Medical marijuana blocked in some metro Detroit communities

  Medical marijuana shops are being blocked from opening in some
  communities in Michigan

Medical marijuana dispensaries are being blocked from opening in some Michigan communities, and these actions are going to cost more in litigation than any problems they foresee in allowing the dispensaries to open up.

Unfortunately, there appears to be community leaders out there with an agenda contrary to what voters agreed to in the 2008 November election to legalize marijuana use for medical reasons.

The city of Livonia has placed a ban on dispensing marijuana, and others have set in place long moratoriums on setting up shop in their cities.

According to the Detroit News, "In Livonia, the City Council amended an ordinance to say any business in violation of local, state or federal law is prohibited. The words "medical marijuana" are absent from the ordinance, yet Livonia Police Chief Bob Stevenson said from conversations he's had with federal drug officials, dispensing marijuana remains illegal under federal law." Royal Oak was ready to create a "pot zone" along Woodward Avenue until they got wind of what Livonia had done. Officials changed their mind and are now considering what Livonia has done.

Outside the metro Detroit region Grand Rapids placed a 6-month moratorium on any dispensary opening up.

Michigan issued rules for distributing marijuana in April of 2009, but some communities have taken it upon themselves to create laws, and ordinances against letting entrepreneurs open up marijuana shops. The main problem is that the rules do not address marijuana dispensaries, and this is creating chaos in the community legal arenas. However, the ACLU is keeping a close watch on these communities as they enact laws, and ordinances regarding medical marijuana Fox 2 Detroit reported..

Michigan law and rules for marijuana

"The Medical Marijuana Program will be administered by the Bureau of Health Professions within the Michigan Department of Community Health," according to The Michigan Medical Marijuana Association.

 Now that we have finally legalized the use of marijuana for medical reasons at the state level, there are still those resistant to the idea of its use, and/or dispensing it. Of course, citizens still have to worry about the Fed's because marijuana is illegal at that level, but according to a memo sent out to federal prosecutors by the Obama administration, prosecution of those using marijuana for medical reasons is to be overlooked.

 Application form and instructions for medical marijuana card

 Application form and instructions for minor medical marijuana card

Rather than block people from opening up these dispensaries, they should be encouraged, because they bring revenue into the communities, and state. Sure, it's unfortunate that people who need this drug have terrible medical problems, but they should not have to travel great distances just to get the relief they need.

Whatever reasons some of these communities are using to place barriers against medical marijuana dispensaries from opening up, let's hope it isn't for anything related to the movie Reefer Madness. But look for litigation in the coming months, and years between the communities setting up road blocks against marijuana shops from opening up, and entrepreneurs wanting to open a business that would serve important medical needs.

If you or a loved one needs help with any type of drug problem, contact these sites depending on where you live. SEMCA (Wayne County residents), CARE (Macomb County residents), PACE (Oakland County residents), Drug Free Detroit (City of Detroit residents). For those residing outside the State of Michigan, contact SAMHSA for assistance.

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