LANSING CITY COUNCIL VOTE BANS MARIJUANA BUSINESS OPENINGS UNTIL JULY

No new medical marijuana businesses may be opened in the city of
Lansing until July 2011, according to an ordinance unanimously
adopted Monday night by the City Council.

The ordinance will give the city more time to draft rules and
regulations for medical marijuana businesses, such as dispensaries
and clinics. Possible regulations could include required licenses and
fees assessed to business owners. The city began work on creating
such rules in February.

The ordinance will not stop existing medical marijuana businesses
from operating in the city. When the city brought up the possibility
of a moratorium a week ago, there were 19 such businesses registered.
That number ballooned to 67 Monday as hopeful entrepreneurs rushed to
beat the moratorium deadline, City Clerk Chris Swope said.

Before accepting the ordinance, council members reduced the length of
the moratorium from one year to a little more than six months, with
the moratorium expiring July 1, 2011.

"This will give us time to finish up that work we've been doing,"
said Councilwoman Carol Wood, who chairs the council's public safety committee.

All council members present - Wood, Eric Hewitt, Tina Houghton, Brian
Jeffries, Derrick Quinney and Jessica Yorko - voted for the measure.
Council Vice President Kathie Dunbar and Council President A'Lynne
Robinson were absent.

Possible Monopoly?

Approximately 15 people spoke about the ordinance at a public hearing
held before the vote. Opinions were divided on the moratorium, but no
one spoke out against the use of medical marijuana, which became
legal in a statewide vote two years ago.

Many people in the audience Monday night operate medical marijuana
businesses, some with fanciful names such as Best Buzz, Star Buzz and
Mr. Nice Guy.

Mary Lindeman, representing the advocacy group Cannabis Patients
United, spoke against a moritorium, which she said would give
existing businesses an unfair head start.

"It would create a possible monopoly on the business," she said. "It
is an opportunity to establish prices that are beyond the norm."

Growing Industry

Limited competition and high prices would be bad news for patients
using medical marijuana, said Christopher Caszatt, who is a medical
marijuana caregiver - meaning he can grow plants for patients.

"What they're saying is, 'Please pass this so I can charge more,'" he
said. "When you charge more, patients don't have choices, and greedy
people get more."

But others said the moratorium could lead to rules that would lay the
groundwork for a growing industry.

"License it and tax it," said Jeff Peck. "This is a huge opportunity
for young entrepreneurs to create spin-off businesses and create jobs."