Marijuana Blog

The Ann Arbor City Council delayed voting on the medical marijuana ordinance during Monday’s city council meeting, instead postponing the decision until Jan. 18.

Protesters gathered outside Monday’s council meeting, holding signs and chanting “Marijuana is not a crime.” Many of them also spoke during the public commentary session of the meeting.

Among those who spoke was Chuck Ream, a local advocate whose voice has become well known on the medical marijuana topic.

“The medicine is a simple herb that was approved by 63 percent of the voters,” said Ream. “I ask you not to go along with the repression of the day. Ann Arbor has got to believe that we have brains and a heart here…. The law says that no level of government can invade the homes of patients and caregivers.”

The council chose not to make a final decision on the regulations at this time, instead delaying the vote until Jan. 18 so the city attorney’s office is able to make necessary changes. General concerns dealt with the caregiver registry.

“There is a concern out there, and the ultimate question here for the council is whether or not there is a concern about registering people,” said City Attorney Stephen Postema.

“This was originally inserted on request of the police. They do want to know where product is being grown because they do not want to waste resources doing criminal investigations of people who have this [growing permit.]

“The idea that state law precludes all of this type of regulation is something that we’ve looked at and addressed, and I think that the courts ultimately be looking at that in all core cases across other communities.”

Final approval of the bill will occur in February pending the Jan. 18 vote, and zoning regulations will be discussed at that point.

(Source)