OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARD SIX-MONTH MORATORIUM ON
MEDICAL MARIJUANA

OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP - Oshtemo Township took the first step toward
enacting a six-month moratorium on medical marijuana by approving the
moratorium on first reading Tuesday. The board will take it up again
at its next meeting, March 8.

The board is considering enacting the moratorium in order to give the
Planning Commission time to consider how best to incorporate the state
medical marijuana law into the township's zoning ordinance. Many
municipalities in Michigan have enacted similar moratoriums since
voters approved a law legalizing use of marijuana for approved medical
reasons in 2008.

The board approved the moratorium on first reading on a vote of 6-1,
with Treasurer Nancy Culp dissenting. After questioning how the
moratorium would affect existing medical marijuana businesses and not
receiving an answer, Culp said there are too many unanswered questions
for her to support the moratorium.

The board heard from four people who are involved with medical
marijuana businesses, all of whom emphasized the safety and legality
of their businesses and urged the board to look into the issues and
work with them to find middle ground.

The moratorium would prohibit the establishment or expansion of any
township property or structure that is used to acquire, possess,
cultivate, manufacture, use, deliver, transfer or transport marijuana
or paraphernalia for 180 days while the Planning Commission develops
recommendations on the regulation of marijuana for medical use.

"Because of the way this law was written, there's a myriad of
loopholes or things that will have to be determined," Township
Attorney James Porter said. "This is not a black and white issue.
You're going to have to do a great deal of consideration and
analysis," he told trustees.