PORTAGE, MI – One of the first decisions the new Portage City Councilwill have to make is what do about medical marijuana licensing – or not.
The council had scheduled a committee-of-the-whole meeting for Nov. 14 to discuss the issue, but changed that to 6 p.m. Dec. 19 to allow the new council to make the decision.
In a recent press release, city officials said that council meeting “may or may not be held, based upon future action by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board and the disposition of the Portage City Council.”
In other words, much depends on what the state does.
The LARA is sponsoring six meetings to instruct how to apply for a license along with demonstrating the seed-to-sale tracking system that will track medical marijuana from plants to processed product. More than 1,000 people have signed up, with sessions added in the Detroit and Lansing areas because of the interest.
The closest Kalamazoo area session will be 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Wing’s Conference Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, in Kalamazoo. About 187 people have signed up for it.
The state is taking applications beginning Dec. 15 for the five categories of licenses — growing, processing, testing, transporting and retail selling. The Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board will begin awarding licenses early next year.
Portage has been wrestling with what to do about medical marijuana dispensaries for at least two years. Last November the council extended its six-month-old medical marijuana moratorium for a year while the state dealt with procedures.
Council voting on the issue has been affected by the fact Portage Mayor Pete Strazdas has excused himself from voting or participating in the medical marijuana discussion because he has a family member who is employed at a medical marijuana business.
Now, with Strazdas declining to run for re-election – he steps down at the next meeting Nov. 21 – and a new mayor and two new council members on board the voting pattern could change.
Mayor-elect Patricia Randall has expressed support for the medical marijuana industry because it provides needed medication. In Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive questionnaire responses for the Nov. 7 election, new council members Lori Knapp and likely Chris Burns said they lean toward supporting medical marijuana dispensaries.
Randall, Burns and Knapp also received campaign contributions in the recent election from marijuana and medical marijuana supporters.
In her response, Randall said “The West Michigan Cancer Center regularly refers patients to marijuana dispensaries to help people manage symptoms and side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Other healthcare professionals refer patients to help manage symptoms from Parkinson’s, Glaucoma and those transitioning from dependence on opioid prescriptions. Portage ordinances must balance safe patient access with effective regulation and oversight.”
Burns said: “We should strongly consider the needs of patients who benefit from these treatments when making policy. The council should run an inclusive process, including surveys and open meetings, for obtaining input into which licenses to allow, where facilities should be located, and what type of licensing fees are appropriate. Given the benefits for medical marijuana users as well as the financial benefit for the community, I strongly favor allowing facilities to open in Portage. We deserve forward-thinking leadership on this issue.”
Knapp’s reply: “Through recent state legislation and evolving regulation, Portage has been given the power to authorize by ordinance medical marijuana facilities generally, and specifically to establish what type and how many there may be within its boundaries. Many jurisdictions in Michigan have already passed such authorizations. Only through this local approval will patients have the protection of safe access and a quality controlled environment for treatment. By responsibly planning for and authorizing medical marijuana facilities to open in Portage, these protections and benefits will be brought to our community.”
Other members of the council who will deliberate on the issue will be Richard Ford, Jim Pearson, Claudette Reid and Terry Urban. Reid and Urban were re-elected Nov. 7.
credit:mlive.com