OWOSSO FAILS TO PASS POT MORATORIUM

OWOSSO -- The City Council decided not to move forward with a
moratorium on businesses associated with medical marijuana during its
meeting Monday night.

However, the council did decide to create a subcommittee to further
explore how the Medical Marijuana Act that Michigan voters approved in
2008 ties in with the city's zoning regulations.

"This is a major discussion probably with every city in the state,"
interim city manager Donald Crawford said, noting ordinances recently
passed in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills completely banning medical
marijuana are being challenged by the ACLU.

The council discussed the idea of a 90-day moratorium on any new
medical marijuana-associated businesses, with council member Tom Cook
motioning to approve the moratorium, in order for the city to figure
out how dispensaries, counseling centers and other business plans
associated with medical marijuana fit into the city's zoning ordinance.

"We have a new use. What zoning does it apply to?" Mayor Benjamin
Frederick asked.

Cook said the moratorium would allow the city to investigate the
situation on its own since it has received little to no guidance from
the state.

"This is a new activity that hasn't been seen," Cook said of medical
marijuana businesses.

Cook's motion died without support.

However, the city did agree to create a subcommittee to investigate
the relationship between the city's zoning and the Medical Marijuana
Act.

The subcommittee will be headed by city council members Michael
Erfourth and Christopher Eveleth and include members of the city's
public safety, zoning and planning administrations as well as a member
from the health care community.

Erfourth pushed for the council to face this issue head on rather then
waiting for other cities to pass ordinances.

"We should put our boots on for once and get in front of this issue,"
Erfourth said.

The subcommittee is expected to produce a list of goals it would like
to accomplish to the city council within 15 days, and produce
suggestions within 30 days.