"Enough is enough."
Those words from Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero in regards to the explosive growth of medical marijuana dispensaries in the capital city.
The mayor is calling for a moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries in Lansing until the City Council approves new regulations to govern the industry.
"Enough is enough," Bernero said. "We have a sufficient number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city to serve the needs of medical marijuana patients. Now we need a comprehensive system of regulations as soon as possible to govern the growing and distribution of medical marijuana."
Mayor Bernero noted that the Michigan Legislature appears to be making little to no progress on clarifying state laws related to medical marijuana and that the city cannot wait any longer for state lawmakers to act. Other cities in Michigan, including Detroit, are moving forward to establish their own regulations due to the Legislature's continuing failure to act.
"We can no longer wait for the Legislature to do their job," Bernero said. "Even though the original medical marijuana law was approved by Michigan voters eight years ago, and after numerous court rulings that have only muddied the waters about the legal status of the medical marijuana industry, it is time for City Council to fill the void. That starts with a moratorium to stop any further expansion of dispensaries operating within the city limits."
Bernero also noted that he hopes the Council's work on a new medical marijuana ordinance moves the growth of marijuana out of city neighborhoods and into commercial corridors and industrial areas.
"We have seen too many problems with home-based growing operations, including criminal activity that targets home growers for robbery or worse," Bernero said. "Let's move the grow operations into secure facilities in business and industrial districts so this necessary activity can be done a safe distance from children and families in our neighborhoods."
