CANNABIS MORATORIUMS PASSED

White River and Fruitland Townships Approve Six-Month Hold

The sale or dispersion of medical marijuana in White River Township
has been put on a six-month moratorium.

An ordinance to impose the moratorium was unanimously approved at the
Jan. 12 White River Township Board of Trustees meeting.

Under the moratorium the township cannot issue permits, licenses or
approvals for the sale or dispensation of medical marijuana, and it
prohibits the sale medical marijuana.

According to the ordinance provided by White River Township, "the
Township's Zoning Ordinance and other ordinances have not kept pace
with recent developments and the passing into law of Initiated Law 1
of 2008, the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act."

The township stated that it is within its right and authority to
establish reasonable regulations to control the sale and dispersion
of medical marijuana to protect the public health, safety and welfare
in a manner consistent with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.

However, such prohibitions will not apply to direct dispensation by a
primary caregiver of marijuana to that primary caregiver's registered
qualifying patient if fully lawful under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.

Accepting a nearly unanimous recommendation from the planning
commission, the Fruitland Township board approved Wednesday to place
a six-month moratorium on issuing permits allowing for the sale or
dispensation of medical marijuana in the township.

Under the ordinance, which passed by a 6-1 vote (board member Gary
Bole cast the lone 'no' vote), dispensaries will not be allowed to
cater to those with state and doctor-approved medical marijuana
prescriptions under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, which was
passed by voters in November 2008 by 63 percent of the vote.

According to the initiative's language, the law is meant to "allow
under state law the medical use of marihuana; to provide protections
for the medical use of marihuana; to provide for a system of registry
identification cards for qualifying patients and primary caregivers;
to impose a fee for registry application and renewal; to provide for
the promulgation of rules; to provide for the administration of this
act; to provide for enforcement of this act; to provide for
affirmative defenses; and to provide for penalties for violations of
this act." has been put on a six-month moratorium.

An ordinance to impose the moratorium was unanimously approved at the
Jan. 12 White River Township Board of Trustees meeting.

Under the moratorium the township cannot issue permits, licenses or
approvals for the sale or dispensation of medical marijuana, and it
prohibits the sale medical marijuana.

According to the ordinance provided by White River Township, "the
Township's Zoning Ordinance and other ordinances have not kept pace
with recent developments and the passing into law of Initiated Law 1
of 2008, the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act."

The township stated that it is within its right and authority to
establish reasonable regulations to control the sale and dispersion
of medical marijuana to protect the public health, safety and welfare
in a manner consistent with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.

However, such prohibitions will not apply to direct dispensation by a
primary caregiver of marijuana to that primary caregiver's registered
qualifying patient if fully lawful under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.

Accepting a nearly unanimous recommendation from the planning
commission, the Fruitland Township board approved Wednesday to place
a six-month moratorium on issuing permits allowing for the sale or
dispensation of medical marijuana in the township.

Under the ordinance, which passed by a 6-1 vote (board member Gary
Bole cast the lone 'no' vote), dispensaries will not be allowed to
cater to those with state and doctor-approved medical marijuana
prescriptions under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, which was
passed by voters in November 2008 by 63 percent of the vote.

According to the initiative's language, the law is meant to "allow
under state law the medical use of marihuana; to provide protections
for the medical use of marihuana; to provide for a system of registry
identification cards for qualifying patients and primary caregivers;
to impose a fee for registry application and renewal; to provide for
the promulgation of rules; to provide for the administration of this
act; to provide for enforcement of this act; to provide for
affirmative defenses; and to provide for penalties for violations of
this act."