Board may tack another year on medical pot ban

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees voted Monday, Aug. 15 to introduce an emergency ordinance that would extend the township’s moratorium on medical marijuana facilities until Aug. 31, 2012.

The introduction comes after the board voted in June to extend the moratorium for an additional two months, from July 1 to Aug. 31.

Township Trustees Howard Rosenberg, Larry Brown, and Gene Farber, and Clerk Catherine Shaughnessy voted in favor of the ordinance introduction, while Trustee Steve Kaplan and Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste voted against it because they are in favor of an outright ban on medical marijuana facilities.

Township Treasurer Teri Weingarden was not present at Monday’s meeting.

Medical marijuana use was legalized for qualified patients by Michigan voters in the November 2008 general election. The state’s medical marijuana law then took effect on April 4, 2009.

“I think (the ordinance) is more recognition that courts have come up with various interpretations of the law and we want to see what the final result is, which should be sometime next year,” Farber said.

On May 17, 2010, the township board asked the Planning Commission to draft language regarding the dispensing of medical marijuana in the township.

The Planning Commission recommended to the board an amendment allowing for medical marijuana home use, as permitted by state law.

However, on Aug. 23, 2010, the board postponed considering the introduction of the ordinance and instead approved extending a moratorium until Dec. 31, 2010.

On Nov. 15, 2010, the moratorium was extended again for another six months; however, the board didn’t indicate if the extension was six months from Nov. 15 or Dec. 31 of last year.

The moratorium was extended again on May 2 by the board, through June 30.

The next township board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 12.