Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Ordinances that would allow medical marijuana facilities in Kingsley went through weeks of review but village officials remain reluctant to vote on the issue.
Village board members met Monday night and continued reviewing a draft police power ordinance that would allow medical marijuana facilities – including a proposed a proposed $20 million, 100,000-square-foot TheraCann USA medical marijuana grow facility – to locate within village limits.
Interim village Manager K. Ross Childs said officials considered making various changes to the ordinance, like removing the cap on the number of medical marijuana licenses the village would make available under the state's new Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act. The meeting ended without a motion to approve or reject the ordinance.
"It just kind of died; it's just sitting there," Childs said Tuesday. "We don't know what is going to happen with it yet."
Officials originally considered an ordinance that would allow one facility – likely the TheraCann project, Childs said – to operate using 30 licenses for operations to grow up to 45,000 plants. Officials then considered unlimited licenses, before bringing back the original language and choosing not to vote, he said.
Trustee Dan Walton argued the ordinance is a village-wide issue.
"TheraCann has nothing to do with this," he said. "What the village is looking at is putting a motion together to allow any (medical marijuana) facility that is vetted by the state to operate within the village."
He said too many questions remain regarding how the vetting and new medical marijuana law will work and when it will come into effect. State officials expected to implement the program in December, but Walton said the rollout could be delayed.
Village officials would also need to approve a medical marijuana zoning ordinance to allow such businesses in town. Walton and others believe it is best to hold off until Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and other state officials have a stronger hold on carrying out the program.
"I personally believe that it's too soon to make a decision either on the police power ordinance or the zoning ordinance," said Nate Alger, a village trustee and Grand Traverse County undersheriff. "I think we should let the state of Michigan, specifically the LARA board, do what they need to do and get the rules in place before we decide what we should be doing."
Village President Rodney Bogart and other village trustees could not be reached or did not return calls requesting comment. TheraCann officials also could not be reached.
Childs said the ordinances could come up for further review and potential approval at future council meetings.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Kingsley medical marijuana changes 'die' | Local News | record-eagle.com
Author: Mark Johnson
Contact: Contact Us | Site | record-eagle.com
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: record-eagle.com
Village board members met Monday night and continued reviewing a draft police power ordinance that would allow medical marijuana facilities – including a proposed a proposed $20 million, 100,000-square-foot TheraCann USA medical marijuana grow facility – to locate within village limits.
Interim village Manager K. Ross Childs said officials considered making various changes to the ordinance, like removing the cap on the number of medical marijuana licenses the village would make available under the state's new Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act. The meeting ended without a motion to approve or reject the ordinance.
"It just kind of died; it's just sitting there," Childs said Tuesday. "We don't know what is going to happen with it yet."
Officials originally considered an ordinance that would allow one facility – likely the TheraCann project, Childs said – to operate using 30 licenses for operations to grow up to 45,000 plants. Officials then considered unlimited licenses, before bringing back the original language and choosing not to vote, he said.
Trustee Dan Walton argued the ordinance is a village-wide issue.
"TheraCann has nothing to do with this," he said. "What the village is looking at is putting a motion together to allow any (medical marijuana) facility that is vetted by the state to operate within the village."
He said too many questions remain regarding how the vetting and new medical marijuana law will work and when it will come into effect. State officials expected to implement the program in December, but Walton said the rollout could be delayed.
Village officials would also need to approve a medical marijuana zoning ordinance to allow such businesses in town. Walton and others believe it is best to hold off until Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and other state officials have a stronger hold on carrying out the program.
"I personally believe that it's too soon to make a decision either on the police power ordinance or the zoning ordinance," said Nate Alger, a village trustee and Grand Traverse County undersheriff. "I think we should let the state of Michigan, specifically the LARA board, do what they need to do and get the rules in place before we decide what we should be doing."
Village President Rodney Bogart and other village trustees could not be reached or did not return calls requesting comment. TheraCann officials also could not be reached.
Childs said the ordinances could come up for further review and potential approval at future council meetings.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Kingsley medical marijuana changes 'die' | Local News | record-eagle.com
Author: Mark Johnson
Contact: Contact Us | Site | record-eagle.com
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: record-eagle.com
