HOLLAND CITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

Holland, MI - As Holland weighs its options, medical marijuana
dispensaries continue to be banned within the city limits.

Where marijuana is grown and distributed is the issue, city planner
Mark Vanderploeg said.

"Are (those activities) going to be taking place in our
neighborhoods? This is a cause for concern for some people. Other
people have said they don't like the appearance of a storefront," he said.

A three-month extension to the medical marijuana dispensary
moratorium approved on "emergency" vote by the Holland City Council
Wednesday allows city staff and officials to finish examining
options. The emergency vote eliminates the 21-day wait - a six-month
moratorium expires in one week.

An ordinance could potentially relegate caregivers to a
home-occupation business as Grand Rapids does.

"It appears that's kind of the appetite Planning Commission has as
opposed to having open dispensaries, store-front-type situation,"
Vanderploeg said.

Whether licensing or permits would be included or are legal hasn't
been determined.

State-certified patients are allowed up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana or
12 plants. A patient can designate one caregiver. A care giver can
help up to five patients and be a patient him or herself, meaning up
to 72 plants or 15 ounces.

Councilmen Todd Whiteman and Myron Trethewey voted against the moratorium.

"I don't think it goes deep enough or long enough," Trethewey said.
"I don't think that we should be setting the precedent that we are."

It's an issue all over the state, Rep. Joe Haveman, R-Holland, said
during a public comment period.

"We're in a mess here trying to figure out what the people meant when
they said 'yes,'" he said.

Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, has formed work group, but for now,
balancing the budget is the primary focus of the Legislature.