MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO END IN FEB.

The East Lansing City Council is scheduled to discuss recommendations
from the East Lansing Planning Commission and city staff on proposed
medical marijuana ordinances in its work session tonight.

Three ordinances regarding the distribution of medical marijuana are
currently facing the council's consideration. The items are up for
discussion at the council's 7 p.m. work session at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.

The council has been discussing the issue of medical marijuana
ordinances since last summer. Council members were presented with
three drafted ordinances, but deferred making a decision on which one
- - if any - to adopt until February. The ordinances would regulate how
and where licensed medical marijuana dispensaries could distribute
their products.

At its Jan. 12 meeting, the planning commission recommended council
approve the third ordinance with some amendments, allowing medical
marijuana dispensaries, in an 8-1 vote.

The commission's suggested amendments to the ordinance included
expanding allowable dispensary areas into commercial zones, which
would require a 500-foot buffer between dispensaries and
installations of surveillance cameras on the premises.

In its original form, the recommended ordinance allowed for
store-front dispensaries only. The city staff recommendation is
similar to the planning commission's suggestions, but with a narrower
scope of districts where the dispensaries would be allowed, said
Darcy Schmitt, East Lansing's planning and zoning administrator.

Schmitt said city staff also recommend the dispensary setting for
medical marijuana distribution, but believe the activity should take
place in buildings similar to doctors' offices as opposed to downtown
storefronts. She said this would help protect the well-being of
patients and other residents and prevent potential negative impact on
the community.

"It's important to protect the rights of those that need the medical
marijuana, but also to protect the safety of residents," Schmitt
said. "It's a very difficult issue."

Councilmember Nathan Triplett said it was council's responsibility to
decide how to regulate the facilities within the community, but the
regulations would not detract from citizen's rights to compassionate care.

He said the decision-making process on establishing an official
ordinance has been lengthy but thinks council is becoming more
informed on the issue with the continued public discourse. "With each
successive meeting, we've gotten closer to making a decision," Triplett said.

Assistant City Attorney Tom Yeadon said the state law allowing
medical marijuana doesn't cover the business aspect of distributing
marijuana specifically, but said it would be unusual for anyone to
think marijuana dispensaries would not fall under similar regulations
as other businesses in the city.

"Local laws have to deal with this business like they would deal with
any other business," Yeadon said. "This is just putting that business
in the proper zone where it's the best fit for the city and for the
people needing the services."

A public hearing on the topic is scheduled to be held at council's
Feb. 15 meeting.