BAY CITY COMMISSION APPROVES 6-MONTH MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES

BAY CITY - The Bay City Commission on Monday night put a halt to any
new medical marijuana dispensaries in the city for the next six months.

The city has three known groups operating as dispensaries, or
compassion clubs, that either sell or exchange medical marijuana.

City officials asked for the six month moratorium while they put
regulations in place on the facilities, as well as await court
rulings to see if the dispensaries are legal.

"We're dealing with a very poorly written law here," said Bay City
Mayor Christopher Shannon about the state's medical marijuana law.
"Think of (the moratorium) as a time out. It gives us time to sort
out what are responsibilities are in regulation."

Commissioners and city officials said much of the concern stems from
if dispensaries are legal, since the state law is vague.

Cameron Shangle, a Bay City resident, spoke during the meeting,
reminding commissioners that medical marijuana is legal and that
there are many ill people in the community that benefit from it.

"I hope everyone in the community can embrace it and see it for what
it is before we crack down and make definitive laws," he said.

Mark Gwizdala, owner of Patient Caregiver Services, a dispensary on
Salzburg Avenue, said he is concerned that the city will close him down.

Officials said current known dispensaries will be allowed to operate,
as long as they follow the law, during the moratorium.

"I have a lot of patients that depend on us," Gwizdala said, adding
he plans to remain open.

Bay City Commissioners approved the moratorium 7-0. Commissioner
Kevin Novellino, 2nd Ward, and Douglas Sommer, 7th Ward, were not at
the meeting.

"It's not like we're trying to discourage this type of business,"
said Commissioner Dennis Banaszak, 3rd Ward. "But we have no way of
regulating or controlling it, so we're going to take 180 days to put
some language together."