NEW BALTIMORE EXTENDS MARIJUANA DISPENSARY BAN AGAIN

The New Baltimore City Council extended its ban on medical marijuana
dispensaries for another 90 days at the March 14 meeting.

The action passed with a 4-1 vote. Councilman Jeffrey Christie was
absent, and Mayor Pro Tem Ken Butler voted against it.

"I've seen what cancer does to people," Butler said in response to his
vote.

Mayor Larry Smith said they requested the ban be extended for 90 days,
as opposed to the six months which were approved in the past, because
he hopes to have more direction in this shortened amount of time. The
first medical marijuana dispensaries moratorium in New Baltimore
commenced on March 22, 2010, and the second on Sept. 27, 2010.

"The law is so confusing," Smith said. "We're just trying to figure it
out."

Smith said he and other city officials have been attending seminars
and researching the law in hopes they will receive more guidance on
what to do in the future.

The state has yet to give more guidance though on the law that was
enacted in November 2009, and Butler said he would like to see that
change soon.

Council also adopted three new ordinances. One addresses regulations
needed for a fence, wall or protective barrier and another outlines
regulations for wind turbines. The final ordinance approved was the
snow emergency parking regulations discussed at the last meeting by
New Baltimore Police Chief Tim Wiley.