MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUBJECT TO SCRUTINY BY MUNICIPALITIES

TRI-CITY AREA - Officials are taking steps to ensure adequate
oversight of any medical marijuana dispensaries wishing to open
within their jurisdictions.

Local municipalities have been on the defense since the recent
opening of a medical marijuana dispensary in downtown Dryden.

Last Tuesday, Imlay City Mayor Pro-tem Marty Rankin urged the city's
planning commission to consider an ordinance governing such
establishments.

"I'd like to see us put something into place to have these restricted
and controlled," said Rankin. "If they come in and we don't have
anything on the books, we could find ourselves scrambling."

The matter was placed on the Planning Commission agenda and was
expected to be the subject of discussion at the meeting yesterday
evening, May 25.

The city is also taking a proactive approach to oversight of a
medical marijuana exposition to be held this summer at the Eastern
Michigan Fairgrounds.

On August 21-22, the publishers of Michigan Medical Marijuana
Magazine are sponsoring "Extravaganja" at the fairgrounds. The event
will include educational speakers, growing experts, business vendors,
food, live music and a medication tent that will be restricted to
qualified patients and their caregivers.

Imlay City Police Chief John Stano said he plans to meet with Lapeer
County Prosecutor Byron Konschuh, Eastern Michigan Fair Board Manager
Ian Kempf and Extravaganja organizers to establish protocol for the
event.

"We'll look at the legal language and research how things have worked
at these kinds of events in other jurisdictions," said Stano. "We
want to ensure that all legalities are upheld."

In the Village of Almont, Clerk/Treasurer and Acting Manager Sally
McCrea said the village has agreed to recognize a temporary
"moratorium" before enacting an ordinance for dispensaries.

"We're setting up a committee to meet and discuss putting an
ordinance in place," said McCrea. "I think we want to make sure we
protect our school children and establish some parameters."

The committee will consist of Police Chief Pat Nael and village
council members Steve Schneider, Tim Dyke and Rick Lauer.

In Imlay Township, board members agreed May 19 to have their
attorney, Michael Gildner, send a draft zoning ordinance to the
township planner for review.

Gildner had compiled similar language related to medical marijuana
dispensaries for another local municipality.