CITY APPROVES MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION APPLICANTS

At 8 a.m. Friday morning, city officials were met with a line of seven
people waiting to apply for a license to distribute medical marijuana
within dispensaries and growing facilities. Some of the campers were
waiting since Sunday, dealing with temperatures that dipped below
freezing during most nights.

The individuals formed a line outside of city hall because officials
began accepting applications on a first-come, first serve basis as of
April 1.

On the first day, the city accepted five applications within
undisclosed zones throughout the city.

Two were from the same zone within Depot Town.

"It went smoothly, we assigned numbers based on where they were in
line," said Deputy Clerk Ed Golembiewski.

Applicants were also required to submit a $2,500 fee that became
non-refundable after accepting the application.

On Feb. 15, the Ypsilanti City Council approved its medical marijuana
license ordinance for dispensaries and growing facilities.

The city's only dispensary, 3rd Coast Compassion Center, received 30
days after the ordinance was approved to apply and a 15-day window in
case of an appeal.

As of Tuesday, April 5, seven applications were accepted and in the
process of review after meeting the initial criteria.

According to the ordinance, the dispensaries must be 1,000 feet away
from a school and not within 500 feet of each other. Officials hope to
notify applicants within 45 to 60 days if a license is granted.

Aaron Cifor and Ethan Miller, both of Ypsilanti, were holding a place
in line for a potential dispensary owner waiting to submit an
application.

Cifor and Miller were working in shifts, sometimes staying outside for
up to 12 hours at a time, just to keep their place in line.

Both said that medical marijuana regulations should exist to a point
in order to help prevent abuse of the system.

Miller said he knew someone with ulcerative colitis and Crone's
Disease that used medical marijuana to calm his ulcers.

Other people waiting in line included relatives of Adam Tasselmyer,
owner of Herbal Solutions at 124 W. Michigan Ave. Tasselmyer has
frequented many Ypsilanti City Council meetings, providing input while
city officials discussed the ordinance.

Others included a man, who declined to give his name, representing
Releaf, a dispensary at 50 Ecorse Road.