MEDICAL POT SHOPS ON HOLD IN EASTPOINTE

Council Approves 120-Day Moratorium to Research Issue

EASTPOINTE - City Council realizes that voters in the state gave the
green light to make medical marijuana legal, but the city isn't ready
to give anyone the option of coming in and setting up shop in the city
to sell it right now.

The City Council unanimously approved a 120-day moratorium on medical
marijuana dispensaries at its July 6 meeting.

"I know that there's going to be people upset that say this has passed
at the state level, and it has," Mayor Pro Tem Veronica Klinefelt
said, adding that the city has to do its own research on how to
regulate the sale of medical pot in the city.

"We have to have rules in place . to safeguard this, like criminal
background checks," she explained.

Voters approved legalizing medical marijuana in 2008, which paved the
way for new businesses to establish themselves and dispense the drug
for medical use.

"The city of Eastpointe Ordinance and Zoning Codes are silent with
regard to the regulation and location of medical marijuana
dispensaries," states the resolution the city passed establishing the
moratorium. "The city of Eastpointe has received inquiries regarding
the permitting, establishment and/or operation of medical marijuana
dispensaries within the city,"

Acting City Manager Randy Altimus agreed that the city needed to
initiate the moratorium.

"We just want an opportunity to investigate what our options are," he
said.

Eastpointe isn't the only city taking this step.

Bloomfield Township, Ferndale and Mount Clemens are among the many
metro Detroit communities that recently have approved
moratoriums.

According to the city's resolution, there have been problems - like
increasing crime and illegal drug sales near facilities - arising in
some communities that have allowed the dispensaries to set up shop.

During the 120-day moratorium, the city will study the issue and
possibly propose zoning code amendments to alleviate any negative
issues that might come up with the establishment of a dispensary,
according to the resolution.