Utica Restores Medical Marijuana Moratorium

Don’t expect any medical marijuana dispensaries to open up in Utica throughout the rest of this year and most of next.

With Mayor Jacqueline Noonan citing a lack of clarification in state law, the Utica City Council voted during its Tuesday night meeting to restore the city’s moratorium on establishments that dispense medical marijuana for one more year. The moratorium will extend through Sept. 30, 2012, though the city council can opt to end it at any time.

Noonan said extending the moratorium was necessary “since we don’t know exactly what the state law will do.”

Several Michigan lawmakers are proposing legislation at the state level to clarify ambiguities in the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. In August, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued an opinion banning the sale of medical marijuana between patients.

Utica city council members originally voted in August 2010 to enact the 12-month moratorium on any business related to medical marijuana “to allow time for the state and the city to decide the proper ordinances,” according to that meeting’s minutes.

On Tuesday, city police Chief Dave Faber said he “strongly” agreed with the council’s decision.