FERNDALE TO CONSIDER EXTENDING MEDICAL MARIJUANA ZONES

FERNDALE - The City Council on Monday will decide whether to expand
the number of zones in the city where medical marijuana businesses are allowed.

Council members are set to discuss if pot businesses should also be
allowed in the commercial districts along Woodward Avenue or
mixed-use districts along Livernois, Hilton and part of Eight Mile Road.

City Manager Robert Bruner recommends that officials hold off on
making any changes.

"The decision is up to the council, but I think we should take some
time to evaluate this (marijuana zoning) policy further and see how
it works out," he said. "If changes are needed to the zoning we can
do that in the future."

The council this summer passed an ordinance allowing pot businesses
in districts zoned for offices and light and heavy industrial operations.

After council members recently instituted a $2,000 licensing fee for
any medical marijuana businesses, they decided to again look at the
zoning issue.

Mayor Craig Covey said he is unsure how the council will vote on
expanding the zoning for pot businesses, though he personally favors
supporting such businesses.

"I think there's a fair amount of support on council, but it's
obviously up in the air with the sheriff sort of attacking these
businesses," he said.

Oakland County sheriff's deputies raided pot dispensaries in
Waterford Township and Ferndale in August, along with private homes
in Oakland and Macomb counties. More than 20 people connected with
the dispensaries now face criminal charges of illegally growing and
selling marijuana. Law enforcement officials in Oakland have said
Michigan's medical marijuana law makes no provisions for commercial
pot dispensaries or growing operations and how to regulate them.
Many, including municipal officials around the state, are hoping a
test case in court or consideration by lawmakers in Lansing will
eventually clear up legal ambiguities.

Clinical Relief on Hilton is the only medical marijuana business in
Ferndale. About 10 people connected with the clinic are among those
facing criminal charges.

Some cities have adopted moratoriums on medical marijuana businesses
while they study the issue; others, such as Birmingham and Bloomfield
Hills, have bans in place. Royal Oak has extended its moratorium and
city commissioners are considering a ban on pot businesses.

Covey said there are models for marijuana businesses that work in
other communities such as Oakland, Calif.

"The raids in Ferndale and Waterford had a chilling effect and the
movement toward reaching some sort of stability where people are
legally able to obtain their medicine," he said. "It's stressful for
local governments who are trying to figure it out as well."

While some other communities like Royal Oak have extended moratoriums
on pot businesses, Bruner said that wouldn't have been the right
approach for Ferndale where voters overwhelmingly favor medical marijuana.

"There is strong support for medical marijuana in the community here
and on the City Council," Bruner said.