Detroit Officials Pass Restrictions On Location Of Marijuana Dispensaries
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - After a series of public hearings, the Detroit City Council has approves a series of regulations for marijuana dispensaries.
The council voted 6-1 Thursday in favor of an ordinance that prohibits dispensaries from operating within 1,000 feet of a church, school, park, liquor store, other marijuana shops and other places considered a drug-free zone under city law, including libraries and child-care centers.
The new zoning law is expected to force the closure or regulation of many of the city's more than 150 medical marijuana dispensaries.
Councilman James Tate said it's no secret that some facilities currently operating were doing so as a result of no regulation in the city. Now, each facility in a zoned area that wants to stay open, will have to file an application -- and those outside the zoning areas will have to shut down.
"We have already taken care of in the past the issue with the licensing, which dealt with who could own the facilities and how they're supposed to operate. With this, we finally nailed down the zoning portion, which determines where they can be located," said Tate.
The council rejected an amendment that would've limited the shops to the city's industrially zoned areas.
Both the new rezoning rules and licensing regulations passed by the council in October will take effect March 1.
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