CITY EXAMINES MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATIONS

Holland, MI - The city of Holland could have any number of rules
regulating medical marijuana caregivers within its borders. The
planning commission, Tuesday, discussed three possibilities:
regulating caregivers as home occupation businesses, type I home
businesses or businesses allowed only within the commercial or
industrial zones.

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act passed nearly three years ago by a
public referendum and allows patients to possess up to 12 plants or
2.5 ounces of marijuana and caregivers (for those who cannot grow
their own medical marijuana) to serve up to five patients.

The commission seems to be steering clear of regulating patients.

"I don't believe it's within our right to do that. I think it's a
violation of privacy," Commissioner Jerry Tonini said of patients. "I
think you're going to drive it underground even more."

Other commissioners want to implement no local regulations, but
rather ask the state legislature to fix the law they see as fatally flawed.

"I don't think we should be doing anything. I don't think this has
anything to do with planning commission," Commissioner Jerome
Thomas-Kobes said, adding he, other commissioners and the city should
send letters asking the legislature to "clean up this quagmire they created."

Most commissioners want a form of home occupation business licenses
for caregivers. The question is how much to regulate them and how
much the city is allowed to regulate under the state law.

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing Jan. 25 on
whether to extend its medical marijuana moratorium another three
months. The moratorium bans dispensaries and limits households to one
caregiver.