Farmington Hills Officials Extend Medical Marijuana Moratorium

Farmington Hills officials on Monday approved a fifth extension for a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and growing operations. 

City attorney Steve Joppich recommended postponing a decision on an ordinance that would set rules for land uses related to medical marijuana, legalized by voters in 2008. The ordinance would not affect use of the drug or growing it for personal use. 

Since 2010, council members have struggled to create rules that bridge the gap between state law and federal law, which classifies marijuana as an illegal drug.

Joppich said the outcomes of several court cases could affect land uses. Most notably, the Michigan Supreme Court will consider a challenge to the City of Wyoming's local ordinance that effectively bans medical marijuana because it is illegal under federal law.

"The downside is, I don't expect any decision from the court for nine to 12 months," Joppich said. "In the meantime, we're still in a state of flux." 

He said the moratorium gives people the option to appeal their case to the city council. 

Council member Richard Lerner cast the only vote against the extension, as he did the fourth time officials extended it in December. He said he had no confidence that a court ruling would come in months. 

"It's time to put our dime in or get out of the phone booth," he said. "If we are waiting for a court decision, we will be waiting for years."

The current extension will remain in place through March 18, 2014, unless a court ruling prompts officials to take it off the table.