acquire, keep, grow, carry and use marijuana.

But because the state can't tell patients how to get the drug, groups
like the Genesee County Compassion Club have been working to link
those in need with others who can provide it.

A Compassion Club representative could not be reached for comment
this week to discuss the Clio proposal.

Even if a measure is passed against storefront dispensaries that
won't mean medical marijuana users can't toke up in Clio.

Clio police Chief Jim McLellan said compassion clubs that distribute
marijuana will still be able to operate out of homes.

The tricky part for police will be distinguishing legitimate medical
cannabis users from those who are just looking to get high for fun.

It used to be someone caught with 50 marijuana cigarettes would face
felony charges of dealing drugs.

Under the new law, anyone can carry that same equivalent of marijuana
- -- 2 1/2 ounces -- and be perfectly legal as long as they are a
registered to use marijuana for health reasons.

"There's a lot of questions to be answered," said McLellan.

McLellan said Clio police aren't interested in hassling those who use
cannabis legally.

"But some people are going to look to abuse the system and make a
profit off it," he said.