NEWSMAKERS: TC MAY MODIFY MARIJUANA LAW

Public Hearing Set Over Changes for Collectives

TRAVERSE CITY - Editor's note: Another in a series of people, places
and events that made headlines in northern Michigan in 2010.

Adrienne Rossi remains uneasy about rules that paved the way for
medical marijuana cultivation and distribution within the city.

Rossi, a Central Neighborhood resident, vocally opposed a medical
marijuana ordinance that city commissioners approved in August. The
ordinance allows for cultivation of up to 72 plants in residential
neighborhoods, among other things, and that doesn't sit well with Rossi.

"My feeling is that it was a huge mistake to allow these grow houses
in single-family neighborhoods," she said.

City officials contend they've received no complaints since the
ordinance took effect, though they're in the process of tightening
medical marijuana regulations. Certain residents already are allowed
to grow and distribute marijuana under the Michigan Medical Marijuana
Act, approved by voters in 2008.

The act allows patients to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and
12 plants, and permits state-certified caregivers to grow and
distribute plants to up to five patients. But it doesn't specify how
and where patients and caregivers can grow or distribute marijuana,
so municipalities were left to decide for themselves.

The city's ordinance also allows medical marijuana collectives in
most business districts, and three popped up since the ordinance took
effect. Marijuana can change hands at such operations, but can't be
grown there.

City officials on Jan. 5 will hold a public hearing about a few key
ordinance amendments. Among other proposed changes, they want to
specify that collectives must be at least 1,000 feet apart, and
prohibit patients from selling marijuana to one another at the
collectives, City Planner Russ Soyring said. State law allows
caregivers to charge patients, and that won't change.

Officials could continue to tweak the ordinance, and plan to keep an
eye on what impact it has on the city and its residents.

"We're kind of being leaders in the area ... and we're going to
monitor the situation, along with the police department, to make sure
these things are done properly," Soyring said.

Rossi said she hasn't heard of any specific problems in residential
areas yet, but she's concerned issues could arise.

Angela Janovich is co-owner of Collective Inc., a prominent
collective on State Street. Reaction has been positive since the
business opened, she said, and she welcomes anyone who's uneasy or
unsure about her operation to stop by.

"We have a lot of curious people out there, and we're trying to
answer everyone's questions," she said.