MEDICAL POT SHOP SNUFFED FOR NOW

Village Adopts 6-Month Moratorium

KALKASKA - No medical marijuana dispensaries or collectives may open
in Kalkaska for at least six months.

The Kalkaska Village Council on Monday voted to establish a
moratorium on the sale or dispensation of medical marijuana, a move
prompted by a local man's proposal to open a collective inside the
village. Jeffrey Saco attended the meeting to answer village
trustees' questions about his proposed business.

"I think it's important for us to adopt this 180-day moratorium
because we don't know enough about it," said Trustee Marilyn Larsen.

Trustee David Heymes said he, too, wants to learn more about how
other communities are handling the state's medical marijuana law.

One stumbling block is how the voter-approved state law doesn't
address dispensaries, just patients and growers, or caregivers. It's
largely been up to municipalities to set rules for the dispensation
of the drug.

"This would get away from people growing in residential neighborhoods
and I know that's been a concern," said Saco, 24, of Williamsburg.

Traverse City currently has about eight medical marijuana
dispensaries or collectives, with more expected by year's end.
Cadillac also has a dispensary and Kalkaska is missing out on the
financial opportunity, Saco argued.

"I think it would be good for people in this town. There are people
here with (medical marijuana) cards and they currently drive to
Traverse City or Cadillac, if they don't grow their own," Saco said.

Rapid River Township resident Mike Bingham spoke at the meeting and
encouraged the trustees not to adopt a moratorium. He founded the
Northern Michigan Caregiver Alliance and currently grows medical
marijuana for three registered patients.

"I think the 180-day moratorium is a stalling technique that will be
harmful in the end," Bingham said.

Trustee Lyle Blanksvard balked at the suggestion that village
officials wanted to "drag this out."

"We have to have all the facts," Blanksvard said.

Bingham later said he believes medical marijuana dispensaries or
collectives should be allowed and encouraged, but regulated.

"I don't think dispensaries should be allowed to run wild," Bingham said.

Kalkaska Police Sgt. Glenn Artress said record-keeping is a concern
until the village can establish stipulations for patients and caregivers.

Saco said he intends to operate his business as a collective with
five patients for each caregiver, in accordance with state law.

"I understand you want to learn more about it and educate
yourselves," Saco said.

Saco even suggested the village could put a local tax on the sale or
dispensation of medical marijuana, as other communities have done.

The moratorium will allow officials time to investigate the state law
and decide how to handle Saco's request and any others that come along.

Meanwhile, Kalkaska County officials began to look into a medical
marijuana ordinance, as well.

County planning commissioners are set to hear a report about the
state's medical marijuana law and how it applies to local
dispensaries, collectives and growing operations.

"It's still in committee. There will be a report coming out of
committee," said Louis Walter Jr., the planning commission's current
chairman. "I've been working with the prosecutor on this and law
enforcement to find out what the law is."

Kalkaska County Zoning Administrator Karen Van Horn said a
professional planner recommends county officials wait to adopt
medical marijuana restrictions.

"There are so many wrinkles in the medical marijuana law, it's bound
to change," she said.

Additionally, Rapid River Township officials received an inquiry
about a medical marijuana grower's conference along US-131, north of
Kalkaska. But it's still "early in the discussion about that," said
John Rogers, township supervisor.