FERNDALE TO CHARGE FEE TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES

FERNDALE - Owners of any new marijuana facilities that want to open
in the city will have to pay a $2,000 fee for their license and
annual renewals.

The City Council enacted the licensing fee this past week and
officials said they did so to recover the costs associated with
inspections and other duties city workers and police conduct for licensing.

Mayor Craig Covey said he has no problem charging the fee and said
the council may hike the cost in future years.

"We can change the fee at any time," Covey said, "not to be punitive
but to recoup our own costs."

Councilwoman Melanie Piani said that some communities charge up to
$5,000 annually for licensing marijuana facilities.

"I think we are going to see other cities go to that range," she said.

Ferndale City Clerk Cherilynn Tallman suggested a $2,000 fee after
reviewing the work different city departments do in processing
documents and making inspections.

Tallman estimates city workers will have to spend about 32 hours on
tasks to complete a marijuana facility license.

The fee is the highest the city charges for a license because it will
require more staff time to administer, she said.

The city only has one medical marijuana business. Clinical Relief on
Hilton began selling marijuana in June, but has not done so since
some of its owners and employees were charged with illegal sales and
growing of marijuana. The charges came after Oakland County Sheriff's
deputies raided marijuana facilities and homes in Waterford, Lake
Orion, Royal Oak, Ferndale and Macomb County last month. About 10 of
the roughly 20 people charged in the multiple raids are due for a
hearing today, Monday, Sept. 20, in Ferndale 43rd District Court.

City Manager Robert Bruner said Clinical Relief opened before the
medical marijuana licensing fee was passed but will have to pay it
now that the fee has been enacted by ordinance.