Troy Calls Timeout on Medical Marijuana

TROY, MI — The City Council last week put a freeze on allowing more medical marijuana facilities in Troy, giving itself at least six months to study the issue, according to a media report. A 180-day moratorium enacted by the council applies to permits issued to registered caregivers to grow marijuana plants, the Troy Times reported

Under Michigan law, a designated caregiver can apply for a permit from a municipality to grow up 12 plants for each of their patients, up to a total of six patients, or 72 plants. The plants must be grown in one location, in an enclosed space.

The council approved the moratorium April 24 after hearing testimony from the city's planning director and a police officer, the Troy Times reported. In coming months, the city will also have to deal with a new state law that allows commercial medical marijuana operations with up to 1,500 plants, if a municipality permits it.

The federal government prohibits individuals from possessing or growing marijuana, but it is not prosecuting growers at this time, Troy Assistant Attorney Alan Motzny told the council.

R. Brent Savidant, the city's planning director, told the council that as of December, Troy had 59 medical marijuana grow facilities in 33 buildings. He said he was confident that the number has grown since then, the Times reported.

The city is barred by confidentiality rules from verifying the identity of the registered caregivers or patients, or that the pot is being used for medical purposes. The state, however, is in the process of acquiring an electronic system to track all marijuana grown and sold in Michigan, the Times reported.

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