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Medical marijuana dispensaries delayed in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids delays the application process for medial marijuana dispensaries.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - People who want to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Grand Rapids, will have to wait.

“There are a number of complex issues we need to work through,” explained Mayor Rosalynn Bliss.

The planning commission was scheduled to start accepting applications Nov. 1. On Tuesday night Sept. 18, the City Commission approved a six month delay.

Commissioners say the city needs more time to decide how to process potential applicants, modify zoning laws and approve policies. Opponents to the moratorium say it is an unnecessary delay for people who want to work in the cannabis industry and an inconvenience for patients who need the medicine.

“I am disappointed in the moratorium,” said Matt Hoffman of The Marijuana Policy Project. “My business connects job seekers with cannabis employers and I am wrestling with how to explain to hundreds of would be cannabis industry employees that they must wait up to six months for gainful employment.”

City commissioners emphasized that the delay was just a way to handle the logistics.

“This in no way is an effort to circumvent the decision to move forward with medical marijuana facilities in the city,” says Commissioner Ruth Kelly. “This is just dealing with the reality that we found with the number of people that would like to apply for licenses.”

The City Commission is planning a medical marijuana work session in early October to discuss details in their medical marijuana ordinance. The new city manager will be in place by then and available to add his views.

“People are wildly inconvenienced from getting this medicine that could significantly help them because they don’t have any vendors in Grand Rapids,” pointed out an opponent to the moratorium.

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