IN NEW BALTIMORE, MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES STILL NOT
ALLOWED

The city of New Baltimore once again extended its ban on medicinal
marijuana dispensaries.

The measure was originally passed in April of 2009 for 180 days, and
the city became one of the first in the area to pass such a resolution.

This city continues to extend the ban until the state puts more
guidelines on its medical marijuana law - passed by voters in November
2009.

Mayor Pro Tem Ken Butler said he hoped the state resolves the issues
soon.

"If you've ever dealt with somebody undergoing any type of cancer
treatment or chemo and radiation or (has) glaucoma, what (marijuana)
does for people - I don't want to keep denying this forever," Butler
said. "For certain people this is a relief."

City attorney Tim Tomlinson clarified that medical marijuana was still
legal in the city under the state's law.

"We're not denying the rights of the patients or caregivers to be
provided medical marijuana, we're just putting a moratorium on
dispensaries," he said.

The moratorium, passed at the council's Sept. 27 session, is in place
for six months.