CITY COUNCIL APPROVES REVISIONS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

The Ann Arbor City Council delayed voting on the medical marijuana
ordinance during Monday's city council meeting, instead postponing
the decision until Jan. 18.

Protesters gathered outside Monday's council meeting, holding signs
and chanting "Marijuana is not a crime." Many of them also spoke
during the public commentary session of the meeting.

Among those who spoke was Chuck Ream, a local advocate whose voice
has become well known on the medical marijuana topic.

"The medicine is a simple herb that was approved by 63 percent of the
voters," said Ream. "I ask you not to go along with the repression of
the day. Ann Arbor has got to believe that we have brains and a heart
here.... The law says that no level of government can invade the
homes of patients and caregivers."

The council chose not to make a final decision on the regulations at
this time, instead delaying the vote until Jan. 18 so the city
attorney's office is able to make necessary changes. General concerns
dealt with the caregiver registry.

"There is a concern out there, and the ultimate question here for the
council is whether or not there is a concern about registering
people," said City Attorney Stephen Postema.

"This was originally inserted on request of the police. They do want
to know where product is being grown because they do not want to
waste resources doing criminal investigations of people who have this
[growing permit.]

"The idea that state law precludes all of this type of regulation is
something that we've looked at and addressed, and I think that the
courts ultimately be looking at that in all core cases across other
communities."

Final approval of the bill will occur in February pending the Jan. 18 vote, and zoning regulations will be discussed at that point.