KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP SETS HEARING ON EXTENDING MEDICAL MARIJUANA
MORATORIUM BY 60 DAYS

KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP -- A public hearing on extending a moratorium on
medical marijuana operations in Kalamazoo Township has been scheduled
for April 11. Medical marijuanaFile PhotoA budding marijuana plant

The Township Board voted unanimously Monday to accept for first
reading a 60-day extension of the moratorium in order to give the
township attorney and a committee more time to consider alternatives
to rules governing use, possession and sale of marijuana for medical
uses as allowed under state law. A moratorium first adopted in October
is due to expire April 18, but the extension would take it through
June 17.

A public hearing was held March 14 on a proposed ordinance regulating
medical marijuana, but Township Supervisor Terri Mellinger suggested
an alternative approach because of widespread dissatisfaction with
some provisions. Three public meetings on the issue have been held,
with large numbers of medical marijuana advocates attending to express
opposition and some threatening legal action.

Medical marijuana advocates have opposed restricting growers to
commercial and industrial areas if they are providing for more than
just themselves or one person living in the same household. They have
also complained about being excluded from preliminary work on
developing an ordinance. Mellinger said he has made efforts to contact
advocates so they can help in crafting an alternative ordinance.