FLINT TOWNSHIP EXTENDS MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan - A moratorium on dispensing medical
marijuana in the township will continue until at least March.

The township board had said it would have an ordinance in place by
Nov. 8 but recently voted to extend the ban after sending the matter
back to the planning commission.

Planning Commission members had amended zoning rules in September
calling for all uses or businesses looking for approval or permits
from the township to comply with local, state and federal laws.

Under state law, authorized medical marijuana users can have 12
marijuana plants while caregivers can grow as many as 60.

But township board members said they believe the state's Medical
Marijuana Act isn't clear in its wording and the township's code of
ordinances does not address dispensaries, clubs, meeting places,
centers, clinics and nurseries.

"It came from the planning commission, so we are sending it back to
the planning commission," said township Clerk Kim Courts.

The extension of the moratorium - which has been in place since
February - is set to expire March 1.

While Michigan voters approved medical marijuana two years ago, the
federal government still considers use of marijuana illegal, but U.S.
Department of Justice officials have said they will not prosecute
medical marijuana usage in states that have passed laws permitting its use.

Board members rejected the planning commission ordinance at an
October meeting, seeing the amendment as a ban on any business that
grows or sells marijuana and citing the difference in the state and
federal laws.

"I'm sure that's not probably going to come back up until March 1,"
said Courts of the medical marijuana issue. "But, we'll take anything
into consideration that comes along (before)."

In trying to understand the state and federal laws, Courts said the
extra time would allow township officials to look over all aspects.

"We want to make sure we are doing the right thing," she said.