CITY RESCUE MISSION CONCERNED ABOUT PROXIMITY TO MARIJUANA BUSINESS

LANSING -- Mark Criss has issues with his next-door neighbor, a
medical marijuana dispensary.

The executive director of the City Rescue Mission, 607 E. Michigan
Ave., said more than a hundred men and children visit the mission
every day and several of them are recovering drug addicts.

He'd like some local legislation that requires 1,000 feet between
medical marijuana dispensaries like his neighbor, the Kushion, and
substance abuse programs.

"We have many men and women trying to change their lives," he said.
"You'd be shocked at the type of people who are coming through there.
It's not what people imagined. They profess to be ill but they look
and act perfectly healthy.

"I wish the city would take a stronger position on the commercial
dispensaries."

Lansing has a zoning ordinance for primary caregivers administering
medical marijuana as a home occupation. The regulation mandates 1,000
feet between their addresses and substance abuse programs and other
institutions.

There's no such legislation for commercial districts yet, city
officials confirmed.

Stuart Dunnings III, Ingham County's prosecutor, said he is now
researching the potential for a future ordinance that cities and
townships could use to manage the local administration of medical
marijuana. He declined to comment further.

Meanwhile, the Kushion is becoming more established in the 600 block
of Michigan Avenue, where there is a medical marijuana clinic.

"We don't sell illegal drugs," said Dennis Betts, the Kushion's
director. "We don't bother them. We don't encourage them at all to
let their people come down here. He doesn't have any legitimate complaints."