GAINES TOWNSHIP NARROWLY APPROVES NEW RULES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

GAINES TOWNSHIP - The Township Board decided that regulations, rather
than a complete ban, is the best way to address medical marijuana.

The board voted 4-3 Monday to approve an ordinance including
regulations that prohibit commercial dispensaries and require
caregivers to deliver the drug to patients. They also approved a
police-power ordinance to address enforcement.

Supervisor Don Hilton, trustees Tim Haagsma and Eric Fouch and Clerk
Crystal Osterink voted in support, with trustees Dan Fryling, Carol
Van Laan and Treasurer Laurie Lemke against.

"While I don't agree with it 110 percent, these two ordinances
probably are our safest bet," Fouch said.

Having caregivers deliver the drugs to patients' homes is meant to
decrease traffic to homes. The ordinances were crafted over a
moratorium period of about 10 months, enacted after resident Olon
Tucker expressed interest in opening a dispensary in the township.

Commissioners who voted in favor said the rules are a good balance to
address the state's lack of regulations regarding the Michigan
Medical Marijuana Act of 2008, which was passed by 63 percent of voters.

The majority of Gaines Township voters also were in favor of it.

Haagsma said the state needs to provide a better framework, but right
now regulations are needed.

"I agree this may not be the best way, but this is the way the law
was written and voted on," he said.

But Van Laan said she wanted to make a stand with complete prohibition.

"I want to state that it's not allowed to grow, period, in our
township," she said.

Van Laan, who works in a veterinary clinic, said she wouldn't object
to it being dispensed by physicians, but not otherwise.

"It's pretty hard for me to pass this knowing all the drug
(regulations) I have to go through for dogs," she said. "I think it's
really unhealthy, I think we have to make a stand here."

She feels it will decrease property values and increase crime for
neighbors' of growers. "I don't care how confidential it is; it
always gets out, no matter what," he said.

Hilton said creating an ordinance is taking a stand. A ban would spur lawsuits.

"If we do nothing, there's nothing we can do to do any policing," he
said. "The feds seem to be just backing away from it."

Lemke said she wouldn't support the ordinance because there's nothing
to address how marijuana would be transported, and said it needs to
be kept in a locked container.

The ordinance also requires that caregivers keep records of each
transaction and keep them available for inspection by the township
for three years.