WESTLAND COUNCIL TO VOTE ON POT OPERATIONS

Ordinance Would Prohibit Dispensaries

The Westland City Council is expected to vote Aug. 2 on an ordinance
that would prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries from operating
within the city.

The council voted unanimously July 19 to introduce an amendment to the
city's zoning ordinance that prohibits marijuana use for enterprise or
purposes contrary to federal, state or local law.

The decision is a response to requests to the city's Building
Department for potential sites for marijuana distribution.

"The city has made a choice of prohibiting medical marijuana
dispensaries" based on concerns that "their existence within the city
would be detrimental from a public safety standpoint" and have a
negative effect on surrounding neighborhoods, Mayor William Wild said
in a written statement.

The state's medical marijuana act allows doctor-approved use of
marijuana by patients with certain serious medical conditions who
register with the state to use or grow limited amounts of marijuana to
treat their illness.

The act does not change the laws or penalties for use or distribution
of marijuana under federal or state law.