Opinions
Opinion: Planning Commission discusses marijuana
- Details
- By Elizabeth Jordan
- Wednesday, July 06, 2011
- Hits: 568
The Flint Planning Commission discussed the medical marijuana ordinance and the master planning process June 28. It also approved site plans for business on South Center Road.
The commission is weighing an approach that could involve creating a new category of special regulated uses for marijuana dispensaries to regulate the state constitutional amendment permitting medical marijuana that was passed by voters a couple years ago. The amendment itself gave very little direction about how it was to be put into practice, and many local communities have been wrestling with it.
How can the state law and its intent to allow access to qualified patients be honored while ensuring the cultivation, distribution or consumption of medical marijuana happens in a way that does not negatively impact others in the community?
This could mean thinking about everything from where dispensaries should be, to whether we encourage or discourage a concentration of dispensaries, to how far they should be from residences or schools, to whether there needs to be regular inspections by the fire department to ensure the growing operation does not pose a fire hazard.
If the medical marijuana dispensaries were made a special regulated use (which currently also include things like telecommunications towers and pawn shops), applicants would have to get a permit from the planning commission to operate. There are clear guidelines about things like how far from a school it can be, what zoning districts it is permitted in and how many similar uses can be within a certain radius.
While the city sorts out these issues, the Flint City Council has imposed a six-month moratorium. It is possible the moratorium will be extended because there isn't enough time left for all the public hearings and advance notices required before the planning commission and city council can vote on an ordinance.
Two people spoke at a public forum on the local medical marijuana ordinance.
The people were affiliated with what they described as a compassion care center in Flint that provides services such as testing medical marijuana samples to monitor the level of pesticides and herbicides.
(Apparently, some growers use chemicals that are unhealthy.)
They hope to expand their nutrient business, lab and "edible" offerings for medical marijuana patients and offered their expertise to the planning commission as it considers a potential ordinance. They were undecided about whether to prohibit consuming medical marijuana on site, but thought children should not be allowed at dispensaries.
The commission was told that all but one of the 21 people selected to serve on the master planning steering committee have accepted the position.
The chief planning officer has not been hired yet, and it was not clear whether the administration might be about to offer the position.
The commission approved a site plan for an addition to a sign and screen business at 408 S. Center Rd.
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