EMMET COUNTY TO VOTE ON SIX-MONTH MEDICAL POT SHOP SUSPENSION

The Emmet County Board of Commissioners will vote Thursday on a
potential six-month moratorium to prevent the commercial sale and
production of medical marijuana within the county borders.

Emmet County officials have been working for the past several months
to determine an appropriate method to handle the commercial and
production facets of medical marijuana not specifically outlined in
the Medical Marijuana Act, passed by state voters in 2008.

Emmet County attorney Kathleen Abbott proposed the moratorium to the
commissioners Tuesday, as a potential for "giving the county some
time" while considering its future zoning for medical marijuana.

Initially, the county was considering an amendment to the zoning code
to require all property to adhere to "Michigan and federal law." The
new designation would have eliminated commercial medical marijuana
facilities because they would not be legal under federal mandates.

However, after two months of consideration the commissioners elected
- - with the advise of Abbott - to create a committee to review future solutions.

The Emmet County Medical Marijuana Committee is set to have its first
meeting at 5 p.m., Sept. 29, in the commissioner's room in the Emmet
County Building in downtown Petoskey.

During Tuesday's county administrative meeting, Abbott said the
moratorium would not prevent cardholding patients from using medical marijuana.

"This would prevent dispensaries and clubs - places where people
would be congregating," Abbott said.

In the resolution language for the moratorium would eliminate "any
medical (marijuana) dispensary, compassion center or other similar
operation for the use and/or consumption of medical marijuana, and/or
any commercial medical (marijuana) growing facility, other than that
allowed under Michigan law for single caregivers."

To approve the moratorium, the commissioners will have to pass the
resolution for a moratorium with a majority vote. The resolution
would stay in place until March 31, 2011, or until lifted by the board.

The Emmet County Board of Commissioners will meet in the
commissioner's room at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, in the Emmet County Building.