Join us Wednesday, July 13, 2011 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Farmington Community Library, 32737 W. Twelve Mile Rd., Farmington Hills.
HASH OIL DEMONSTRATION! You do not want to miss this! Learn how to become a patient/caregiver.
Meetings are open to the public 18+
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
JOIN US WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2011
Join us Wednesday, July 13, 2011 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Farmington Library, 32737 W. Twelve Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, as we discuss medical marijuana. Topics will include Cultivation, Edibles, How to Become a Patient/Caregiver, and much more.
Meetings are open to the public, 18+
Meetings are open to the public, 18+
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Royal Oak's Split Marijuana Vote Satisfies Neither Side
A vote by the Royal Oak City Commission left advocates of medical marijuana pledging to sue the city but gave opponents of the drug less than the complete ban they had hoped to see passed.
The vote, which calls for strict limits on the use and distribution of the drug, came early Tuesday following 90 minutes of public comments.
"We made it very clear that someone using medical marijuana in Royal Oak would not be subject to criminal prosecution," Commissioner Chuck Semchena, a longtime foe of medical marijuana, said Tuesday. "This new ordinance merely prohibits the growing or distribution of marijuana."
The vote was a deep disappointment to fellow Commissioner Jim Rasor, who joined Mayor Jim Ellison in opposing the strict limits.
"I have no doubt that we will find ourselves in court, spending taxpayer money to defend our indefensible and illegal action, instead of spending that money on police officers and other necessary city expenses," Rasor said.
Said Royal Oak City Manager Don Johnson: "I think we would've been sued no matter what we did."
The ordinance change stopped short of a proposal that medical marijuana users feared might ban the drug entirely. The seven-member commission tentatively passed that proposal last fall at what is called the first reading of a new ordinance. It was based on the Livonia model and, in effect, would have banned any use of medical marijuana, City Attorney David Gillam told commissioners last year.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has sued Livonia, along with Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, for passing such ordinances, on behalf of a Birmingham couple who said they have state-approval cards for treating their health conditions with medical marijuana but fear using or growing the drug in the three cities.
South Lyon, which has a similar de facto ban, was sued this month by a resident who has a state-approval card for using the drug, Grosse Pointe attorney Paul Tylenda, who said he is representing the man at no charge, said Monday.
Royal Oak, although it passed a more lenient rule than Livonia, can still expect to be sued, Tylenda said Monday night after joining the stream of public speakers at the commission meeting.
The 4-3 vote for the new limits modified the Livonia model to allow consumption of medical marijuana in Royal Oak, if the drug is "obtained in compliance with the state act," City Manager Johnson said. "But it is not allowing cultivation or distribution of medical marijuana in the city."
To comply with the Royal Oak ordinance change, residents must go outside the city to raise medical marijuana or obtain it from a state-approved caregiver, then they can return home to consume it, Johnson said.
The commissioners' vote did not follow a controversial recommendation by the Royal Oak Planning Commission to allow state-approved patients to grow the drug in their own homes and state-approved caregivers to grow it in their patients' homes, but which also prohibited any distribution or growing facilities.
Brett Tillander, executive director of the South Oakland Boys and Girls Club, said last week that he and 40 other local leaders strongly opposed to the Planning Commission's recommendation submitted a letter of protest to the city.
The vote, which calls for strict limits on the use and distribution of the drug, came early Tuesday following 90 minutes of public comments.
"We made it very clear that someone using medical marijuana in Royal Oak would not be subject to criminal prosecution," Commissioner Chuck Semchena, a longtime foe of medical marijuana, said Tuesday. "This new ordinance merely prohibits the growing or distribution of marijuana."
The vote was a deep disappointment to fellow Commissioner Jim Rasor, who joined Mayor Jim Ellison in opposing the strict limits.
"I have no doubt that we will find ourselves in court, spending taxpayer money to defend our indefensible and illegal action, instead of spending that money on police officers and other necessary city expenses," Rasor said.
Said Royal Oak City Manager Don Johnson: "I think we would've been sued no matter what we did."
The ordinance change stopped short of a proposal that medical marijuana users feared might ban the drug entirely. The seven-member commission tentatively passed that proposal last fall at what is called the first reading of a new ordinance. It was based on the Livonia model and, in effect, would have banned any use of medical marijuana, City Attorney David Gillam told commissioners last year.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has sued Livonia, along with Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, for passing such ordinances, on behalf of a Birmingham couple who said they have state-approval cards for treating their health conditions with medical marijuana but fear using or growing the drug in the three cities.
South Lyon, which has a similar de facto ban, was sued this month by a resident who has a state-approval card for using the drug, Grosse Pointe attorney Paul Tylenda, who said he is representing the man at no charge, said Monday.
Royal Oak, although it passed a more lenient rule than Livonia, can still expect to be sued, Tylenda said Monday night after joining the stream of public speakers at the commission meeting.
The 4-3 vote for the new limits modified the Livonia model to allow consumption of medical marijuana in Royal Oak, if the drug is "obtained in compliance with the state act," City Manager Johnson said. "But it is not allowing cultivation or distribution of medical marijuana in the city."
To comply with the Royal Oak ordinance change, residents must go outside the city to raise medical marijuana or obtain it from a state-approved caregiver, then they can return home to consume it, Johnson said.
The commissioners' vote did not follow a controversial recommendation by the Royal Oak Planning Commission to allow state-approved patients to grow the drug in their own homes and state-approved caregivers to grow it in their patients' homes, but which also prohibited any distribution or growing facilities.
Brett Tillander, executive director of the South Oakland Boys and Girls Club, said last week that he and 40 other local leaders strongly opposed to the Planning Commission's recommendation submitted a letter of protest to the city.
Royal Oak Passes Strict Limits on Medical Marijuana
Royal Oak officials voted for strict limits on the use and distribution of medical marijuana.
The vote left advocates of medical marijuana vowing to sue the city as they left Royal Oak City Hall but it gave opponents of the drug less than a complete ban they’d hoped to see passed.
“We made it very clear that someone using medical marijuana in Royal Oak would not be subject to criminal prosecution,” City Commissioner Chuck Semchena said.
“This new ordinance merely prohibits the growing or distribution of marijuana,” Semchena, a longtime foe of medical marijuana, said today. Still, the vote was a deep disappointment to City Commissioner Jim Rasor, who joined Mayor Jim Ellison in opposing the strict limits.
“I have no doubt that we will find ourselves in court, spending taxpayer money to defend our indefensible and illegal action, instead of spending that money on police officers and other necessary city expenses,” Rasor said today.
“I think we would’ve been sued no matter what we did,” Royal Oak City Manager Don Johnson said today.
The ordinance change stopped short of mirroring a proposal that medical marijuana users feared might pass and ban the drug entirely. That proposal was one that Semchena favored last year, and which the seven-person Royal Oak City Commission tentatively passed last fall at what is called the first reading of a new ordinance. It was based on the so-called Livonia model and, in effect, would have banned any use of medical marijuana, City Attorney Dave Gillham told commissioners last year.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has sued Livonia, along with Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, for passing such ordinances, on behalf of a Birmingham couple who said they have state-approval cards for treating their health conditions with medical marijuana but fear using or growing the drug in the three communities. South Lyon also has a similar de facto ban and the township was sued this month by a resident who has a state-approval card for using the drug, Grosse Pointe attorney Paul Tylenda, who said he is representing the man at no charge, said Monday.
Royal Oak, although it passed a more lenient rule than the Livonia model, can still expect to be sued, Tylenda said Monday night, after joining a 90-minute stream of public speakers to the City Commission.
The 4-3 vote for the new limits, contained in amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance, modified the Livonia model to allow consumption of medical marijuana in Royal Oak, so long as the drug is “obtained in compliance with the state act,” City Manager Johnson said.
“But it is not allowing cultivation or distribution of medical marijuana in the city,” he said. To comply with the Royal Oak ordinance change requires residents to travel outside the city to raise medical marijuana or obtain it from a state-approved caregiver, then return to their homes to consume it, Johnson said.
Asked whether that could make it more costly, more arduous and more risky for residents to obtain the drug, Johnson said: “No matter what you do, it’s still illegal under federal law.”
The city’s 120-day moratorium on establishing medical-marijuana facilities, set to expire Feb. 13, remains in place until the ordinance change takes effect in Feb. 3, but the moratorium now is moot because the new rule forbids any establishments, such as dispensaries or compassion clubs, city officials said.
The commissioners’ vote did not follow a controversial recommendation by the Royal Oak Planning Commission to allow state-approved patients to grow the drug in their own homes, and to allow state-approved caregivers to grow it in their patients’ homes, but which also prohibited any distribution or growing facilities in the city.
South Oakland Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Brett Tillander said last week that he and 40 other community leaders strongly opposed to the Planning Commission’s recommendation submitted a letter of protest to the city.
The vote left advocates of medical marijuana vowing to sue the city as they left Royal Oak City Hall but it gave opponents of the drug less than a complete ban they’d hoped to see passed.
“We made it very clear that someone using medical marijuana in Royal Oak would not be subject to criminal prosecution,” City Commissioner Chuck Semchena said.
“This new ordinance merely prohibits the growing or distribution of marijuana,” Semchena, a longtime foe of medical marijuana, said today. Still, the vote was a deep disappointment to City Commissioner Jim Rasor, who joined Mayor Jim Ellison in opposing the strict limits.
“I have no doubt that we will find ourselves in court, spending taxpayer money to defend our indefensible and illegal action, instead of spending that money on police officers and other necessary city expenses,” Rasor said today.
“I think we would’ve been sued no matter what we did,” Royal Oak City Manager Don Johnson said today.
The ordinance change stopped short of mirroring a proposal that medical marijuana users feared might pass and ban the drug entirely. That proposal was one that Semchena favored last year, and which the seven-person Royal Oak City Commission tentatively passed last fall at what is called the first reading of a new ordinance. It was based on the so-called Livonia model and, in effect, would have banned any use of medical marijuana, City Attorney Dave Gillham told commissioners last year.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has sued Livonia, along with Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, for passing such ordinances, on behalf of a Birmingham couple who said they have state-approval cards for treating their health conditions with medical marijuana but fear using or growing the drug in the three communities. South Lyon also has a similar de facto ban and the township was sued this month by a resident who has a state-approval card for using the drug, Grosse Pointe attorney Paul Tylenda, who said he is representing the man at no charge, said Monday.
Royal Oak, although it passed a more lenient rule than the Livonia model, can still expect to be sued, Tylenda said Monday night, after joining a 90-minute stream of public speakers to the City Commission.
The 4-3 vote for the new limits, contained in amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance, modified the Livonia model to allow consumption of medical marijuana in Royal Oak, so long as the drug is “obtained in compliance with the state act,” City Manager Johnson said.
“But it is not allowing cultivation or distribution of medical marijuana in the city,” he said. To comply with the Royal Oak ordinance change requires residents to travel outside the city to raise medical marijuana or obtain it from a state-approved caregiver, then return to their homes to consume it, Johnson said.
Asked whether that could make it more costly, more arduous and more risky for residents to obtain the drug, Johnson said: “No matter what you do, it’s still illegal under federal law.”
The city’s 120-day moratorium on establishing medical-marijuana facilities, set to expire Feb. 13, remains in place until the ordinance change takes effect in Feb. 3, but the moratorium now is moot because the new rule forbids any establishments, such as dispensaries or compassion clubs, city officials said.
The commissioners’ vote did not follow a controversial recommendation by the Royal Oak Planning Commission to allow state-approved patients to grow the drug in their own homes, and to allow state-approved caregivers to grow it in their patients’ homes, but which also prohibited any distribution or growing facilities in the city.
South Oakland Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Brett Tillander said last week that he and 40 other community leaders strongly opposed to the Planning Commission’s recommendation submitted a letter of protest to the city.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Marijuana Issue Goes Back For More Study In Farmington Hills
An ordinance amendment in Farmington Hills that would have made marijuana operations illegal, from a land use standpoint, has been stalled.
The zoning ordinance amendment, which called for the prohibition of any land use that conflicts with federal law, was up for final reading and adoption at tonight's city council meeting.
Council members and planning commissioners have studied the issue at length, but council now wants to see the ordinance adopted in Grand Rapids, to see if it might work for Farmington Hills.
The issue is whether a caregiver, who, under state law, is allowed to grow up to 60 plants for up to five registered patients, is growing as a commercial business in a home. If so, the proposed Farmington Hills ordinance would prohibit that and the caregiver would face a penalty.
But, Councilman Barry Brickner points out that the state law precludes caregivers from being arrested for growing medical marijuana.
“We’re being asked to pass an ordinance that we can’t do anything with,” said Brickner. “Why are we passing something we can’t enforce?”
He said he read through the state statute and it is “extremely redundant and clear that you cannot prosecute caregivers.”
In Grand Rapids, an ordinance sets up special use provisions for the caregivers to grow marijuana as a home occupation. They can’t have the patients come to pick up the marijuana, they have to deliver it. Hills council members want to read that ordinance before taking action.
City Attorney Steven Joppich said it’s still an issue of federal versus state law.
“Federal law states it’s illegal to use it, to possess it and to distribute it,” he said. “Frankly, most communities are struggling with this.”
Mayor Jerry Ellis said the council, after much discussion, believes people should have access to medical marijuana, but the problem is with companies wanting to set up growing operations in vacant warehouses and compassion clubs where people gather to smoke marijuana are opening in commercial areas, for example.
Joppich emphasized that the proposed ordinance deals with land uses, so it would apply to situations such as those — not to people who grow or use medical marijuana in their homes.
“I think we can regulate in such a way to allow caregivers (to grow and distribute) while keeping our neighborhoods safe,” said Brickner. “(The Grand Rapids ordinance) allows caregivers to grow and sell but it limits how they do it. This is to help the ill, to help the suffering, not to set up a business.”
Thomas Loeb, of Farmington Hills, who has a law firm in Farmington Hills, said the ordinance amendment, as proposed, would cause the city some problems. He is currently suing Bloomfield Township for a set of ordinances relating to medical marijuana.
“Your (proposed) ordinance is very poorly written,” he told the council Monday. “One of the first things you will have to do, when I sue you, is get a new law firm.”
He said the city cannot evoke federal law through city ordinance. Dealing with storefront issues relating to medical marijuana is understandable, he said, but the caregiver issue is off base.
“If you think you’re going to get away with this, you’re wrong,” he said.
Ellis said he’s not threatened.
David Haron, who served 14 years on the planning commission, said he disagrees with the ordinance because ordinances should address land use issues like construction, not moral or political issues. He said he believes people should have access to medical marijuana.
“This act is dealing with relieving pain,” he said. “It’s not dealing with peddling drugs to students.”
He said in terms of enforcement, marijuana arrests are mostly made under state law, unless it’s a large marijuana operation that would likely be handled by the feds. He said the city has no obligation to enforce federal law.
The council will review the Grand Rapids ordinance at an upcoming study session to see if the proposed ordinance should be revised before it comes back for consideration. In the meantime, a moratorium on all requests relating to medical marijuana remains in effect.
The zoning ordinance amendment, which called for the prohibition of any land use that conflicts with federal law, was up for final reading and adoption at tonight's city council meeting.
Council members and planning commissioners have studied the issue at length, but council now wants to see the ordinance adopted in Grand Rapids, to see if it might work for Farmington Hills.
The issue is whether a caregiver, who, under state law, is allowed to grow up to 60 plants for up to five registered patients, is growing as a commercial business in a home. If so, the proposed Farmington Hills ordinance would prohibit that and the caregiver would face a penalty.
But, Councilman Barry Brickner points out that the state law precludes caregivers from being arrested for growing medical marijuana.
“We’re being asked to pass an ordinance that we can’t do anything with,” said Brickner. “Why are we passing something we can’t enforce?”
He said he read through the state statute and it is “extremely redundant and clear that you cannot prosecute caregivers.”
In Grand Rapids, an ordinance sets up special use provisions for the caregivers to grow marijuana as a home occupation. They can’t have the patients come to pick up the marijuana, they have to deliver it. Hills council members want to read that ordinance before taking action.
City Attorney Steven Joppich said it’s still an issue of federal versus state law.
“Federal law states it’s illegal to use it, to possess it and to distribute it,” he said. “Frankly, most communities are struggling with this.”
Mayor Jerry Ellis said the council, after much discussion, believes people should have access to medical marijuana, but the problem is with companies wanting to set up growing operations in vacant warehouses and compassion clubs where people gather to smoke marijuana are opening in commercial areas, for example.
Joppich emphasized that the proposed ordinance deals with land uses, so it would apply to situations such as those — not to people who grow or use medical marijuana in their homes.
“I think we can regulate in such a way to allow caregivers (to grow and distribute) while keeping our neighborhoods safe,” said Brickner. “(The Grand Rapids ordinance) allows caregivers to grow and sell but it limits how they do it. This is to help the ill, to help the suffering, not to set up a business.”
Thomas Loeb, of Farmington Hills, who has a law firm in Farmington Hills, said the ordinance amendment, as proposed, would cause the city some problems. He is currently suing Bloomfield Township for a set of ordinances relating to medical marijuana.
“Your (proposed) ordinance is very poorly written,” he told the council Monday. “One of the first things you will have to do, when I sue you, is get a new law firm.”
He said the city cannot evoke federal law through city ordinance. Dealing with storefront issues relating to medical marijuana is understandable, he said, but the caregiver issue is off base.
“If you think you’re going to get away with this, you’re wrong,” he said.
Ellis said he’s not threatened.
David Haron, who served 14 years on the planning commission, said he disagrees with the ordinance because ordinances should address land use issues like construction, not moral or political issues. He said he believes people should have access to medical marijuana.
“This act is dealing with relieving pain,” he said. “It’s not dealing with peddling drugs to students.”
He said in terms of enforcement, marijuana arrests are mostly made under state law, unless it’s a large marijuana operation that would likely be handled by the feds. He said the city has no obligation to enforce federal law.
The council will review the Grand Rapids ordinance at an upcoming study session to see if the proposed ordinance should be revised before it comes back for consideration. In the meantime, a moratorium on all requests relating to medical marijuana remains in effect.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Marijuana Facility Supplied Drugs to Dealers, Cops Say
A Wednesday raid by Oakland County Sheriff's deputies of the Oak Park sites of medical-marijuana entrepreneur Rick Ferris, 46, of Berkley was spurred by tips that it supplied drug dealers, county authorities said Thursday.
Deputies seized $2,874 in cash, 14 pounds of marijuana, about two dozen marijuana plants and 10 pounds of baked goods supposedly containing marijuana from sites occupied by Ferris' Big Daddy's Management Group, Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said.
The cash seized was far less than the $20,000 Big Daddy's attorney Jim Rasor reported. He arrived during the raid and misled reporters, McCabe said.
"In the confusion, I misheard how much money it was," Rasor said Thursday. Big Daddy's employees meant $20,000 was "the amount of cash plus the value of everything taken in the raid."
No arrests were made, but county authorities said they plan to make some soon.
Deputies seized $2,874 in cash, 14 pounds of marijuana, about two dozen marijuana plants and 10 pounds of baked goods supposedly containing marijuana from sites occupied by Ferris' Big Daddy's Management Group, Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said.
The cash seized was far less than the $20,000 Big Daddy's attorney Jim Rasor reported. He arrived during the raid and misled reporters, McCabe said.
"In the confusion, I misheard how much money it was," Rasor said Thursday. Big Daddy's employees meant $20,000 was "the amount of cash plus the value of everything taken in the raid."
No arrests were made, but county authorities said they plan to make some soon.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Join Us Monday, January 24, 2011
Farmington Compassion will meet Monday, January 24, 2011 from 6:30-8:00 p.m., at the Farmington Library, to discuss Medical Marijuana in Michigan.
Network with Patients, Caregivers, Grow Specialists and Attorneys.
Learn how to become a card-holding Patient and/or Caregiver.
Farmington Library
32737 W. Twelve Mile Rd.
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Meetings are open to the public 18+
Network with Patients, Caregivers, Grow Specialists and Attorneys.
Learn how to become a card-holding Patient and/or Caregiver.
Farmington Library
32737 W. Twelve Mile Rd.
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Meetings are open to the public 18+
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