MEDICINAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES NOT WELCOME IN NEW BALTIMORE

The City of New Baltimore is covering its bases until the state works
out its medicinal marijuana laws.

At the March 22 council meeting, the city once again approved a
moratorium on medicinal marijuana dispensaries within its borders.
This is the second moratorium officials have established since
Michigan voters approved a proposal legalizing medicinal marijuana
use in the November 2008 elections.

In April 2009, the city passed a moratorium banning all medicinal
marijuana dispensaries - storefronts that would sell marijuana to
state-recognized patients - in the city for 180 days.

At last week's council session, officials voted all in favor to
impose the current moratorium for six months. After six months, they
will revisit the matter again.

The Michigan Department of Community Health, which administers the
Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, sees dispensaries as illegal
operations under that act.

"The Department of Community Health's legal opinion of dispensaries
is that they are not addressed in the act and not permitted," city
attorney Tim Tomlinson said.

But still, officials said they want to make sure no one tries to come
in and set up shop.

"I recommend (moratorium) until we have a better handle on how this
is going to be done," Mayor Pro-Tem Ken Butler said.

In November 2008, Michigan became the 13th state to legalize
medicinal marijuana use.

Under the law, which went into effect Dec. 4, 2008, registered
patients with valid state-issued identification cards can posses up
to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and grow 12 plants in secured,
locked areas. Patients are also allowed to designate a caregiver to
grow the marijuana for them.

According to the Department of Community Health, nearly 21,000
residents had applied for the state-issued identification cards or to
be registered as a caregiver.

City Clerk Marcia Shinska said New Baltimore officials will have a
better idea of the rules and regulations after the Michigan Municipal
League hosts a Medical Marijuana Act conference at the end of March.

"(Council is) waiting on the MML, they're having a conference where
they will be discussing further the Medical Marihuana Act and how it
affects communities," she said.

Butler was quick to note he is not opposed to the medicinal marijuana
laws and has seen first-hand the effects of cancer-treatment on a
colleague at the law firm where he works.

"I hope we can find a way to make this (medicinal marijuana)
available to them once the state has everything worked out," Butler said.

Chesterfield Township, which neighbors New Baltimore, currently has
no ordinances regarding medicinal marijuana dispensaries.