MEDICAL POT ISSUE IS ON AGENDA TONIGHT

A big turnout and lots of public comments are expected at tonight's
Royal Oak City Commission meeting when city officials could make a
major decision on medical marijuana.

South Oakland County Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Brett
Tillander, who is opposed to having the drug in the city, said he
submitted a letter he wrote that was signed by 40 residents. It
supports an ordinance called the Livonia model, patterned after that
city's ban on medical marijuana, City Commissioner Chuck Semchena
said Friday. Semchena supports the ordinance.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued Livonia, Birmingham and
Bloomfield Hills in December on behalf of a Birmingham couple who
want to use medical marijuana at home and in their social club, and
raise the plants in their Livonia warehouse, the lawsuit says.

City Commissioner Jim Rasor said Sunday, "this is about following the
wishes of the majority of our residents, and 73% of them voted" for
the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act in 2008.

Instead of passing the ordinance, officials could extend the
moratorium on medical marijuana facilities, City Attorney Dave Gillam
said in a letter to commissioners.

The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 300 E. Williams.