KALAMAZOO, MI — Facing uncertainty amongst itself and from regulation at the state level, Kalamazoo Township held off on a decision to allow medical marijuana facilities to open.
New state laws regulating five types of medical marijuana facilities licenses prompted communities across Michigan to decide how they will respond to the growing industry. Wednesday, Kalamazoo Township decided to postpone a vote on an ordinance until Nov. 13 but informally supported the proliferation of licenses.
“I think (township residents) need medical marijuana and we need it regulated, but I don’t think we have our ducks in a row,” said Supervisor Don Martin. “I’m very concerned about where we are in the process. I would like to tell (people seeking licenses) exactly where they can go, and we’re not there yet.”
Township leaders discussed the situation at length during a joint meeting of its Board of Trustees, Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.
State operating licenses will be granted by the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, created within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Trustees were uncomfortable with the ever-changing nature of aspects of obtaining a license, and their own lack of clarity. Changes made by LARA caused the city of Kalamazoo to postpone its consideration of medical marijuana ordinances.
“We are muddling in the dark,” said Trustee Steven Leuty.
A municipality has to adopt an ordinance authorizing one or more medical marijuana facilities to open when licenses are available on Dec. 15. Local governments can adopt ordinances imposing regulations on the businesses, but can’t regulate the purity or pricing of marijuana or conflict with state law.
During a public comment period that opened the meeting, multiple residents and medical marijuana stakeholders expressed their desire to comply with whatever ordinances the township sees fit. Speakers included several people interested in opening a medical marijuana facility, including patients and caregivers.
They also said the new laws will benefit patients through testing and regulating their medicine. The safety of over-the-counter cough syrup is more regulated than medical marijuana used by cancer patients, but one of the facilities allowed under law tests the product for potency and contamination.
“We have patients that we know do need this medication and the state can not guarantee that it is safe, and that is a concern,” said Trustee Jen Strebs.
Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana ballot measure in 2008, which removed state penalties for registered patients to buy, grow and use small amounts of marijuana. Caregivers and residents with medical marijuana cards have lived in Kalamazoo Township since.
In September 2016, Gov. Rick Snyder signed the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, which gives Michigan cities the option to allow medical marijuana facilities to be established in their jurisdictions.
Two other bills allowed for the manufacture and use of marijuana-infused products by qualified patients, and created a seed-to-sale tracking system to track all medical marijuana.
The law protects people who have obtained a license from the state from criminal penalties under state and local law. The law defines who can apply for a license and places restrictions on each type of facility.
The five types of facility licenses include:
- Provisioning Centers (also called dispensaries)
- Processors (who refine the product into concentrates and edibles)
- Growers (who cultivate the product)
- Safety compliance facilities (which test the product for potency and contamination)
- Secure transporters (who transport the product between facilities).
credit:mlive.com
