By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
Village council is trying to figure out where to put medical cannabis growers.
If council approves the current proposal for a Medical Marihuana Ordinance, just about three caregivers could legally grow cannabis within village residential boundaries.
If it is decided to zone caregivers to the commercial district, about one caregiver could legally operate under proposed restrictions.
If no ordinance is established at all, there could potentially be a caregiver in any residential home in the village, if they are in compliance with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of 2008.
Council discussed the implication of the proposed ordinance, its boundaries and restrictions at the last meeting Monday, July 13.
With three council members absent, and still a slew of questions, the proposal was sent back to the Planning Commission for a re-evaluation.
Right now it is a question of where’should caregivers operate in residential, single family homes, or should they be restricted to the commercial district.
‘CVS pharmacy doesn’t run their prescription pharmacy operation out of a home residence, we have them are in a business area, and they are zoned for that,? Councilman Dave Churchill said, who was elected as council chair to replace absent President Ken Van Portfliet.
‘I couldn’t get a license to have alcohol delivered to my home, and then deliver it out of my home because it’s a license and regulated by the state and federal government. So I guess I just don’t understand why we would do that with medical marijuana. It just doesn’t make sense.?
Churchill was the first to recommend the planning commission, who drafted the proposal along with Village Attorney Jennifer Hill, to assess the implications of zoning the ordinance in the commercial district.
The first draft assigns caregivers to occupy only residential, single family homes, 1,000 feet from churches, schools and private and public parks that are 1,000 feet from any adjacent caregiver.
According to the map, this only includes residencies on Bellevue Island from Buena Vista to just short of the end of? Long Point, Park Island, a small section of Heights including Lakeview, Recreation, Algene Dr., and the area near Cinnamon Ridge and Grampian Ave. ??
If council opted to restrict caregivers to the commercial district’which the planning commission will be assessing over the next weeks? Planning and Zoning Coordinator Mario Ortega said it would most? likely occupy corridor commercial zoning along Lapeer Rd from Park Island Rd. to Odanah, if the same restrictions applied.
In compliance with the 1,000 ft. restrictions, this would only allow for one caregiver practice in the commercial district.
There is no requirement for the village to regulate the state act, however Ortega said it was in the village’s best interest.
‘If we don’t have something on the books that means a person could make their own interpretation of what they think is legal and go ahead and try and do that,? he said. ‘In theory, if they pushed enough, they could basically do what they want as long as they meet all the other ordinances.?
A registered primary caregiver can take on five qualifying patients and grow 12 plants per patient. If the caregiver is also a patient, he/she can grow an additional 12 plants, for a total of 72 plants.