MARYSVILLE, KIMBALL MOVE TO BLOCK MARIJUANA CENTERS

Two local municipalities have passed resolutions designed to put the
brakes on so-called medical marijuana compassion centers.

The Marysville City Council approved a resolution Monday that
prevents marijuana from being distributed in the city indefinitely.
Kimball Township officials approved a six-month moratorium earlier
this month.

Marysville City Manager Jack Schumacher said the state legislation
that makes medical marijuana legal is so vague and confusing
officials don't know what it allows. He said the moratorium will
remain in place until local officials straighten out the state law.

It was proposed, Schumacher said, after a husband and wife approached
Kimball Township officials in March about opening a compassion center.

The center, Debra and Jim Amsdill have said, would include a
membership room where people registered through the Michigan Medical
Marijuana Program could smoke pot. They described the business as a
place where patients and caregivers could meet, network and have
informational meetings. There are about 40 such clubs across the state.

Schumacher said the resolution was a proactive step taken after
officials saw the confusion the issue caused in Kimball. It does not
prevent registered medical marijuana users from using the drug, he
said.

Kimball Township Supervisor Rob Usakowski said the moratorium passed
there gives the planning commission time to include compassion
centers in zoning ordinances.

Members of the township's board of trustees requested the planning
commission address specific details of the centers, including how far
from a school they can be, signage and hours of operation.

The Amsdills of Kimball Township proposed opening a compassion center
in the Sawmill Commons strip mall, 4731 Lapeer Road. The proposal
wasn't met with fanfare from local officials, who were concerned the
center would be about 400 feet from Landmark Academy, a charter school.

Marysville Mayor Gary Orr said he wanted to make sure he had answers
if someone came to the City Council with such a business proposal.

He wants to see local ordinances passed establishing guidelines for
where compassion centers could open. Orr said he hopes such
ordinances can be adopted by the end of the year.

"We've got an awful lot of discovery and research," he said.