Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Saginaw Township, MI - On the heels of state officials regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, Saginaw Township officials have decided they do not want such facilities in the township.
The township Board of Trustees on Monday, Nov. 28, passed an ordinance preventing facilities involved in the processing, growing, or dispensing of medical marijuana.
The trustees passed the ordinance unanimously.
"Now it's crystal clear that our amendment to the zoning ordinance ... makes it perfectly clear that those activities in regards to marijuana are not allowed in the community," said Township Supervisor Tim Braun.
The Michigan Legislature in September passed three bills regulating dispensaries, among other facilities. One bill gave local municipalities the ability to authorize one, multiple, or no such licensed facilities, said Saginaw Township Associate Planner Tony Dier.
Such facilities are not allowed unless an ordinance is passed to allow them, Dier said. The township's ordinance, then, was not a necessity to prevent the facilities, but it clears up any possible gray area, Dier said.
"We said, 'Yeah, we don't want to allow those things," Braun said. "We wanted to make sure that we were really covered."
Now, Dier added, "someone can't come in and say, 'You have nothing on your books saying it's not allowed.' This gives us something to point to and say, 'No, Saginaw Township does not allow these facilities.'"
The ordinance reads: "Uses related to the processing and growing of medical marijuana are prohibited. This includes all classes of growers, processors, provisioning centers, secure transporters, safety compliance facilities and other such uses as may specifically be granted or licensed through the State of Michigan, excluding registered patients and caregivers within a dwelling unit."
Dier said he is not aware of any similar ordinances in the region, but he emphasized the fact that they are not required to prevent the facilities.
Braun added that if federal and state laws eventually change the limits on marijuana, "then obviously, we'll follow" those laws.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Facilities Banned By Saginaw Township Ordinance
Author: Andy Hoag
Contact: MLive
Photo Credit: John Agar
Website: MLive
The township Board of Trustees on Monday, Nov. 28, passed an ordinance preventing facilities involved in the processing, growing, or dispensing of medical marijuana.
The trustees passed the ordinance unanimously.
"Now it's crystal clear that our amendment to the zoning ordinance ... makes it perfectly clear that those activities in regards to marijuana are not allowed in the community," said Township Supervisor Tim Braun.
The Michigan Legislature in September passed three bills regulating dispensaries, among other facilities. One bill gave local municipalities the ability to authorize one, multiple, or no such licensed facilities, said Saginaw Township Associate Planner Tony Dier.
Such facilities are not allowed unless an ordinance is passed to allow them, Dier said. The township's ordinance, then, was not a necessity to prevent the facilities, but it clears up any possible gray area, Dier said.
"We said, 'Yeah, we don't want to allow those things," Braun said. "We wanted to make sure that we were really covered."
Now, Dier added, "someone can't come in and say, 'You have nothing on your books saying it's not allowed.' This gives us something to point to and say, 'No, Saginaw Township does not allow these facilities.'"
The ordinance reads: "Uses related to the processing and growing of medical marijuana are prohibited. This includes all classes of growers, processors, provisioning centers, secure transporters, safety compliance facilities and other such uses as may specifically be granted or licensed through the State of Michigan, excluding registered patients and caregivers within a dwelling unit."
Dier said he is not aware of any similar ordinances in the region, but he emphasized the fact that they are not required to prevent the facilities.
Braun added that if federal and state laws eventually change the limits on marijuana, "then obviously, we'll follow" those laws.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Facilities Banned By Saginaw Township Ordinance
Author: Andy Hoag
Contact: MLive
Photo Credit: John Agar
Website: MLive
