MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE BACK ON AGENDA

ADRIAN, Mich. - The Adrian Planning Commission will try again today to
recommend a zoning ordinance regulating medical marijuana distribution
facilities.

The commission will meet at 7 p.m. tonight in the city chambers
building, 159 E. Maumee St.

The commission tabled discussion of a proposed ordinance Feb. 1 so it
could get input from the Adrian City Commission.

The planning commission can recommend a new ordinance but the city
commission must approve the ordinance before it can become law.

Key features of the proposed ordinance discussed Feb. 1 are that
it:

- -- Would restrict medical marijuana distribution facilities to the B-2
business district.

- -- Would restrict the facilities to one caregiver per
facility.

- -- Would not "grandfather" two existing facilities, which are not in
the B-2 district, meaning they would not be in compliance with the
ordinance.

About 70 people attended the Feb. 1 meeting, many to support the
existing medical marijuana facilities.

On Dec. 20, the city commission imposed a 120-day moratorium on
opening any new medical marijuana facilities in the city to allow the
city time to enact an ordinance regulating them.

April 19 will be 120 days from Dec. 20.

Michigan's medical marijuana law, approved by voters in 2008, allows
registered patients or caregivers to grow a limited number of
marijuana plants for use by the patients. Caregivers are limited to
five patients each.