Ferndale Puts 90-Day Hold On Medical Marijuana Businesses

Ferndale Puts 90-Day Hold On Medical Marijuana Businesses
Despite regular protestations from Mayor Craig Covey, the Ferndale City Council on Wednesday
imposed a three-month moratorium on medical marijuana businesses as the community debates
subjecting dispensaries to additional zoning restrictions.

The Daily Tribune reports council members voted 4-1 in favor of the moratorium, noting at
least eight businesses have submitted applications to open medical marijuana facilities in the city.

Ferndale is the latest in a string of Metro Detroit communities to look at regulating the sale of
medical marijuana since voters approved the state-wide ballot measure in 2008.

The Royal Oak City Commission imposed a similar 180-day moratorium in April as it considers
new zoning rules. Same with Berkley. Livonia, Troy and Birmingham have essentially banned
the use of medical marijuana, deferring to federal law which still considers any use of the drug
illegal despite what STATE LAW says and what the VOTERS of their cities Voted For.

Mayor Covey has argued against additional medical marijuana regulations in Ferndale, noting
exiting zoning ordinances would apply to medical marijuana businesses, which he says are
unlikely to be profitable due to state law allowing registered caregivers to grow up to 12 plants
each for a maximum of five patients.

C&G News reports Covey criticized other local municipalities that have attempted to regulate
medical marijuana, referring to their "reactionary policies based on fear" during his recent State
of the City speech.

And as C&G points out, a majority of Ferndale residents in 2005 voted to allow medical marijuana
use in the city, predating the statewide law which they also supported in 2008