TOWNSHIP EXTENDS MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

While Bloomfield Township has extended its moratorium on allowing
medical marijuana outlets it's likely just a matter of time before
they come into town.

The township had placed a 30-day moratorium on allowing such
facilities to open. The moratorium was to expire on Aug. 12 but has
been extended to Sept. 12.

Township Clerk Janet Roncelli said the township board took the action
Monday "to give ourselves more time to discuss it." The township "is
looking at how we can regulate this so it's safe for the grower, the
caregiver and the township ... and also safe for our public safety
officers."

So far, the township has received no objections from residents over
marijuana outlets. In fact, only a few persons have called inquiring
about the township's stance on the growing and sale of medical
marijuana and they came from people hoping to set up operations in the
township.

Allowing them to come in will entail the township looking at zoning
restrictions to permit their operating in commercial or residential
areas.

The township has few commercial areas, however.

Bloomfield Township stands in sharp contrast to its neighbors. Both
Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills have voted to forbid medical marijuana
facilities within their boundaries.

Those towns maintain that while voters in Michigan have approved the
legalization of medical marijuana, it still is forbidden under federal
law.

However, while federal law supersedes state law, the federal
government has made it clear it is not interested in prosecuting
medical marijuana cases.

Bloomfield Hills banned medical marijuana outlets, noting that people
could go to neighboring communities that permit them. Those
communities that do allow them say they should be permitted because
the people spoke by voting in favor of them.