EMMET APPROVED COMMERCIAL MEDICAL POT BAN

Patients who are state licensed to use medical marijuana will have to
either grow their own medication or use a private "caregiver" in
Emmet County - at least for the next six months.

The Emmet County Board of Commissioner approved a resolution to enact
a six-month moratorium in the zoning code to prohibit the commercial
sale or production of medical marijuana, with a 5-2 vote Thursday night.

Within the limits of the moratorium, patients will be limited to
"selfuse" and licensed "caregivers" - who are allowed to grow and
distribute medical pot - would be limited to their five allotted patients.

Emmet County's decision comes as a Michigan Court of Appeals judge
called for clarity in Michigan's Medical Marijuana bill passed in
2008, legislation he described as "inartfully drafted."

In a 30-page opinion for an Oakland County case, Judge Peter
O'Connell warned patients and caregivers of the legal gray areas of
the act and called for the legislature to establish rules for doctors
and people who want to create dispensaries.

Emmet County board chairman Jim Tamlyn noted the judge's statement at
the opening of discussion.

"So, we are not the only board dealing with these problems, boards
all over the state are dealing with this," Tamlyn said.

Emmet County has been working for several months to establish its own
set of regulations to handle the influx of patients and caregivers
throughout the state.

However, they elected to create a committee to review possible zoning
options or restrictions in the future, with its first meeting
scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 29.

The Emmet County moratorium was proposed Tuesday by Emmet County
attorney Kathleen Abbott as a means to allow the committee time to
discuss its options without having future conflicts.

Emmet County commissioner Tom Shier spoke passionately about this
opposition to the moratorium, saying that he agreed something needed
to be done and done correctly.

"But, shame on us that two years since it passed and we are just now
getting around to setting to setting up a committee to study it,"
Shier said. "Shame on us. It sends a very mixed message to the voters
of this county and of this state regarding our democratic process."

Commissioners Jim Tamlyn, Leroy Gregory, Jack Jones and Les Atchison
voted in favor, while Shier and Dan Plasencia were opposed.

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.