CITY APPROVES DRUG MORATORIUM

Hillsdale's medical marijuana moratorium was renewed by City Council,
effectively putting off a decision on what to do about the
controversial bill.

The medical marijuana moratorium extension was recommended by the City
Planning Commission last Tuesday and then voted on by the council at
the April 4 City Council meeting. A decision was initially put on hold
six months ago, but as state courts are still trying to decipher
exactly what last November's voter approved bill means, Council
unanimously approved another six-month extension.

No one from the city is directly involved in the debates and so for
now, city employees can only wait for a decision to be made at the
state level to approve any sort of action.

Brian Watkins, Planning Committee Chairman, said he hopes the issues
surrounding the bill would be taken care of before the moratorium expires.

"The city is making good progress," Watkins said, "but it's all for
naught if legislature doesn't clarify it."

Hillsdale's Planning Committee will meet April 26 for a more in-depth
discussion of the bill. The Committee has two jobs concerning medical
marijuana: to interpret the bill correctly and to find the least
offensive locations for legal marijuana transactions to occur.

The April 26 meeting will be open to the public, and Watkins said he
is hoping for a dialogue between committee members and Hillsdale residents.

"Usually we have to twist people's arms to get them [to the meetings],
but hopefully we will have a good turnout," he said.

The meeting will be held on the second floor of City Hall at 5:30 p.m.