Royal Oak

Council extends medical marijuana moratorium

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

SOUTHFIELD — More than three years after Michigan voters approved the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, the city of Southfield is still waiting to make any moves with regard to allowing or regulating facilities where caregivers can provide the drug to patients.

Members of the Southfield City Council voted unanimously to extend a moratorium that was first adopted in July 2010 for another 180 days.

“A lot of planning went into where they may be appropriate,” said Deputy City Attorney Sue Ward-Witkowski of the strategy, devised by the city’s planning department, that was recommended by the Planning Commission on how to properly address the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries.

The Southfield City Council ultimately moved to delay discussion on the matter and wait the issue out.

“In the midst of all that there have been numerous court cases that have been processing through the courts,” Ward-Witkowski explained. “Just last week, the Michigan Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that has implications under this act as well. So what this body had felt, at least since July 26, 2010, was that it was appropriate to kind of wait and see what happened through the courts in terms of the different philosophies on whether to allow these or not allow these.”

Communities across the state have been analyzing the law and trying to best figure out how to handle its many intricacies.

“This law was carefully constructed at the state level with a lot of loopholes you could drive a truck through,” Terry Croad, the city’s planning director, has said on the issue. “We’re continuing to look at our options.”

Perhaps the biggest hurdle for the city is that according to federal law, marijuana is still illegal — medically and recreationally.

“The federal law outlaws marijuana,” Ward-Witkowski said. “It is classified as a narcotic and it’s outlawed. So there’s a conflict between the federal law and the state of Michigan initiative law that says for medical purposes, marijuana would be allowed under certain situations. (We’re) trying to see where we are with these court cases and what the clearest and most efficient way of dealing with medical marijuana is and hopefully within that time we could get some (insight) from the Michigan Supreme Court — that would be wonderful in guiding us.”

The measure to legalize marijuana for medical purposes was passed by 63 percent of Michigan voters, and 69 percent of Southfield voters.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1108.