DELHI, DIMONDALE APPROVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS

DELHI TWP. - Businesses looking to sell medical marijuana will not be
allowed in Delhi Township, according to a new ordinance adopted Feb.
16.

The Delhi Township Board of Trustees voted 5-1 to approve the
ordinance, which only allows the growth and distribution of medical
marijuana in a private home under the category of "home caregiver."

The township's planning commission recommended the ordinance after
deliberating on it during a 180-day moratorium approved by the board
to give the township time to develop an ordinance.

Michigan voters approved the Medical Marijuana Act in 2008, but local
municipalities have been struggling with how to regulate the
dispensary industry that started because of it.

"Hats off to our staff for quickly working on this and for setting a
moratorium while it was worked on," Delhi Trustee John Hayhoe said.
"Because of that, we were able to nip this in the bud."

Hayhoe said dispensary businesses in neighboring Lansing have
proliferated while its city council grapples with the new law.

Delhi's ordinance is based on its attorney's opinion, which states
that medical marijuana dispensaries and compassion clubs are not
provided for by the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.

Therefore, they will not be a permitted land use in Delhi Township.
The ordinance will go into effect 30 days from publication, or March
22.

Delhi Township Community Development Director Tracy Miller said that
aspect of the ordinance applies to those that want to grow and
distribute marijuana as an occupation and doesn't restrict those using
marijuana for medical purposes under the law.

She said there may be more clarification on the law coming from the
state legislature in the future, but until then, the new ordinance
will have to do.

She said "home caregiver" dispensaries will have restrictions.

They will not e allowed within 1,000 feet of any church or school and
there will be a limit on the amount of light needed to grow the plants

"We are also adding a permit fee," she said.

The $100 fee will defray the cost of educating the home caregiver
about Delhi Township's new ordinance and to run a basic check on the
address to see if it complies.