News (Media Awareness Project) - US MI: Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Advances in Texas |
Title: | US MI: Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Advances in Texas |
Published On: | 2011-03-29 |
Source: | Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) |
Fetched On: | 2011-04-04 20:11:56 |
MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVANCES IN TEXAS TOWNSHIP
TEXAS TOWNSHIP - Texas Township has approved a moratorium on medical
marijuana businesses on first reading and will hold a second and final
vote on the moratorium at the next township board meeting, April 11.
The board voted unanimously to enact a 6-month moratorium on issuing
licenses and permits for medical marijuana to give the Planning
Commission time to work on an ordinance to regulate medical marijuana
businesses in the township. The moratorium does not apply to patients
growing their own marijuana in their homes, caregivers cultivating
marijuana in their homes for one patient who is a member of the same
household or caregivers assisting patients in the patient's residence.
Township Attorney Roxanne Seeber told the board in a memo that the
Planning Commission is prepared to start work on the ordinance and
that she is confident six months will be enough time to develop and
adopt satisfactory medical marijuana regulations.
Township Supervisor Dave Healy said if a licensed caregiver wanted to
grow marijuana for others in his or her home, that would be considered
a home occupation under the township's current zoning ordinances. A
home occupation requires a special exception permit, which must be
approved by the Planning Commission.
Currently, no caregivers have applied for special exception permits to
grow medical marijuana in Texas Township, Healy said.
The bigger challenge not currently addressed in the township's
ordinances, according to Healy, is caregivers who want to share
commercial space and cultivate marijuana together. The moratorium will
give the township time to decide how to regulate and control such uses.
Seeber said the state law that legalized marijuana use for approved
medical reasons, approved by voters in 2008, allows certified patients
to grow up to 12 plants for their own use. Caregivers can supply up to
five patients, growing up to 12 plants per patient they supply.
TEXAS TOWNSHIP - Texas Township has approved a moratorium on medical
marijuana businesses on first reading and will hold a second and final
vote on the moratorium at the next township board meeting, April 11.
The board voted unanimously to enact a 6-month moratorium on issuing
licenses and permits for medical marijuana to give the Planning
Commission time to work on an ordinance to regulate medical marijuana
businesses in the township. The moratorium does not apply to patients
growing their own marijuana in their homes, caregivers cultivating
marijuana in their homes for one patient who is a member of the same
household or caregivers assisting patients in the patient's residence.
Township Attorney Roxanne Seeber told the board in a memo that the
Planning Commission is prepared to start work on the ordinance and
that she is confident six months will be enough time to develop and
adopt satisfactory medical marijuana regulations.
Township Supervisor Dave Healy said if a licensed caregiver wanted to
grow marijuana for others in his or her home, that would be considered
a home occupation under the township's current zoning ordinances. A
home occupation requires a special exception permit, which must be
approved by the Planning Commission.
Currently, no caregivers have applied for special exception permits to
grow medical marijuana in Texas Township, Healy said.
The bigger challenge not currently addressed in the township's
ordinances, according to Healy, is caregivers who want to share
commercial space and cultivate marijuana together. The moratorium will
give the township time to decide how to regulate and control such uses.
Seeber said the state law that legalized marijuana use for approved
medical reasons, approved by voters in 2008, allows certified patients
to grow up to 12 plants for their own use. Caregivers can supply up to
five patients, growing up to 12 plants per patient they supply.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...