A new proposed ordinance on regulating and licensing medical marijuana businesses goes before the Lansing city council tonight.
The newly-crafted ordinance makes changes to the allowable distances between medical marijuana establishments from schools, parks, churches and other medical marijuana facilities. It also lays out new guidelines on the licensing process.
Council member Carol Wood is vice chairperson of the committee on public safety, which has been working on the ordinance. She says tonight’s council action will set a schedule for moving forward, adding that this is “very early in the process.” She continues, "this ordinance doesn't go into effect, and wouldn't go into effect, until the state was ready to start doing their licensing."
Wood says the city needs to avoid the possible ramifications of allowing a medical marijuana business to operate for a period of time before any state licensing that might take effect.
Tonight’s Lansing city council meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on the tenth floor of city hall.