WIXOM EXTENDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

The six-month moratorium preventing medical marijuana operations from
opening up in Wixom has been extended for another six months.

The Wixom City Council voted 6-0 on the measure at its Tuesday, Nov.
9 meeting, based on a recommendation by the Planning Commission.
Mayor Pro Tem Richard Ziegler wasn't present at last week's meeting.

An ordinance eventually may be deemed necessary to help regulate
medical marijuana in the city and guide law enforcement efforts in
combating any illegal drug activity.

Given the complications associated with drafting an ordinance, Wixom
officials say they want to defer action until the state steps in and
clarifies the ambiguities under existing state law.

Planning Commissioner Bill Day cited zoning, mixed uses and land uses
as points of contention that have officials grappling with how to
craft an ordinance.

"In addition to zoning and land uses, what can people do besides
buying marijuana? Will they have lava lamps or posters available to
purchase to attract people for the purpose of buying marijuana? There
are many issues," he said.

Now that the state will be bringing in a change of leadership after
the mid-term election, Day said he hopes the new Legislature will
take action on the medical marijuana issue.

"In part, we're holding off because there is a new administration
coming on board at the state level," Day said. "We're hoping it will
become a statewide issue that will give the municipalities guidance
to handle the issue."

"The government has a stake in this and how it should be regulated," he said.

Mayor Kevin Hinkley said the city isn't unlike other municipalities
that are awaiting clarification before drafting ordinances.

"We're like many communities trying to investigate all facets of the
medical marijuana issue and how we can and can't deal with it," Hinkley said.

The moratorium will give city planners and officials time to study
areas within Wixom where medical marijuana facilities might be permissible.

Planning consultants and city attorneys have been tasked with
researching how other cities are handling the issue.

At the end of the six-month time frame, it's expected that the
Planning Commission will either draft a final zoning ordinance
amendment ready for City Council approval that specifically outlines
areas within the city where medical marijuana can be legally grown
and sold, or will determine that the issue falls under the current
land use zoning ordinance.

"We're hoping we have something in place before the six-month
moratorium expires," Day said.