DEXTER: PLANNING COMMISSION SEEKS EXTENSION ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

The Dexter Village Planning Commission will ask the village for an
extension on the moratorium for medical marijuana dispensaries for
another 90 days.

At its meeting Monday, the commission said a series of public
hearings would need to take place on Jan. 3, 2011 in order for the
commission to be able to act on the changes to the proposed ordinance.

Community Development Director Allison Bishop said further
clarification is still needed in order to move forward with an ordinance.

"Each section with an amendment in it needs to have a public
hearing," she said.

Five sections of the ordinance have amendments attached, according to
Bishop. One of the amendments addresses the amount of fines for first
and second time offenders of the ordinance.

"The public hearings can all be held on the same night," she said.
"We are looking for more direction for this."

Commissioner Jim Carson, who also serves on the village council, said
he was in favor of having the public hearing set for the first
meeting in January, and he wanted to make sure that the Dec. 26
deadline on the moratorium was extended.

On Nov. 4, 2008, Michigan voters approved the use of medical
marijuana statewide. Dexter's draft ordinance would prohibit "medical
marijuana home occupations within multiple family dwellings" and
exterior signage using the word marijuana.

According to the commission, a dispensary must keep a logbook or a
database identifying by date the amount of medical marijuana on the
premises for qualified patients or registered primary caregivers.

This draft ordinance does not allow for the consumption, growing,
cultivating or retail sales of medical marijuana.