OTSEGO TOWNSHIP APPROVES SIX-MONTH MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

OTSEGO TOWNSHIP - The Otsego Township Board has unanimously passed an
ordinance imposing a six-month moratorium on the cultivation, sale
and/or dispensation of marijuana for medical purposes within the
Township of Otsego.

"Medical marihuana (in the state of Michigan) was passed by voters in
November of 2008, including (by voters) in the township, which sort
of surprised me, but I know some municipalities are being sued over
this, so this ordinance will buy us about six months of time, before
we decide on how to proceed on it, and was drawn up by our attorney
(Ken Sparks) to protect us," Otsego Township Supervisor John Brokus said.

The ordinance reads, in part: "...that it is in the best interest of
the Township that it have further time to study this matter and to
prepare and adopt an ordinance (that is in compliance with the
Michigan Medical Marihuana Act)...to not exceed six months."

Violators of the ordinance will be subjected to a civil infraction
fine that ranges from $75 (for a first offense), up to a maximum fine
of $500, along with costs incurred by the township in relation to
enforcing the ordinance.

Every day an operation continues, will be considered a separate
violation of the ordinance. The township's medical marijuana
moratorium ordinance does allow for exceptions.

In summary, it allows the cultivation, storage and/or use of
marijuana for medical purposes by a qualifying patient for his/her
personal use, or by a primary caregiver to provide services to not
more than one qualifying patient, as long as they are in full
compliance with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.

The Otsego Township Planning Commission is in the process of drafting
a medical marijuana ordinance, which the township board will
eventually vote on.

"It's better to have an ordinance than not to have one, according to
the MTA (Michigan Township Association). We are working hard on it,
and hope to have it done soon. I expect it to be done by March," said
Otsego Township Planning Commission Chairman Al Wason.

The full medical marijuana moratorium ordinance can be viewed or
obtained at the Otsego Township Hall, located at 400 N. 16th Street.
The township's phone number is 269-694-9434.