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Medical marijuana rules in Douglas will have to sit on the shelf a little longer after the city council postponed a decision Monday night on two ordinances that license caregivers and regulate where they can operate.
Council members want the city attorney to look over the ordinance further to make sure the rules are not opening the city up to lawsuits. A new moratorium on medical marijuana facilities will be drawn up by the next council meeting. The old ban expired last month.
The new rules have been in the works since 2010. The proposal creates a medical marijuana overlay district that allows growing operations in commercial zones along Blue Star Highway, mostly south of Center Street, and in light industrial districts on the south side of the city. Dispensaries are not permitted.
A second part of the proposal deals with licensing of caregivers and growers. The license would be for one year and include a description of how the applicant plans to keep the marijuana in an enclosed and locked facility.
Councilman Greg Harvath supported waiting on any ordinances until the courts make definitive rules.
"Until this is through the system, we don't know what this will end up like, what this will look like," he said.
Communities around the state have decided to ban medical marijuana facilities completely, have ignored the issue or have regulated facilities through ordinances like the one proposed for Douglas, said city attorney Phil Erickson.
"No approach is a panacea," he said, though the Douglas regulations would hold up in court, he added.
Holland allows caregivers to be a home-based business but limits where a caregiver can set up shop. Holland Township allows caregivers in residential areas only.
Saugatuck city and Laketown and Saugatuck townships do not have ordinances.
State voters approved the use of marijuana for a medical use in 2008. Douglas voters had the highest approval rating in Allegan County for the legalization – 79 percent in support.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: hollandsentinel.com
Author: Jim Hayden
Contact: Contact Us - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel
Website: Medical marijuana rules on hold in Douglas - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel
Council members want the city attorney to look over the ordinance further to make sure the rules are not opening the city up to lawsuits. A new moratorium on medical marijuana facilities will be drawn up by the next council meeting. The old ban expired last month.
The new rules have been in the works since 2010. The proposal creates a medical marijuana overlay district that allows growing operations in commercial zones along Blue Star Highway, mostly south of Center Street, and in light industrial districts on the south side of the city. Dispensaries are not permitted.
A second part of the proposal deals with licensing of caregivers and growers. The license would be for one year and include a description of how the applicant plans to keep the marijuana in an enclosed and locked facility.
Councilman Greg Harvath supported waiting on any ordinances until the courts make definitive rules.
"Until this is through the system, we don't know what this will end up like, what this will look like," he said.
Communities around the state have decided to ban medical marijuana facilities completely, have ignored the issue or have regulated facilities through ordinances like the one proposed for Douglas, said city attorney Phil Erickson.
"No approach is a panacea," he said, though the Douglas regulations would hold up in court, he added.
Holland allows caregivers to be a home-based business but limits where a caregiver can set up shop. Holland Township allows caregivers in residential areas only.
Saugatuck city and Laketown and Saugatuck townships do not have ordinances.
State voters approved the use of marijuana for a medical use in 2008. Douglas voters had the highest approval rating in Allegan County for the legalization – 79 percent in support.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: hollandsentinel.com
Author: Jim Hayden
Contact: Contact Us - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel
Website: Medical marijuana rules on hold in Douglas - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel
