| Photo: WZZM |
The Grand Haven City Council passed an ordinance this week allowing home-based medical marijuana caregivers to operate in the Michigan city.
The decision follows an initial moratorium issued back in February, reports Steve Patterson at WZZM. Registered caregivers now have the right to grow and distribute marijuana from their homes.
Caregivers who grow marijuana must work from home as licensed home businesses, according to the ordinance. They may not open storefront dispensaries like those in California and Colorado.
Also, caregivers can only operate from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., with never more than two patients in the same home. The home businesses must be at least 1,000 feet away from the nearest school.
| Photo: WZZM |
Grand Haven believes medical marijuana caregiving should be a home grown industry, according to City Planner Kristin Keery.
“We felt the design was the right one,” Keery said. “It gives us the ability to regulate and at the same time not permit it within our commercial corridors… because it’s not meant to be an economic generator. It’s not a business in the traditional sense.”
Keery claimed Michigan’s medical marijuana law has language that is “too broad.” The council wanted to make sure they had regulations tailored to the city, she said.
“We felt that by allowing it as a home occupation and having some consistency within our area, that’s how staff planners are presenting it to their planning commissions and then to their council,” she said. “I think it’s a good starting point; I like the fact that we’re all on the same page with it.”
Keery said regulation and enforcement policies need to be clear for the city and for police.
“We wanted to aid in our officers’ enforcement efforts,” Keery said. “We also did that so that we’re not unfairly targeting certain residences that are running a legitimate business.”