MILFORD VILLAGE EXTENDS MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

Stating that they need more time and information to establish a
zoning ordinance, the Milford Village Council on Monday agreed to
continue the moratorium for six more months. The decision followed an
executive session on the issue.

"Basically, the law is unclear. We're trying to figure out what's
going on," said Terri Rusas, village council president.

Progress has been made over the past few months, Rusas said, but
there are still plenty of unanswered questions.

"The planning commission has been looking at it. (Consultant) Nick
Lomako has been looking at it. Legal counsel has been looking into
it," Rusas said.

Any change in ordinance will be drafted by the planning commission,
with final approval by the village council.

"We're trying to determine if we there's a place in Milford (for
this), where it will be. We don't want a dispensary set up and then
have to close it down because the laws aren't being followed," Rusas said.

The federal marijuana prohibition complicates the matter, she added.

The initial six-month moratorium was established in early June,
forbidding land use for growing and distributing medical marijuana,
or allowing schools to provide training on the cultivation,
processing and distribution. At that point, Rusas said time was
needed "to get our ordinances caught up with this law."

The Village of Milford is one of several municipalities across the
state with similar moratoriums. Since the medical marijuana law was
enacted in 2008, communities have been challenged to address
appropriate land use for the activities associated with medical
marijuana. State law doesn't address it.

Village Manager Arthur Shufflebarger will be submitting written
correspondence to Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Cooper,
asking for details on the law.

"(It's) to try to force effective clarification of what's going on
here so we know what to do," Rusas said.

Shufflebarger calls the medical marijuana legislation "a bad law."

"There needs to be action taken at the federal level to clarify the
appropriateness of state law," he said.

Rusas agreed. "If it's valid, it needs more information. If it's not
valid, it needs to be eliminated," she said.

Milford Township also has a six-month medical marijuana moratorium in
place, set to expire at the end of this month. It covers the township
outside the village limits. The township board was expected to
address the moratorium and consider extending it at its Nov. 17
meeting, after press time.

Violating the moratorium is a civil infraction, typically punishable by a fine.