CHELSEA: CITY COUNCIL PLACES 60 DAY MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA
DISPENSARIES

Although there are no applications or established medical marijuana
dispensaries in Chelsea, the city council placed a 60-day moratorium
on these establishments at its regular meeting on Sept. 28.

The moratorium was established while the Chelsea Planning Commission
deliberates and sends a recommendation to the city council on a
proposed zoning text amendment that would prohibit dispensaries
within the city limits.

"The intended purpose of this proposed amendment was to prohibit the
establishment of medical marijuana dispensary clinics within the city
as the sale and distribution of marijuana violates federal law," the
agenda item summary states.

Currently, there are six commercial districts and one office district
in the city in which under current zoning regulations these clinics
would be allowed, the summary states.

Jim Drolett, the city's planning and zoning administrator, said he'd
had a few calls inquiring about dispensaries but the city had not had
any formal applications.

He told the city council that it was "important" that both the
planning commission and the city council move quickly to either
prevent or regulate the location of the clinics within the city.

Chelsea, like other communities in the county and across the state,
is wrestling with the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries
approved by Michigan voters in 2008.

Drolett wrote in his summary that "many of the communities that have
allowed dispensaries are now experiencing the negative side effects."

In addition, he wrote, "Unfortunately, because they granted
permission through zoning, any at-tempts to now eliminate them is
fruitless as once the clinic is established it becomes 'grand-fathered in.'"

On Sept. 21, the planning commission held a public hearing on the
proposed text after which commissioners held a long discussion, said
Cheri Albertson, the council liaison to the planning commission.

The change, which would prohibit the establishment of the
dispensaries within the city, was tabled until October.

"The planning commission is having a difficult time getting their
head around this," Albertson said, adding that they aren't clinics as
there is no medical supervision at the dispensaries.

The planning commission is expected to discuss the proposed amendment
at an Oct. 5 work session.

Staff recommended that the city council place a moratorium on the
establishment of any medical marijuana dispensary clinics in which
caregivers are allowed to dispense marijuana for medical purposes.

The planning commission is expected to send a recommendation to the
city council before the moratorium expires.