Ferndale has temporarily stopped accepting applications for medical marijuana facilities while officials sort out what kind of ordinances they will have to draft in response to new state laws that go into effect next month.
“I hope this doesn’t look like we are backing away from our commitment to have safe and legal medical marijuana facilities in Ferndale,” said Mayor Dave Coulter. “Our City Council is willing to provide medical marijuana businesses. The trouble has been that since the state law was originally passed it’s never been clear what you can and can’t do. We’re going to try to add some clarity before we accept new applications. ”
Ferndale gets calls every business day from people interested in opening a marijuana facility in the city, the mayor added.
Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed bills approved by the state Legislature to set up uniform rules on licensing and regulatory oversight that go into effect Dec. 20.
The state laws cover licensing of medial marijuana facilities and allow marijuana edibles.
However, it will take about a year for the state to implement the medical marijuana licensing act and the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to set up a system before the state will begin issuing medical marijuana licenses Dec. 15, 2017.
“We’re not stalling,” Coulter said. “Ferndale will have new rules in place in plenty of time to move forward under the new state rules.”
The city plans to have its new rules in place by July 1, 2017.
Ferndale Police Chief Timothy Collins said the city has approved applications for four medical marijuana facilities in the last couple of years. So far, only one of them — in a former party store with three medical marijuana caregivers who can have up to five patients each — has opened. Services are by appointment.
The facility, Meridian Wellness Center at 1915 E. Nine Mile Road, is rarely open, Collins said.
“Most of the patients are family members and friends,” he said. “They opened in July and we’ve only been able to do one inspection because they have been closed.”
The new state law on medical marijuana covers licensing for growers, processors who create edible marijuana, testing facilities, transporters and dispensaries.
“The city is going to have to decide which licenses it will allow and how facilities will be zoned,” Collins said. “We’re taking this pause to review the new state legislation and how city departments will be affected depending on what type of license is being sought.”
Police, fire and building code departments in the city will be tasked with doing different inspections.
There will be fire code issues for growers and processors, electrical inspections, and oversight on how medical marijuana waste is handled at a facility.
“Cities in the state are going to have to decide if they are going to participate in the process and allow a medical marijuana license,” Collins said. “Then they will have to decide which of the five different licenses they are going to approve.”
Ferndale official are unsure at this point if the city’s existing ordinances for medical marijuana facilities, based on land use permits and zoning, will be applicable once the state regulations go into effect, Coulter said.
“We don’t know how we have to change our ordinances at this point,” he said, “or whether we can keep the five (medical marijuana facilities) we have approved under our old rules.”
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Full Article: Ferndale Holds Off On New Medical Marijuana Facilities, Waits On New State Law
Author: Mike McConnell
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