LANSING'S MARIJUANA MORATORIUM COMES A LITTLE LATE

There will be no medical marijuana dispensaries opened in Lansing
until Lansing's City Council can figure out proper licensing and regulation.

That's the responsible action for a governing body to take. Unless,
of course, there already are almost 70 dispensaries currently
operating that would not be subject to some of the new potential regulations.

Lansing City Council passed a moratorium Monday on the licensing and
opening of new medical marijuana dispensaries for the next six months
while it sorts out regulations and licensing processes, according to
the Lansing State Journal.

Dozens of operations managed to get onboard the list of businesses at
the last minute and have secured their places on the list of
pre-existing businesses, which excludes them from the moratorium.

East Lansing City Council successfully avoided this conundrum by
passing a moratorium in August until it can work out regulation
details. East Lansing's approach, although a bit cumbersome, looks
brilliant next to Lansing's delayed reaction.

When the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, or MMMA, passed in 2008, it
left huge gaps in regulation in terms of what is allowed under the law.

Since then, municipalities have struggled to find a solution that
fits each of their communities. Some have banned the sale and
distribution of medical marijuana and others simply will not deal
with the issue any further than the state law.

Once the MMMA passed, it should have been obvious to local
governments that the regulations of medical marijuana would be an
important issue -- especially large cities such as Lansing that have
ample room for new business.

An ideal situation would be city governments anticipating simple
issues such as this and working to find solutions beforehand.
Furthermore, it should not have taken so long for Lansing City Council to act.

That being said, there are many voices to be heard in this process
including residents, dispensary owners, city officials, medical
marijuana patients and police.

There should be caution in valuing the opinions of owners currently
operating dispensaries and medical marijuana patients because of
their direct involvement in the issue.

Businesses want customers, less competition and higher prices.
Patients want variety, low prices and security when they buy their medication.

Regulations should strive to please Lansing residents by limiting
dispensaries to certain city zones and distances away from rehab
facilities, and other potentially sensitive sites such as churches and schools.

Community balance and diversity is important to maintain, while at
the same time addressing the issue of openness.

Given the large amount of businesses that have sprung up, it probably
will be the free market that pares down the number of dispensaries.