Medical Marijuana Licensing Recommended

At its Oct. 5, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor planning commission approved a motion to recommend that the city council institute a medical marijuana business license. Eric Mahler cast the lone vote of dissent. There was little discussion and no details about what the license would entail, aside from a general intent “to address issues that fall outside the scope of the zoning ordinance, such as building security and code compliance for electrical use, fire suppression, and ingress/egress.”

When questioned by commissioner Jean Carlberg about whether the license would only apply to dispensaries, or if it would be required of cultivation facilities and “home occupation” businesses as well, Kristen Larcom of the city attorney’s office said she didn’t know – they hadn’t yet drafted it. Commissioner Kirk Westphal asked if the license might include a cap on the number of dispensaries in the city – Larcom said that it might.

This brief was filed immediately after the planning commission meeting. A more detailed account of the meeting will follow: [link]