TC APPROVES MARIJUANA REGULATIONS

New Ordinance Could Be Changed If Problems Come Up in the Future

TRAVERSE CITY - New regulations that dictate when and where city
residents can grow and distribute medical marijuana could be changed
if problems arise.

City commissioners on Monday gave final approval to a new ordinance
that regulates land-use issues tied to the Michigan Medical Marijuana
Act. It takes effect Aug. 26.

The ordinance allows for cultivation of up to 72 marijuana plants in
single-family homes, and that concerns those who believe such
activity could degrade the city's residential neighborhoods. But
commissioners weren't ready to rule out residential growth.

"This law is not set in concrete," Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Soffredine
said. "We can bring it back to the table, and we can tweak it and do
what we want to do with it. But we need to give it a chance."

The Michigan Medical Marijuana act, approved in 2008, allows patients
to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 12 plants. It also
allows designated caregivers to grow and distribute plants to up to
five patients.

But the act doesn't specify where or when patients and caregivers can
grow or exchange marijuana, so municipalities across the state were
left to decide for themselves.

The new ordinance doesn't affect the amount of plants a patient can
have under state law, or the number of plants a caregiver can grow or
distribute.

It instead specifies where legal marijuana-related activity can occur
within city limits.

City resident Julia Wagner told commissioners she's uncomfortable
with marijuana growth in residential districts.

She voted in favor of medical marijuana, but assumed it would be
closely regulated and available only at pharmacies.

"I had no idea that this could invade my neighborhood," she said.

Her view was shared by Adrienne Rossi, a Central Neighborhood
resident who called marijuana growth "extremely unhealthy for our
residential neighborhoods."

Pro-medical marijuana activists countered that residential growth
allows patients easier and safer access to the drug.

Current residential growth hasn't led to significant problems, they
said, and the city could expose itself to potential litigation if it
tries to prevent residents from exercising a right afforded under state law.

The ordinance allows for cultivation in excess of 72 plants in
industrial districts, provided the cultivation facility owner obtains
a license from the city.

It also allows for medical marijuana "collectives" in most commercial
districts of the city.

Any medical marijuana that fits within the confines of the Medical
Marijuana Act can change hands in such collectives, but growing isn't
allowed there.