DON'T GO TOO FAR IN MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

Lansing Should Let Vendors Operate in Commercial Zones

Lansing officials should not force medical marijuana businesses to
operate only in areas zoned for industrial purposes.

Forcing existing medical marijuana vendors out of commercial districts
doesn't guarantee that other strong businesses will suddenly appear to
locate in those spots.

The city has a policy for home-based medical marijuana providers that
treats them, for the most part, like any other home-based business. In
the same way, marijuana caregivers who want to operate a stand-alone
business away from their own homes should be treated, as much as
possible, like other small-business owners.

Understandably, some are sensitive to the rapid influx of such
businesses into commercial space before a City Council-imposed
moratorium went into effect. City officials have long been protective
of Michigan Avenue, the main commercial corridor leading into the
state Capitol complex, which is now the address of roughly a dozen
marijuana businesses.

Yet, one must ask why so many marijuana businesses located there? The
answer would be that the space was empty and available. Yes, some will
see an image issue in the presence of marijuana businesses. But empty
storefronts also project an image - that of a commercial district
slipping into blight. A successful, taxpaying business does more for
the economy than an empty storefront.

The problem the city faces is that voters approved a vaguely worded
medical marijuana law in 2008. That left local communities to create
their own policies for managing such businesses.

A Lansing City Council committee is discussing an ordinance with the
July 1 end-date for the moratorium looming. The ordinance is expected
to spell out licensing requirements, including fees, and to spell out
where such businesses can locate.

The council is struggling to balance fairness to the 48 marijuana
businesses established before the moratorium against apparent fears of
having such businesses in commercial districts. If the city's
entrepreneurial sector was more robust, perhaps spots along commercial
corridors would be too costly for medical marijuana vendors. But for
the moment, they are not.

The community ought not assume that medical marijuana businesses are
inherently bad neighbors, or that their patrons are criminal elements.
The city should give them a chance to stand or fail on their own
rather than forcing disrupting moves to less desirable locations.