FLAT ROCK: MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES PROHIBITED IN CITY

FLAT ROCK - Medical marijuana dispensaries are now prohibited in the city.

On Monday, the City Council unanimously adopted a zoning ordinance
amendment that prohibits land use contrary to federal, state and local laws.

City Attorney David Grunow said the amendment went before the
Planning Commission and had a public hearing before coming back to
the council. He was directed to draft the amendment.

"The intent of the proposed ordinance is to avoid the establishment
of dispensarylike businesses for marijuana," Grunow said in a letter
to the council. "Though such dispensaries do not appear to be
authorized under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, the status of
the law on this issue is in flux."

While state law allows marijuana possession and use by authorized
patients and caregivers, federal law classifies marijuana as a prohibited drug.

Because the ordinance amendment prohibits land use contrary to
federal law, marijuana dispensaries are prohibited because federal
law doesn't allow businesses to manufacture or distribute controlled
substances. Federal law supersedes state and local laws.